89

H.—2B,

Dunedin and Suburban Operative Butchers' Union. Honourable Sir, — Dunedin, 22nd June, 1906. I am directed by the Dunedin Suburban Operative Butchers' Union to express their sincere regret at the loss the colony has sustained by the death of the Hon. Mr. Seddon, whose life work in the cause of humanity has endeared his memory to all classes of the community. My union respectfully request your services in conveying to Mrs. Seddon and family our deep regret at the loss of one who was so dear to them, and our sympathy with them in their hour of bereavement. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. F. Gallagher, Secretary. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners. Dear Sir, — Wellington, 13th June, 1906. I am directed by my committee to convey to you, on behalf of the members of the Amalgamated' Society of Carpenters and Joiners of New Zealand, their deep expression of regret at the great loss the colony has sustained through the death of the Right Hon. Mr. Seddon, and to ask you to kindly convey to Mrs. Seddon and family their sincere sympathy with them in their irreparable loss. Yours, &c, Godfrey Powell, District Secretary. Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier, Wellington. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Auckland Branch). Sir,— Auckland, 13th June, 1906. I am instructed by my union to forward the following resolution which was unanimously carried at our branch meeting last night: " That this meeting of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners deeply regrets the loss the colony of New Zealand and the workers have sustained by the death of the great democratic statesman, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and offers its sincere sympathy to his yvidow and family in this hour of sorrowing affliction; that we recognise and appreciate the great services he has rendered the workers in the past, and feel we have lost a true friend and one who is difficult to replace." I have, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. H. Banfield, Secretary. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Branch No. 824). Dear Sir, — Christchurch, 23rd June, 1906. I am instructed by my branch of the above society to ask if you would convey to Mrs. Seddon the deep sympathy of our members with her and her family in the sad bereavement they have just had to bear by the death of their late husband and father the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand, who will be very greatly missed and mourned not only by his own family, but throughout the colony, more especially by us unionists who feel that we have not only lost a Premier but a friend and almost a father, one who always did all he could for our benefit and well-being, and it will be a very long while before any one else will be able to adequately fill the position left vacant. Trusting that the expressions of sympathy which Mrs. Seddon has received from all parts will help them through this sad time. I have, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. F. J. Nott, Secretary. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Dunedin Branch). Dear Sir, — Dunedin, 18th June, 1906. At a special summoned meeting of this branch held on Saturday, the 16th June, the following resolution was passed, with instructions that I should forward same to you : " That this branch of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners places on record its appreciation of the services rendered to the cause of labour and humanity by the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and its regret at the loss of him whom we had come to look upon as our friend and leader in the cause of progress ; also that the sircere sympathy of this branch be extended to Mrs. Seddon and family in their sad bereavement." With best wishes from this society to yourself. I have, &c, Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier. James Brown, Secretary. Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners (Nelson Branch). Honoured Sir, — Nelson, 20th June, 1906. I am instructed by the Nelson branch of this society to request you to kindly give Mrs. Seddon this copy of a resolution passed at our meeting of the 19th instant: " That this branch places on record its profound regret at the death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and its deep sense of the irreparable loss the workers of this colony have sustained by this lamented removal of their great protector; also, that this resolution, with our sincere sympathy, be conveyed to Mrs. Seddon." I remain, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Premier. Charles Andrew, President.

12— H. 28.