THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE.

DEATH OF MR. FRIEND. [BT tELEGBAJ-tt-SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.! Wellington, Tuesday. Mr. George Friend, Clc-k of the House of Representatives, who has been seriously ill for some months, died this morning. He was the highest officer of the House, and for many years bad performed his duties in a most able and painstaking manner. The disease which caused his death was glandular swelling, which developed into a painful tumour. Mr. Friend bore his illness with great fortitude, and refused to the last to take opiates to relieve the pain. He leaves a widow and a grown-up daughter. The former was so ill that she was not allowed to leave her bed at the time of her husband's death, and her daughter was laid up with influenza.

Mr. Friend, who was about 60 years of age, was a native of London, where his father was for many yea's AccountantGeneral for India, first in the East India Company's service and .afterwards in the Imperial service. The deceased received his earlier education at a private school at Weatherhead, near Dorking, in Surrey, and afterwards at King's College and the University of London, where he remained for three years, and took high honours. Although entered at Trinity College, Cambridge, he did not long continue his University career, but left England in August, 1853, taking passage to New Zealand by the Hamilla Mitchell, and arriving in New' Zealand shortly before the termination of the first Governorship of Sir George Grey, to whom be had brought letters of introduction. In the following year Mr. Friend joined the Government service in the department of Dr. Knight, the AuditorGeneral. After four years he was promoted to a position under the Commissioner for Land Purchase (Sir Donald McLean), in whose department he worked till 1863. In that year Mr. Friend was appointed Clerkassistant to the House of Representatives, which position be retained until 1889, when he succeeded Major Campbell as Clerk of the House. When the House met this afternoon the Speaker made feeling reference to the death of Mr. Friend, and after a few words from the Premier and Mr. Rolleston, the House, as a mark of respect, adjourned till halfpast seven p.m.