THE LATE MR IRELAND.

Otago Witness, Issue 1501, 21 August 1880, Page 14

THE LATE MR IRELAND.

Our readers will read with sincere regret in our telegrams of Monday of the death of Mr Ireland, a member of (the House of Representatives who, while one of the most simple, kindly, and unobtrusive of men, possessed many sterling qualities, and a far greater share of common sence than many of his colleagues more favoured in birth and fortune. He was not called like Oincinnatus, from his plough to rule his country, but he was called from his miner's claim to represent his district ; and for the same reason — that his simple honesty and probity compelled confidence in him. We do not mean to write his panegyric or pronounce his funeral oration ; but there is something exceedingly pathetic in the sudden illness and death of one who a few days ago was, with far more thoroughness than many around him, serving his country ; something which would extort from his bitterest enemy, if Mr Ireland ever had such an one, a kindly sentiment. We do not exactly call to mind an instance of a member of Parliament, either in the Colonies or at Home, falling dead actually within the House itself ; but there are many instances of such sudden deaths as Mr Ireland's. Two or three sessions ago in England, a member, whose name we have not had time to look up, fell suddenly back in his seat, and was carried insensible to the tea-room of the House of Commons, where he died before his wife, hastily summoned, could reach St. (Stephens. Mr Wilson very recently died suddenly, after speaking in the House of Commons the day before. Everyone will recall the last speech of Earl Chatham— verily his dying words. Such deaths as t that of Mr Pyroeval are of a different but certainly not less tragic nature. The instances, however, are sufficiently rare to excite the profoundest sympathy when they do occur. The country will applaud and admire the thoughtful act of the Government in sending the mortal remains of Mr Ireland to their last resting-place among his friends with such State pomp as is shown by a special Government steamer and train. And it will be some consolation to the sorrowing relatives of Mr Ireland to know that the universal sympathy of Parliament and the country is with them, and that the closing moments of his life may well and fitly have been soothed by the grand although hackneyed reflection, " Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori." The country called him to its service, and he has found the call was Death.

[Since the above was written another member has joined the majority, Colonel Kenny, M.L.C., having expired suddenly at his residence on Monday morning.]