19

H.—B.

G. Ellis, Mayor, Hastings, to the Hon. R. J. Seddon. (Telegram.) Auckland, 27th April, 1893. Accept my heartfelt sympathy and deep regret at Premier's death.

The Town Clerk, Blenheim, to Mrs. Ballance. Madam,— Town Clerk's Office, Blenheim, 28th April, 1893. I am directed by the Council of the Borough of Blenheim to express to you the sympathy of the Mayor, Councillors, and burgesses of this borough in the great loss you have sustained in the death of the late Mr. Ballance. I am also instructed to say that the Council look upon this sad event as a great national calamity. I have, &c, Mrs. Ballance. W. Noswoethy, Town Clerk.

The Mayoe, Foxton, to Mrs. Ballance. Madam, — Foxton Borough Council, 2nd May, 1893. I have the honour, by direction of my Council, to most respectfully convey to you the condolences of this Council on the loss both you and the colony have sustained by the death of your husband, the Hon. John Ballance, the Premier. Myself and Council view the loss as a national one, and we desire to express our heartfelt sympathy with you in your bereavement. I have, &c, Mrs. Ballance. George Nye, Mayor.

The Mayoe, Lower Hutt, to Mrs. Ballance. Madam-, —• • Borough Council Office, Lower Hutt, 3rd May, 1893. At a meeting of the Lower Hutt Borough Council, held on Monday last, the following resolution was unanimously passed expressive of the Council's sympathy with you in your great grief: " That the members of the Lower Hutt Borough Council desire to convey to Mrs. Ballance their heartfelt sympathy with her in her great loss which she has sustained by the lamented death of her husband." I have, &c, Mrs. Ballance. W. A. Fitzheebeet, Mayor.

Mr. E. G. Allen, Mayor, Port Chalmers, to Mrs. Ballance. (Telegram.) 3rd May, 1893. The people of Port Chalmers offer you sincere sympathy in your sad bereavement.

The Mayor, Wanganui, to Mrs. Ballance. Dear Mrs. Ballance, — Borough Council Office, Wanganui, 3rd May, 1893. The Borough Council of Wanganui wish to convey to you their heartfelt sympathy for the great loss you have sustained by the death of your noble husband. They know full well the loss to you is irreparable. It is difficult to exaggerate the great calamity that has fallen on Wanganui and the colony, and we can assure you that his memory will be reverenced not only by his friends, but by his political opponents, who always recognised his powerful mind, his integrity, and his wonderful administrative ability. We who live in Wanganui know how he devoted his time and talents for the welfare of the town he so ably represented, and we know that in the years to come, when the history of the colony is written, the name of the Hon. John Ballance will appear as one of her most illustrious statesmen. Will you therefore accept the warmest sympathy it is possible to give from the people he lived amongst, and whom he loved so well; and they sincerely trust you may be spared for many years to live amongst us, filling, as you do, the hearts of the people with love, respect, and esteem. I remain, &c, Feeeman R. Jackson, Mayor.

The Town Clerk, Winton, to Mrs. Ballance. Madam,— Town Clerk's Office, Winton, Bth May, 1893. The Winton Borough Council, at its meeting on the sth instant, by resolution, directed me to write a letter of condolence with you regarding the death of your late lamented husband, the Hon. the late Premier of New Zealand, which it unanimously views as a national calamity. All the Councillors desire to express their deep sympathy with you in your sore personal bereavement. I am, &c, Mrs. Ballance. W. Russell, Town Clerk.

The Mayor, Grey town, to Mrs. Ballance. Dear Madam, — Borough of Greytown, 9th May, 1893. At the meeting of the Greytown Borough Council last evening I was requested, on behalf of the Council, to tender to you their heartfelt sympathy in your bereavement by the death of your distinguished husband, the Hon. John Ballance. I have, &c, Mrs. Ballance, F. W. Wood, Mayor.