113

H.—2B

Auckland Land Board. (Telegram.) Hon. Hall-Jones, Wellington. Opotiki, 20th June, 1906. Auckland Land Board tenders its deepest regret at Mr. Seddon's sudden death, with heartfelt sympathy for the deceased's family. But for Board being engaged here in opening a large area for settlement they would have been able to attend funeral. James Mackenzie, Commissioner. ' Westland Land Board (per Minister of Lands). Lands and Survey Department, Hon. Prime Minister. Wellington, 27th June, 1906. Westland Land Board. I have the honour to inform you that the Westland Land Board, at their last meeting on the 20th instant, made very sympathetic reference to the great loss sustained by the colony and by the Westland District in the death of the late Premier, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and concluded their remarks by passing a resolution of condolence, and immediately after adjourning for one week. I shall be glad if you will kindly transmit to Mrs. Seddon the resolution hereunder : " The Westland Land Board desire to place upon record an expression of their great sorrow at the death of the late Premier, the Right Hon. Richard John Seddon, and tender their sincere and heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Seddon and her family in their sore bereavement." T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands. Department of Public Health. Sir,— Wellington, 20th June, 1906. On behalf of the officers of this, the Health Department, I beg to assure you most respectfully of our sorrow on the death of the late Right Hon. the Premier, Mr. Seddon. It would be unseemly on the part of any one holding place in the Civil Service of the State to say more than that we grieve most truly over the tragic end of he who held the chief office under the representative of our King. His enthusiasm in all matters which made for the betterment of the physical and social weal of the people justifies, I trust, my asking you to record the great loss which we, whose work is mainly concerned therewith, feel at the death of him who his highest claim to remembrance the title of " Humanist." With the sentiments of my staff I most earnestly ask to be associated, and in the prayer that the lamentations of the Empire may in some measure assuage his wife and family's sorrow. I most respectfully subscribe myself— Yours, &c, Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. ' J. M. Mason. Maintenance Staff of the Auckland Section of Railways. (Telegram.) Hon. Hall-Jones, Wellington. Auckland, 16th June, 1906. The maintenance staff of the Auckland Section of railways wish to convey to Mrs. Seddon and family their sincere sympathy in their bereavement. Railway Workshops, Addington. Sir,— Sydenham, 13th June, 1906. I have been deputed by the Addington Workshops' employees to forward you the following resolution : " That this meeting of railway employees desires to express heartfelt grief at the great loss which the colony has sustained in the death of the Right Hon. the Premier. As railway men we have lost a true friend ; as citizens we feel we have lost the greatest citizen and democrat this country has had. His loss will be irreparable; and to his sorrowing family our hearts go out, and we trust that they may be enabled to bear up under their great tribulation." I remain, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. Edward Cameron. Eastown Railway Workshops, Aramoho. (Telegram.) Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier, Wellington. Aramoho, 15th June, 1906. Please convey the deep sympathy of the employees Eastown Railway Workshops to Mrs. Seddon and family in their great bereavement. W, Kydd, Workshops Foreman,

15— H. 28,