The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1881.

Thames Star, Volume XII, Issue 3967, 15 September 1881, Page 2

The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1881.

Our telegrams to day convey the sad intelligence of the death at Wellington of Mr W. 8. Moorhouse, member of the House of Representatives for Ashley, in Canterbury. With Canterbury Mr Moorhouso's name will ever be associated, for to his ability and pnblic spirit she owes, in a great measure, her present prosperity. His name will also be remembered in connection with the Lyttelton lunnel and the first railway in the colony; and to him, it is. said, is due the credit of being the first in the colony to suggest a public works aud immigration policy, the idea so elaborately and successfully worked out in after years by Sir Julius Vogel. We cannot do better in this article than give the speeches made by the Premier, Sir Greorge Grey, and Mr Macau drew, this forenoon, upon the opening of Parliament. In addressing the Speaker, Mr Hall said :—" Sir,— Since we last met an event has occurred which will occasion great sorrow, hot only in this House, but also throughout the whole of New Zealand/ There has passed away from among us one of the most popular, and one of the m< st distinguished, men of this colony. Mr Moorhouse was amongt the earliest settlers in Canterbury, and. he was amongst the first to take an important part in the public lite of the colony, a man possessed of rare natural ability and generosity of disposition. He was early placed in a position of trust and responsibility by his fellow settlers in the portion of the colony to which he belonged. For many years'he filled the office of Superintendent of the large and populous province of Canterbury, and his name has been inseparably associated with the most important years in the history of that peace, and in the history of its progress and prosperity. Wm. Sefton Moorhouse was one of the first elected members of the House of Representatives, and is one who will be long remembered in this House for his many tirtues, and who will long be remembered for his long and able service. In the death of Mr Moorhouse we have lost a pubic man; one whose place will not be readily filled up, and whose name will occupy a lasting place in the, hearts of the people. I feel that lam quite unable to say more; I feel myself wholly at a loss to express my feelings on this occasion, but as a mark of respect to I the memory of deceased I will move that this House do now adjourn until this evening,at 7.30. I understand that it was the wish of the deceased that his remains should be interred in Canterbury, and with the view of giving effect to that wish Government has determined upon placing the Government steamer at the disposal of his friends, for that purpose. I now propose the House do adjourn until this evening, and I shall also take care membH#B will be afforded an opportunity of attending the procession from the deceased's house dorm to the steamer." Sir George Grey said : —"' Sir, I rise to second the motion. There are occasions when it is intended to pay a compliment to some persons whose deeds are so little knpwu that they require explanaliou, but on the present, occasion that is quite unnecessary. Mr Moor-. house was one of the first colonists of New Zealand to teach his fellow men to rely upon their own resources, and to show what great things might bo accomplished by energy and self reliance, he applied his mind to that, and he successfully carried out perhaps one of the most important works, that has ever beett executed in New Zealand, and in that way he gave an example not-only to the province of Canterbury but to the whole colony by his generosity and devotion. In all these respects he has established a claim on your gratitude and rememberances. This House did on a previous occasion its utmost during the life of Mr Moorhouse to show itself grateful lor the services of the gentleman, and now I trust we shall pay this last tribute of respect Without a dissentient voice and show courtesy and honor to the met ory of the gentle man whom we all respected." Mr Macandrew : "I will only add one word to what has been said, and that is, apt: only has the colony lost one of its most'^prominent public men, but I have lost in the death of Mr Moorhouse a sincere and trusted friend, one with wh.om I have been associated for a period of thirty pears. As the Premier has stated, Mr Moorhouse and myself were the only two members of this Parliament who occupied a seat in the first Parliament, in the session of 1854. Of his public character and actions it is quite unnecessary that I should speak. Of his deeds, he has left a monument behind him which will continue to perpetuate his memory as long as New Zealand endures. i