Memoir of Sir William Herries, K.C.M.G.

Herries, Robert Stansfield, Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co., London, England, 1925

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The original publication details are as follows:

Title: Memoir of Sir William Merries, K.C.M.G.

Author: Merries, Robert Stansfield

Published: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co., London, England, 1925

MEMOIR OF SIR WILLIAM BERRIES

Honble. Sir William Merries, K.C.M.G. (from a photograph).

MEMOIR OF SIR WILLIAM HERRIES K.C.M.G.

Privately Printed by

SPOTTISWOODE, BALLANTYNE fcf CO. LTD.

LONDON

PREFATORY NOTE

The following brief account of the life and work of Sir William Merries has been written in the belief that some permanent record of his services to the country of his adoption would be welcome to his many friends and admirers.

R. S. H.

February , 1925.

D. C. H.

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LIST OF PLATES

Honble. Sir William Herries, K.C.M.G.

(from a photograph by S. P. Andrew , Wellington) Frontispiece

A view of Te Aroha from the River

Thames to face p. 6

At Rotorua —On an Election Tour in

THE OLD DAYS „ p. 1 6

H.R.H. the Prince of Wales at Rotorua

with Sir William Herries and Sir

Maui Pomare „ p. 29

At the Races with General Pau, Head of

the French Military Mission to New

Zealand at the end of the War„ p. 40

A Snapshot at the Auckland Race-

course „ p. 63

The Funeral Procession ready to start

from the Parliament Buildings, Wel-

LINGTON „ p. 67

The Anglican Church at Te Aroha.

where the Funeral Service took place „ p. 69

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MEMOIR OF SIR WILLIAM HERRIES

Sir William Herbert Herries, the eldest son of Herbert Crompton and Leonora Emma Herries, was born April 19, 1859.

So much is written now about the comparatively new science of “ Heredity ” that it may be of interest to note that both on his father’s and his mother’s side he came of families that in recent times have produced several men devoted to the service of the public.

His father, who died in 1870 at the age of forty, had been called to the Bar, but his real interest was in artistic matters. He was a good water-colour painter, and he served for some years on the committee and was treasurer of a society that held exhibitions of water-colours in the Dudley Gallery in Piccadilly. He was the eldest son of General Sir William Lewis Herries, K.C.H., C.8., who after serving as a young man in South America, the Walcheren Expedition, and the Peninsular War (where he lost a leg at the siege of Bayonne), spent the greater part of the rest of his life in the Civil Service. After being a Comptroller of Army Accounts he became, in 1835, a Commissioner of the Board for auditing the Public Accounts, and in 1843 he was chosen by Sir Robert Peel to be chairman of that Board, a post which he held till 1854. This first Sir William, who died in 1857, was a younger brother of the Right Hon. John Charles Herries, who rose from a clerkship in the

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Treasury to Cabinet office. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Cabinet of Lord Goderich, and held office in that of the Duke of Wellington as well as in the first Cabinets of Sir Robert Peel and of the Earl of Derby. His eldest son, Sir Charles Herries, K.C.8., was chairman of the Board of Inland Revenue; his second son, Major William Robert Herries, fell at Moodkee in the First Sikh War when serving on the staff of the Governor-General, Sir H. Hardinge; and his youngest son, the late Mr. Edward Herries, C.8., held important posts in the Diplomatic Service. The Right Hon. J. C. Herries and his brother Sir William were sons of Charles Herries, Colonel of the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster, a corps raised by himself and others in the French revolutionary period. In it served as privates a Prime Minister (Spencer Perceval) and other statesmen and distinguished men. So highly was its Colonel esteemed that on his death in 1819 he was given a military funeral in Westminster Abbey, where he was buried, and where there is a monument to his memory. The Colonel and his elder brother Sir Robert Herries, a banker, and sometime M.P. for the Dumfries Burghs, were sons of William Herries of Halldykes in Dumfriesshire, where the family had been settled for some generations.

Our Sir William’s mother, Leonora Emma Wickham, was the daughter of Mr. Henry Lewis Wickham of Bin-sted-Wyck in Hampshire, by Lucy, daughter of William Markham of Becca in Yorkshire, private secretary to Warren Hastings and British Resident at Benares, eldest son of Dr. William Markham, Archbishop of York. Mr. H. L. Wickham was private secretary to Lord Althorp when the latter was Chancellor of the Exchequer, and was afterwards Chairman of the Board of Stamps and Taxes, an office now amalgamated with the Inland Revenue Board. Fie was the only son of the Right Hon. William Wickham, who, after being Envoy to the Swiss Cantons in the French revolutionary period and Undersecretary of the Home Department, was Chief Secretary

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of Ireland at the time of Emmet’s insurrection in 1803. In the suppression of this rising he showed not only courage and firmness but humanity.

Sir William thus had behind him an honourable tradition of public service. He had the misfortune to lose his father in early boyhood, but he had the good fortune to have a most wise and devoted mother. Not only had she the practical qualities enabling her to manage her household and country estate and parochial charities and to superintend the education of her children, but she had the manners and wide outlook that came from a

youth passed in the best London society, political and literary, for in addition to her father’s and grandfather’s political and diplomatic friends, such men as Sydney Smith, Dean Milman, Rogers the poet, and Hallam the historian, who had married a relation of her mother, were intimate in her father’s London house in Chesterfield Street. Some of her gifts were inherited by Sir William, especially her love of reading. Both mother and son had a remarkable capacity for quickly absorbing a book. They seemed to take in the contents of a page at a glance and to keep the knowledge thus acquired stored in the memory ready for instant use. They both loved especially history and memoirs.

Under the guardianship of this mother, ever ready to promote and share in the amusements and interests of her children, Sir William and his brothers had a very happy boyhood. He was sent to school at Mr. Hawtrey’s at Aldin House, near Slough, and afterwards, in 1872, to Eton, where he was in Evans’ house, as his

father had been before him. His tutor was Mr. (now Sir) Walter Durnford. When he left Eton he was in the “ First Hundred ” and in the Upper Boats, and had his house football colours. He was also a non-com-

missioned officer in the school Rifle Corps. Without being a scholar he retained through life a tincture of the classical learning traditional at Eton, especially delighting in Horace. He also here, and by example from his mother, laid the foundation for that wide general

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knowledge that distinguished him. His mother handed on to her sons a love of the French language which she had acquired in her youth among her relations at Geneva, her grandfather, the Right Hon. W. Wickham, having married a Mademoiselle Bertrand of that city, a lady of French Huguenot descent. In the summer, owing to the fact that there were many Yorkshire relations, the school holidays were spent in that county, including a stay at Filey or Whitby. During these holidays Sir William acquired a love and knowledge of geology which was a pleasure to him for the rest of his life, and he and his next brother formed a large and valuable collection of Yorkshire fossils. He became a Fellow of the Geological Society of London soon after attaining his majority. The Christmas holidays were spent in his mother’s London house in Warwick Square, where there was theatre-going and other amusements, as well as the interest of unpacking and arranging the geological specimens collected in the summer. The Easter holidays were passed at Frimley Park in Surrey. This place had been bought about iB6O by Mr. CromptonStansfield of Esholt Hall in Yorkshire, sometime M.P. for Huddersfield, a brother of Sir William’s grandmother, Lady Herries. On his death in 1871 it passed to his widow, a Markham by birth and sister to Mrs. Herries’ mother Mrs. Wickham. On her death in 1875 it went, under Mr. Stansfield’s will, to Mrs. Herries for life with remainder to her eldest son Sir William. They eventually sold it shortly before Mrs. Herries’ death. The holidays spent here in the roomy “ Georgian ” house originally built by the Tichborne family, surrounded by beautiful grounds and woods, were not the least happy part of Sir William’s youth. The country round about was in those days still unspoilt by building, and the old-fashioned country labourer clad in a smock-frock was not quite extinct. There was a picturesque old Parish Clerk, Mr. Weston, who officiated in Frimley Church, bent double with age, for he was ninety-three when he died in 1877. He used to tell stories of old times and

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of how he had seen and spoken with George the Third, who had called for a glass of water at his father’s cottage when hunting in the Frimley neighbourhood from Windsor Castle. Windsor is about sixteen miles from Frimley, and deer from there used sometimes to stray into the Frimley Park woods, where they were shot by Mr. Stansfield’s outspoken Yorkshire butler, Heslop, who stayed on as steward of the property under Mrs. Herries. Her sons, when children, believed that this shooting of the royal deer was high treason, for which Heslop might be hanged. Nothing happened to him, however, and he openly displayed the spoil in the shape of antlers in his cottage. He had a part in the upbringing of Sir William, for he it was who initiated him in the art of shooting with an old muzzle-loading gun, and introduced him to the delights of ferreting and other sports.

In 1877 Sir William passed from Eton to Trinity, Cambridge, his father’s old college. The proximity of Cambridge to Newmarket perhaps imbued him with that love of racing and the thoroughbred horse which remained a passion to the end, though he never owned race-horses or cared for betting. This trait may have been partly inherited from his paternal grandmother’s family the Cromptons, one of her uncles, Mr. Gilbert Crompton, having been well known in the world of sport as owner of more than one winner of the Doncaster St. Leger in the early years of the nineteenth century. In his last years Sir William sought distraction from official cares and worries in the compilation of a work on the modern thoroughbred horse, a labour of love which was published not long before his death. This fondness for racing no doubt added to his popularity in New Zealand, where he was President of or associated with several of the local Jockey Clubs.

Sir William took his B.A. degree with honours in Natural Science in 1880. He had thought of the Bar as a profession, but was persuaded by an Eton and Cambridge friend, Mr. Ernest Meysey-Thompson, a

younger son of Sir Harry Meysey-Thompson of Kirby Hall in Yorkshire, to try his fortune with him in New Zealand.

He started for that country in 1881, and after some travelling about in the colony, in the course of which he visited the famous pink and white terraces of Rotomahana, afterwards destroyed in the great eruption of Tarawera in 1886, he bought in partnership with Thompson a property of some 900 acres at Shaftesbury on the Thames river near Te Aroha in the North Island, then a comparatively unsettled neighbourhood. The land was all in the rough, and neither partner had had practical experience of farming, so they had to learn their work by bitter experience. Herries had a keen sense of humour, and had many amusing recollections of those early days and the primitive bachelor housekeeping. It was hard work at first, but he found pleasant society in the house of his neighbour, Mr. Edward Francis Roche, who had come from County Cork, where he had been agent to his relation Lord Fermoy, to settle with his wife (a Longfield also from Cork) and family of sons and daughters at Ohineroa in the Shaftesbury neighbourhood. Herries eventually, after his return from a visit to England in 1888, married one of those daughters, Catherine Louisa Roche, in December 1889, the marriage proving a very happy one.

Mr. Meysey-Thompson after a few years’ farming in New Zealand returned to England, where he has since been M.P. for the Handsworth Division of Staffordshire, and Herries bought his share and became sole owner of the farm.

Herries’ genial disposition and ability to make friends with all sorts and conditions of men soon made him well known in his district, and in 1891 his Te Aroha friends and neighbours sent him to represent them on the Piako County Council. His work there and on Hospital and other Boards spread his reputation, and he began to be spoken of as a suitable representative of the district in Parliament. Naturally of an easy-going

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A view of Te Aroha from the River Thames.

and unambitious character, and disliking publicity and self-advertisement, it was his sense of the duty owed to the community by persons of good education and fair means that induced him to allow himself to be nominated as a candidate for the Bay of Plenty district at the General Election at the end of 1896. His wife, too, was ambitious on his behalf and wished to see his abilities put to good use. In 1894, two years before this election, he took a trip to England to introduce his wife to his relations. When at home he stayed for a time at Bin-sted-Wyck with his uncle Mr. William Wickham, then M.P. for the Petersfield Division of Hampshire, and accompanied him to some of his political meetings to see how such things were managed in the old country. He admired his uncle’s fluency and readiness of speech, but contrasted his luxurious way of going to meetings, in a comfortable carriage along well-metalled roads, with his own more adventurous canvassing on horseback over mountains and rivers with often no road at all.

During this visit to England he was elected a member of the Athenaeum Club. On his return to New Zealand he had to set about his canvass in earnest, for he had a strong opponent in the person of the sitting member, the Hon. W. Kelly. Those who knew Herries at that time say that he was not then a good or fluent speaker, but his bonhomie and genial ways carried him through triumphantly and he was duly elected to Parliament. Once there he set himself to work to get a thorough mastery of the rules and customs of the House, and the knowledge thus acquired often proved invaluable to his party, then and for the next fifteen years to come in the cold shade of opposition. He soon began to speak and to find his legs in the House, and as time went on he found his parliamentary work more and more absorbing, and at first he still had his County Council work in addition, not giving up those duties till 1899. Then in the recess there had to be electioneering journeys and public speaking in his constituency. Even the journeys to and from Parliament took up time,

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for in those days there was no railway through from Auckland to Wellington, and the voyage had to be made by sea. The farm work began to go to the wall. When his father-in-law was living he was able to superintend the business there in Herries’ absence; but after the death of Mr. and Mrs. Roche in 1903 and the dispersal of the family at Ohineroa the farm difficulties became acute, and Herries decided at last to sell his land and devote himself entirely to politics. It was unavoidable, but after the active open-air life of the farm he felt the contrast of the confined city life and the sedentary parliamentary work with its frequent all-night sittings, often occasioned, it must be admitted, by Herries and his friends. No doubt the seeds were sown of the malady which finally carried him off. Glimpses of the life on the farm occur in his letters home or in those of brothers on visits from England, showing the difference between the well-ordered English life and the rougher Colonial ways. There were stories of a horse wanted in the early morning being driven from the paddock into the garden overnight, so as to be easily caught, and proceeding to roll over his wife’s flower beds, destroying what her poultry had spared; of Herries himself with a broken collarbone riding off to the doctor in the hope of finding him at home.

The parliamentary party to which Herries attached himself was called by itself and its friends the Reform party, and by its foes the Tory party. An English “ Tory,” however, would have seen but little difference between it and the Government or “ Liberal ” party, and would have considered both parties sufficiently Radical. When Herries entered Parliament the Reform party was a mere handful of men under the leadership of Mr. (afterwards Sir William) Russell. For this leader Herries had a great respect and liking, but considered he was too chivalrous a gentleman for the rough and tumble of Colonial politics. The little opposition band gave the Government plenty of trouble and was always ready for a fight, and here Herries’ knowledge

of parliamentary law and practice came in useful. He had all the forms of the House at his fingers’ ends, and never scrupled to use them at his opponents’ expense, and yet he earned the reputation of a fair and chivalrous fighter. He made no enemies, but fought like a gentleman; his hard words did not rankle or leave bitter memories. Without natural eloquence, he yet attained by practice that sort of fluency which comes from a thorough knowledge of the subject spoken of, and he became a ready debater, quick to see the weak points of an opponent’s case. In later times, when he and his party had at last attained office, he used to look back with regret at the long period of free and irresponsible opposition, and there are New Zealanders who think that he showed himself greater in opposition than in office. In 1908, owing to changes in the boundaries of the constituencies, he was elected for the Tauranga district instead of the Bay of Plenty, and he continued to represent this constituency for the rest of his life.

As long as the fortunes of the Government or Liberal party were in the able hands of Mr. Seddon the Reform party had no chance of office. Mr. Seddon himself is said to have had an admiration for Herries’ talents

and to have regretted that he was on the “ wrong side.” With Mr. Seddon’s death in 1906 the prospects of the opposition improved, for the Liberal party began to be rent with internal quarrels, while, on the other hand, the Reform party had been strengthened by the substitution of Mr. Massey as leader in the place of Sir William Russell, who retired from public life. The party too had gained in numbers since Herries’ entrance to Parliament, and as the result of a General Election at the close of 19 11 the Liberals and Reformers were about equal in strength, though labour and other doubtful votes would have given a small majority to the Liberals if they had been united. Early in 1912, however, some of the former followers of Mr. Seddon rebelled against the rule of Sir Joseph Ward, who had succeeded him in the premiership, and in consequence Sir Joseph resigned.

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The malcontents made up a Ministry with Mr. (now Sir Thomas) Mackenzie as Prime Minister, but when this new Government met Parliament a few months later the followers of Sir Joseph Ward either abstained from voting or joined with the Reform party in putting it out of office, with the result that the Governor entrusted Mr. Massey with the task of forming a new Government.

While these events were in progress Herries was absent. His wife’s health had long been failing, and early in 1912 he resolved to accompany her to England with a view of consulting some English specialists. As he was starting he heard of the death of his mother on March 14, and during the homeward voyage a still greater calamity befell him in the death of his wife. She died between the South American coast and the Canary Islands on April 21, and was buried at sea. He arrived in England on May 5, but on account of the state of politics in New Zealand he thought it his duty to hurry back, and only allowed himself three weeks’ rest before starting for Wellington on May 25, in th t lonic, the same ship in which he had made the sad homeward voyage. A brother, who accompanied him, remembers how between Hobart and Wellington on July 10 a “ wireless ” was brought in to him at dinner to say that Mr. Massey had just formed a Government in which he was included. He had at first some suspicion that the “ wireless ” was a practical joke on the part of the ship’s officers, but the news was true, and he believed that he was the first Minister of the Crown to receive his appointment in this way. The same brother remembers how on the arrival of the lonic at Wellington on July 11 Mr. Massey and some other Ministers came out by boat and boarded the ship and carried Herries off in triumph, after much searching for suitable garments, to be sworn in before the Governor. The portfolios allotted to him in the new Cabinet were the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Native Affairs.

Herries rejoiced with his party at this termination

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of the long and strenuous years of opposition, but for himself he felt that it came too late. His wife, to whose encouragement he owed so much, and the mother who would have been so pleased at his success, were both gone. The loss of his wife was a great misfortune: it removed the incentive to work which his unambitious nature required. She was no longer there to be pleased at his successes, and with her much of the zest of the early parliamentary days was gone. He began to feel more and more the confinement and want of exercise that were the consequence of official added to parliamentary duties. He had landed in New Zealand in 18 81 a tall and slim youth, but as time went on his figure and weight increased. He was over six feet in height, and some amusement was caused by one of his first orders as Minister of Railways, that longer blankets were to be provided for the sleeping-berths. Elis tall stature stood him in good stead with the native race, who are still in the stage to love, like Queen Elizabeth, a “ proper man.”

Notwithstanding his private feelings, Herries set to work with his usual thoroughness to learn the duties of his new offices. To infuse new life into the railway system he imported from the old country a general manager, Mr. Hiley, who had held office in one of the great English railway companies. His schemes for railway improvement, however, were brought to an end by the war, when it became necessary to retrench and restrict travelling as much as possible. It was as Minister for Native Affairs that he was able to show his statesmanship. He had always taken a great interest in the native race, and believed that the time had come when the Maoris should no longer be treated as children. He was responsible for much legislature concerning them and the lands occupied by them, encouraging them to cultivate their properties and facilitating sales of uncultivated regions. Some of the Maoris were alarmed at first by certain of his measures, but before his death they acknowledged him to be a great and just Native Minister,

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and he on the other hand was proud of the contingents they sent to the war.

Before the war the chief anxiety that the Government had to face was the great strike of dock-workers in 1913, which threatened to paralyse all the industries of the country. The strike was eventually put down by the action of the farmers, who, finding their work held up by the stoppage of exports, formed themselves into mounted bands and rode into the chief ports in order to afford protection to the docks and to the volunteers who were helping to load the ships. Many other workers were persuaded to join with a view to creating a general strike, and the fear was that the railwaymen might come out, which would have been a severe blow to the Government. There can be little doubt that it was largely due to the firmness and tact of Herries, and to his popularity with the staff, that the men remained loyal and the communications by rail were kept up.

The Cabinet had a very anxious time at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914; the situation was new to Colonial administration and there were no precedents to guide it. It was New Zealand’s first task to capture Samoa, which was successfully accomplished. The General Election of 1914 did not go very well for Mr. Massey. One of his colleagues, Mr. Fisher, the Minister of Customs and Marine, lost his seat, and Herries for a time undertook those portfolios in addition to his original ones. In the summer of 1915 both the great parties agreed to sink their differences during the war, and a coalition or, as it was called, a National Ministry was formed under the premiership of Mr. Massey which included the leading men on both sides. In this Cabinet Herries was included with his two first portfolios of Railways and Native Affairs. This Ministry lasted till 1919, when the liberals under Sir Joseph Ward broke away and Mr. Massey formed a new Cabinet from his own party, in which Herries undertook the offices of Native Affairs and Customs and Marine, and for a time in 1920 he acted

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as Labour Minister in addition to his other posts. In 1920 his services were publicly recognised by his inclusion in the New Year’s Honours list as a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

It seems to have been generally agreed in New Zealand that Herries’ administration of the railways was not so successful as his conduct of the Native Affairs Department, and this Is to a certain extent true. Whether this would have been so if there had been no war, cannot now be proved.

The Minister of Railways in a country like New Zealand, where the railways are practically all National property, is in a position of great difficulty. Firstly he is expected to make the department pay, and to bring a substantial contribution to the annual revenue. He then finds himself between two fires : on the one hand the staff with frequent demands for increased wages and more favourable conditions, and on the other the travelling and trading public with requests for lower fares and rates and a better train service. As has already been stated, the war brought to a sudden end all the schemes for improvement just when they were ripe for execution. The Minister had then to devote himself to the problem of carrying on the service as efficiently and economically as possible under the restrictions imposed by the war. One of the principal functions of the railways then was the conveyance of troops and their equipment to their camps, and thence, when the time came, to the troopships which were to take them to the seat of war. Throughout the four years of the war, when New Zealand in accordance with her patriotic promise was sending monthly contingents to Europe, the railways did their work without a hitch, and this in spite of the fact that the staff was reduced as low as was consistent with safety, so as to allow as many fit men as could be spared to join up and serve with the colours. The general service of the country had to be carried on as well as possible under the circumstances, and the reduction of train facilities caused much grumbling. Herries made no

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complaints, and took the matter in his usual philosophical way, remarking with some humour to his friends that while everyone was agreed as to and even urgent for the necessity of economy in railway administration, not one of them but was up in arms if his own particular train was taken off. He knew that it was impossible to please everyone and made no attempt to do so, but having decided after taking the best advice on the course to be pursued, he carried it out without fear or favour. It is not unlikely that a weaker man, or one of less equable temperament, would have broken down under the strain, but in spite of much local dissatisfaction Herries held steadily on, and it may be that, if ever the history of the war period in New Zealand comes to be written, it will be found that the administration of the railways contributed not a little to the successful part which New Zealand was able to play in bringing about the victory of British arms.

It was in 1920 that the Prince of Wales visited New Zealand, and in his honour Herries organised a great gathering of some 10,000 Maoris, men and women, to meet him at Rotorua and show him some of their national dances and games. It was no easy task: there were questions of transport, commissariat, and lodging to be thought out, and the peace had to be kept between various rival tribes, and in the event matters were complicated by a railway strike. 1 However, all difficulties were surmounted and all went off smoothly and well. There was a precedent to guide Herries in a similar gathering of Maoris to greet the Prince’s parents, the King and Queen, when they visited New Zealand as Duke and Duchess of Cornwall in 1901. He had then been present as member for the district; but the assembly of 1920 was numerically greater. One thing Herries lamented, that, while in the earlier gathering there were plenty of old and middle-aged tattooed men, he himself in 1920 could scarcely find a single one, so completely had the custom died out amongst the men in the

1 Herries was not at this time Minister of Railways.

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intervening period. At this great assembly the Maoris presented Herries with one of the beautiful feather mats for the making of which they are famous. After these Rotorua ceremonies were over Herries received the honour of Knighthood from the Prince, the insignia of the Order of St. Michael and St. George being presented to him by the Governor-General as soon as they arrived from England.

During these years his long parliamentary and official services were telling on him more, and more and he was casting longing eyes to England and hoped to find there a retreat for old age. Loyalty to his colleagues and party, however, kept him at work till towards the end of 1920, when the state of his health necessitated some rest and he determined to go on a visit to England and consult a London specialist. He accordingly resigned his offices, but he kept his seat in Parliament, and so reluctant were Mr. Massey and his colleagues to lose his counsels that a seat in the Executive Council without portfolio was kept open for him pending his return.

He started for England early in 1921, and spent there the fine hot summer of that year. He made his headquarters at his brother’s house at St. Julians near Sevenoaks, a place familiar to him in youth as the country house of his father’s cousins, Sir Charles Herries and his brother and their sister, Miss Isabella Herries, who kept house for them. Here he and his wife had been made welcome by the surviving cousins during the visit to England already mentioned, and here, under the care of his sister-in-law and her household, his health certainly improved. He thoroughly enjoyed this, his last, visit to England. St. Julians was near enough to London for him to spend the day there whenever he wished. He liked listening to debates in the House of Commons and comparing the ways there with those of the New Zealand House. Above all he enjoyed attending with his chief, Mr. Massey, meetings of the Imperial Council then being held. He liked sitting in the historic room

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in Downing Street where so many momentous councils have been held, and meeting and hearing the representatives of the other great Dominions. During this visit he also made an official tour in France with his friend and former colleague in the Government, Sir James Allen, the New Zealand High Commissioner, to visit the graves of New Zealanders who had fallen in the war and to settle the nature and site of a New Zealand Memorial to those who had fought or lost their lives in France. His leisure time he spent in completing and passing through the press the work on thoroughbred horses already alluded to.

Refreshed by this rest he returned to New Zealand in July hoping, if party politics permitted it, to come back in a few years and take up his residence at home for good. On his return he attended Cabinet meetings and, as he had no office of his own, he was always ready to help in the work of other ministers. Unfortunately, the improvement in his health did not long continue, and after about a year it became evident that the end was not far off. He was returned for the last time to Parliament with a large majority at the General Election at the end of 1922. The excitement of his electioneering excursions, no longer made on horseback as in the earlier days, but in a comfortable motor car, seemed to rouse him and do him good, but the improvement was of short duration and his last public appearance was at the meeting of the new Parliament, when he rose from his sick bed and struggled to the House to be sworn in. The end came on February 22, 1923. By his own wish the body was cremated, and after a ceremony in the Anglican Cathedral in Wellington attended by the representative of the GovernorGeneral, the Prime Minister and his colleagues in the Government, the leaders of the opposition parties, and many members of both Houses of Parliament, was conveyed to Te Aroha to be buried there amidst the scenery familiar to him from his earliest days in the Colony. The scenes at the funeral are said to have been most remarkable. Not only were the Prime Minister and political friends on

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At Kotorua -On an Election Tour in the old days.

both sides present, but old acquaintances and constituents of all sorts and conditions from Te Aroha and the surrounding districts for miles around flocked in to pay their last respect to their friend.

Except for a crayon drawing by W. E. Miller in 1881, done just before starting for New Zealand, Herries never sat for his portrait. Mr. W. A. Bowring, soon after Sir William’s death, painted an excellent portrait of him partly from photographs and partly from sketches which he had made from time to time in the House. This portrait was acquired by the Wellington Club, but a replica was commissioned by the relatives in England, and this now hangs at St. Julians. There are, of course, many photographs and snapshots, as well as the usual caricatures to which all public men are liable.

Sir William did not forget his adopted country in his will, for he left the following charitable bequests : r ..it r . fTT \ it 1

£lOOO to the Veterans’ Home, Auckland.

£lOOO to the Auckland Institute and Museum.

to the Mayor and Councillors of Tauranga for the beautification of the Borough.

£lOOO to the Mayor and Councillors of Te Aroha for a similar object.

/1000 to the Tauranga Hospital and Charitable Aid Board.

,£lOOO to the President and Members of the Te Aroha Jockey Club for the purchase of a racing cup.

£soo to the Northern Club, Auckland, for furnishing.

£5OO to the Wellington Club, Wellington, for a similar object.

£750 to the Trustees of the Jubilee Institute for the Blind at Auckland.

£250 to the Vicar and Vestry of the Church of England at Tauranga.

£250 to the Vicar and Vestry of the Church of England at Te Aroha.

£250 to the Vicar and Vestry of the Church of England at Te Puke.

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c

£250 to the Vicar and Vestry of the Church of England at Morrinsville. His books he left to the Parliamentary Library at Wellington.

Herries was not a great letter-writer, though he wrote home very regularly, rarely missing the mail. His letters, however, were generally written in a hurry, and told how things were progressing on the farm, or, if at Wellington, how affairs were going on in the House. They were interesting at the time, but few of them would warrant publication, for which indeed they were not intended.

The following description, dated April 20, 1882, of the Pink and White Terraces, written the year after he landed in the Colony, seems worthy of reproduction, especially as any recorded impressions of these natural wonders, now destroyed, must be of interest :

We have just come back from the hot lakes, and as they are the chief things in New Zealand, I may as well give you a detailed account of them. We, five of us, left Auckland on a Monday afternoon by steamer, getting to Tauranga in the Bay of Plenty at about 10 o’clock next day ; here we had ordered a buggy and four horses to be ready for us, and we started for Ohinemutu, which is a native village on the shores of Lake Rotorua, where there are European hotels, etc. Unfortunately soon after we left Tauranga it began to rain, and rained all the rest of the day. The road to Ohinemutu is rather pretty in fine weather, 18 miles of it being through a pretty bush ; the rest is through undulating fern country. The actual road, however, is beastly, as there is no stone fit for macadamising in the district, so in rain it is very soft. In the bush it is for a great part corduroy, i.e., formed of trunks of small trees and tree ferns laid transversely across, which bump you in driving over in a frightful way. It was dark some time before we got to Ohinemutu, but when we approached it the smell of H 2 S 1 was at once apparent, and thick clouds of steam were visible everywhere along the plain. The village of Ohinemutu is on a sort of promontory in Lake Rotorua, which is a fair-sized lake lying in a good large basin at the sides of which

1 Sulphuretted hydrogen.— Editor.

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may be seen in several places old terraces, shewing that the lake stood formerly much higher. In the centre of Lake Rotorua is a small island which is pretty high. There are hot springs bubbling up all about, especially down on the shores of the lake and also in the lake itself. Some of these are sulphur springs, some are merely hot water, some have a slight geyser action, rising to a foot or two, and some are sort of steam puffs. The Maoris in the native village cook all their meals in the boiling pools, putting their potatoes, crayfish, etc., in kits into the water and boiling them. They also bake bread by putting the dough over a warm spot and putting earth over it to keep the heat in. The hotel accommodation is not good there. 1 In fact, the hotel we were at, though the largest, was quite the worst I have been to in the colony. They have just laid out and sold a township close to Ohinemutu, so perhaps something better may be built. About a mile from the village is another point projecting into the lake called Sulphur Point; here is the best place for bathing, as it is a good way from the village. The baths are merely shallow holes dug at a short distance from a boiling spring and connected with the spring by a shallow trench so that the water gets cooled a bit ; one can also regulate the heat by stopping up the trench with a bit of wood or a sand-bag. These sort of rough baths are all in the open air, and just big enough for two people to sit or lie in. They are building some regular bath houses, so that will be improved. There are baths belonging to the hotels, but they are common and unclean. Sulphur Point receives its name because most of the springs there deposit sulphur on their margins. One can pick up fair specimens of small crystals. A great many of these springs deposit silica in the form of sinter and form rocky masses. Some are in mud and squirt up mud ; in fact, there is every variety. In one place close to a large pool where I could not bear to put my hand in, I found a small pool of quite cold water. The day after we arrived it rained nearly all day, so we could not do much. Thompson and lin the afternoon went and had a boil in a bath on Sulphur Point close to the edge of the lake, so that after boiling one could take a cold plunge into the lake. The next day was wet in the morning but fine in the afternoon, so after lunch we took a buggy and drove over to Wairoa, which is the starting place for seeing the

1 It is needless to say that this is all changed now, and the tourist will find excellent hotel accommodation at Rotorua and throughout the HotLake district.— Editor.

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Terraces. On our way there we turned off the road to see the Geysers of Whakarewarewa, which is about three miles from Ohinemutu. Here after leaving our buggy one goes along a narrow track through the scrub between the usual boiling springs and pools, into which one has to be careful not to step, to a small Maori village on the slope of a hill. Beyond this up a small valley is a regular Geyser with a sort of rough terraced cone of silica, and spouting up at irregular intervals to about twenty feet. There are other smaller ones near, and remains of extinct ones. Wending our way back through the village and the narrow path to our trap, we again urged on our mad career, going along the usual fern country, then through a bit of bush to a very pretty little lake called Tikitapu. This is surrounded by high cliffs and has no outlet. The cliffs are composed of a sort of volcanic agglomerate. The waters of this lake are a lovely blue. Driving along the side of the lake we leave it and just pass the head of another larger one, then into the little village of Wairoa, about twelve miles from Ohinemutu. Here we find a very comfortable little hostelry, 1 kept by Mr. Macrae as mine host, who did his best to make us comfortable, an agreeable contrast to the hotels at Ohinemutu. We got there about six, had dinner, then went out to the Maori meeting house and saw them dance a haka, as they call the native dance. It is danced in two lines, women in front and men behind, and consists in various contortions of the body, pointing of fingers, and other actions, accompanied by sort of Gregorian chants and groans. For this we paid one sovereign. It was, however, well worth it. The next day luckily proved fine, though cloudy. After a breakfast at 7.30 a start was made at 8.30 with our guide, Kate Middlemiss, 2 a half-caste. We were first rowed across Lake Tarawera in a whale boat by six Maoris, who stopped every quarter of an hour to drink rum, a bottle of which we had imprudently given them before starting. This took us about three hours, the distance being six or seven miles. On reaching the other side we disembarked, and transferred our luncheon basket, coats, and other impedimenta, to a small canoe to be taken up a small stream which connects Lake Rotomahana with Lake Tarawera, while we went on foot for

1 This hotel was destroyed in the eruption of 1886. The ruins may still be seen.— Editor.

2 For a description of the guides see Froude’s account of his visit to the Terraces in 1885, the year before their destruction— Oceana, c. xvi. — Editor.

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about a mile to the Terraces. On ascending a hill the first view of Rotomahana was visible. The first feeling was one of disappointment. 1 The lake itself is one of no beauty, being small and shallow, filled with reeds and rushes. On the left, on the side of a hill and with its base washed by the waters of the lake, we saw the far-famed White Terrace, but as we were looking sideways at it, it did not look so big as we were prepared for from photographs, etc. The next thought was “ How beautiful !” on catching sight of the lovely blue water in the basins on the terraces compared with the pure whiteness of the rock, the contrast between the blue, which may be called azure, of the water, the white of the terraces, the dark green of the manuka scrub being unique, while the whole is capped by a dense cloud of steam rising from the seething cauldron at the top. Further on, on the same side, various other steam clouds could be seen, denoting boiling springs, steam jets, and what not. On the right could be seen on the other side of the lake the steam from the Pink Terrace, which was, however, itself hidden from view. We lost no time in descending, and soon were on the lower tiers of the White Terrace. Description would entirely fail to reproduce the wonders of the Terrace. I shall either by this or next mail send you some photographs of the Terraces, which shew very well the series of steps which consist of fret-worked basins enclosing sheets of this beautiful blue water, cold at the bottom of the terrace, but of course boiling at the top. We did not bathe then, but on a subsequent visit I had a plunge into some of the basins which are just in one’s depth, so that one can have a good header and swim. It is most curious going in, the upper layer of water being as hot as one can bear it, while below it is as cold as ice, which is of course easily accounted for by the fact that there is no outlet except by overflow, when it is of course the hot water only that flows over. Bathing here is rather unpleasant from the fact that the beautiful fret-work round the edges cuts one’s feet terribly. Well, to return, we ascended to the top, and looked into the boiling cauldron at the top, but could not see much on account of the steam. It is of a good size, as big nearly as the little cowpond with the island at Frimley, 2 and at one corner we could hear a sort of geyser action going on. I was told that now and then it becomes quite empty and people can go and look right down into the funnel. At such times it is a regular geyser

1 The lake is now of immense depth owing to the eruption.— Editor. 2 Alluding to his old home in Surrey, see p. 4. — Editor.

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with periodical action I believe. I heard the other day an ingenious argument to account for the formation of the Terraces. That the water charged with silica falling down the side of the hill covered with scrub deposited its silica against the stems of the scrub, and so gradually banked them up till the upper branches unable to bear the weight bent over, and the water flowed over them in a waterfall. This might account for the fact that a terrace form was adopted by the water ; but the formation or addition to the terraces is now produced by the deposition of the suspended silica in the basins and also by the evaporation of the water as it flows slowly over or trickles down the terraces already formed. After leaving the Terrace we continued our way through the scrub further on, on the same side of the lake. The next thing we saw was a big hole with a sheet of boiling water in it, through which at intervals a column of water was shot up to about twenty feet. This spring was not siliceous, but had a smell of H 2 S. We then saw a smaller one of the same kind, and then passed a boiling basin and came down to the shore of the lake where there are some small hot springs and holes. Here we put our potatoes and crayfish, which we had brought with us, to boil for our lunch, and while they were cooking we went up again into a small lateral valley called the mud flats. One side of this valley looks as if it were on fire, having steam coming out all over and having a baked appearance like alum pit refuse. 1 In this valley were one or two curious things, one of which was a beastly boiling mud spring of a chocolate colour, which bubbled up with a squelch, also a tremendous steam jet which one heard for some way off like a locomotive blowing off steam. At the end of the mud flat valley was a green pond quite cold. I don’t know what caused its colour. We then turned back and saw one or two more mud springs and boiling holes and a cavern where an old chief used to live, and then came back to our crayfish and potatoes, which we found beautifully cooked. Having done justice to the viands before us we embarked in our canoe to the Pink Terrace which is on the other side of the lake. This is smaller than the White and of a delicate salmon colour. Here we enjoyed one of the most delightful baths I have ever experienced. The basins, though not so big and deep as those in the White Terrace, are smoother, and do not cut one, and being shallower there is no stratum of cold water. They are about three or four feet deep, and every gradation of temperature can

1 An allusion to the remains of burnt shale in the old disused alum quarries near Whitby in Yorkshire, see p. 4. — Editor.

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be obtained by going up nearer the boiling place at the top. The top one is about too or I to Fahr., and one could just go into it. Our guide and another Maori girl, who was the daughter of the old chap who ferried us over, bathed with us with chemises on, so we had great fun, more than what the veriest Joseph could partake of, the girls being perfectly modest. 1 After thus enjoying ourselves we again took ship and paddled down the lake and down the connecting stream through which a strong current runs to Lake Tarawera, where we found our boat waiting for us, the men very discontented at our having been so long away. The wind having got up we got under sail, and got across in about an hour and a half, reaching Wairoa at about six, when we were able to do justice to dinner provided by host Macrae in his best style. The next day was wet. We however took a walk of about six miles, two of which were on a narrow track through beautiful bush, to look at a small lake which would have been very pretty on a fine day. Next day, Easter Sunday, Thompson and I hired horses and rode over to the Terraces for a second time. Riding takes a shorter time, but the track is rather rough and one has to do a good deal of leading up and down hills. However, it is much cheaper. We only went to the White Terrace and bathed as I mentioned before. It was a showery day with sunlight now and then. The next day we returned to Ohinemutu, and the day after to Tauranga, and next day to Auckland.

When Parliament reassembled in June 1923, in accordance with custom, Motions of Adjournment in sympathy with deceased Members were moved in both Houses. The following is a copy of the Resolutions moved and the speeches delivered with reference to Sir William Herries.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 June 15, 1923.

The Right Hon. Mr. MASSEY (Prime Minister). —I desire to move presently, Mr. Speaker, That this House records its high sense of the distinguished services rendered to New Zealand

1 It must be remembered that in those Victorian days “ mixed bathing ” was unknown.— Editor.

2 The proceedings in the Lower House are placed first as being earlier in date and as being the House in which Herries sat throughout his political career.— Editor.

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by the late Honourable Sir William Herbert Herries, a member of the House of Representatives and also of the Executive Council , and for some years a Minister of the Crown, and respectfully tenders to his relatives the assurance of its sincere sympathy with them in their bereavement. The late Sir William Herries was born in London on the 19th April, 1859. He was educated at Eton and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1880. In 1881 he arrived in Auckland, and settled in the Shaftesbury district, near Te Aroha. For eight years he represented Te Aroha Riding in the Piako County Council, and for four years was a member of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. He was elected as member for Bay of Plenty in the House of Representatives in December, 1896, and sat continuously in the House until his death, the name of his electorate being changed in 1908 to Tauranga. He was appointed Minister of Railways and Minister of Native Affairs in July, 1912, when the present Government took office. During his Ministerial career he also at different times administered other important portfolios, including Labour, Customs, and Marine. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1920, on the occasion of the visit of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales to New Zealand. 11l health attacked him in the latter part of his life, and on this account he resigned his portfolios in 1921 in order to visit England. He retained his seat, however, on the Executive Council until his death, on the 22nd February last, in his sixty-fourth year. Sir, I feel I am right in expressing the opinion that no member of the House was better known, more popular, or more highly respected than the late Sir William Herries. He was a member of the House of Representatives for as nearly as possible twenty-six years, and I feel certain that during all those years he never made an enemy or lost a friend. On the contrary, when his death became known it was quite evident that he was respected not only in that part of the Dominion which he specially represented, but in nearly every centre of the country from one end to the other. Probably there was no member of the House who had the opportunity of knowing the late Sir William Herries so well as I myself did. I have represented for twenty-nine years, and Sir William Herries represented for twenty-six years, a country electorate in the Auckland Provincial District. Ido not need to remind members that so far as party politics were concerned he was on the same side as myself. For quite a number of years we sat on the same bench—the bench which I now occupy —and during all those years no man could have had a more loyal comrade or a better friend than

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Sir William Merries proved to me. So far as his constituents were concerned, the great majority of them proved themselves as true as steel to the late member. They recognized the nobility of his character. They recognized that his word was his bond, that nothing would cause him to deviate from the straight course or the strict truth. Sir, thinking of Sir William Merries reminds me of a quotation which as nearly as possible applies to the member who has gone—a quotation from a great British poet ;

“ Statesman, yet friend to truth ! of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honour clear ; Who broke no promise, served no private end, Who loved his country, and who lost no friend.” 1

Sir, I shall never forget the scene at the funeral of the late Sir William Merries. When the funeral party reached Te Aroha, the centre of his electorate, needless to say all business was suspended and all the business houses were closed. The country people came in crowds, and what was taking place in Te Aroha on that occasion reminded me of the saying in Scripture, “ Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.” When the funeral cortege —and it was one of the largest I have ever seen —passed through the streets of Te Aroha, and those who were able to do so entered the church which he had attended during his long residence in the Dominion, I just wish to say I have seen no more pathetic scene, and I am quite certain of this ; there were very few dry eyes either inside or outside the church. One phase of the character of Sir William Merries was this, and I think all honourable members know it : that he was a patriotic and enthusiastic citizen of the country to which he belonged. He loved the land of his birth and he loved the land of his adoption. He was thoroughly patriotic in each case. During the strenuous years of the Great War Sir William Merries never wavered in his opinions. He never wavered in the very slightest in this ; that it was the business and duty of this Dominion and the business of the other countries of the Empire to carry on until victory came. He was confident that victory would come in the end, and it did. Sir, it is interesting to look back and recollect that his very last act, so far as this House was concerned, was his taking the oath of allegiance on the day when Parliament opened on the occasion of the short session. No member could

1 Pope (Epistle to Addison) on James Craggs, Secretary of State, 1718, died 1721. — Editor.

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look at Sir William Herries on that occasion without thinking what a pathetic figure he presented. He was dying, and he knew it. But he made up his mind that he would do his duty to the very last, and when he left this House on that occasion and went back to the hospital from which he had come for the purpose of taking the oath of allegiance and signing his name in the book that is kept for the purpose he knew perfectly well that he would never enter it again. Sir, he has gone from amongst us. He has gone over to the great majority, and I feel absolutely certain of this : that the historian of the future will keep his name before the public, and deservedly so, for many generations to come, not only as that of a great citizen of this country, but also as a great citizen of the Empire. I move the motion, Sir.

Mr. WILFORD (Leader of the Opposition).—Mr. Speaker, I desire to associate myself with the motion which has been moved by the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. And I desire, in seconding the motion moved by the right honourable gentleman, to pay my tribute to the honourable member who has passed away, that tribute being an expression of the feelings of the party of which I am leader, and which desires on an occasion of this kind to join with the Prime Minister in sympathetic accordance. For nearly a quarter of a century I have sat on the opposite side of the House to the late honourable gentleman. I have seen him on the Opposition side, the keenest and cleverest debater, and, with the exception perhaps of the late Mr. Hone Heke, the cleverest stonewaller this House has ever known. I have seen him as a fellow-member of a Government—for I had the honour of being, during the years of the war, a colleague of his in the National Ministry—and I can say without exaggeration that the honourable gentleman who has died deserves worthily the tribute paid to him by his chief. He was a Disraeli in diplomacy, he was a Lord Chesterfield in his conduct in Parliament, and he was an Erskine May in his knowledge of the Standing Orders. I have often discussed with the late honourable gentleman points of procedure, and I believe there was no other man in this House who had such a knowledge of parliamentary procedure as he had. I believe he had a desire in his heart for the Speakership, but I know from my conversations with him that he was ever ready to stand, as his chief has said, at his right hand, with that wise counsel, good judgment, and wonderful temperament —a temperament such as is given to few men—and let his ambition go. In all the time for which I was opposed to the late honourable gentleman in Parliament I never saw him lose

his temper. I never knew him to get heated in debate. Perhaps it was his high sense of humour that gave him a sense of proportion which made for calm deliberation and cool decision ; but, whatever it was, he had a temperament almost unknown in this House to-day. He had a temperament which it was impossible to ruffle. If he was ever ruffled he did not show it. In the bitterest times, when feelings ran high, as sometimes they do in parliamentary controversy, I always saw the late honourable gentleman cool and smiling. As a sportsman I knew him well. He was one of the Dominion’s leading sportsmen. He was a man who loved every kind of sport. Of racing, perhaps, he had made a closer study than of any other form of sport; but there was no form of sport, either in the Old Country or in this, with which he was not absolutely familiar. His book on the horse will long live as a monument to his industry and his love of the animal. He was not a betting man—he loved racing and horses for the sport of the game. This Parliament can ill afford to lose such men ; this country can ill afford to lose him ; and the Empire has undoubtedly suffered a serious loss in the great Imperialist who has passed away. On behalf of the party I represent, I second the motion.

Mr. HOLLAND (Buller). —Mr. Speaker, on behalf of all the members on the Labour benches I wish whole-heartedly to associate myself with the sympathetic references which have been made by the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition to the late Sir William Herries. One thing that always struck me in connection with Sir William Herries was the fact that he was so intensely human. Over and over again in this House—and not only in this House, but also in the Ministerial rooms—we have come into conflict, we have had many differences of opinion, and views have been strongly expressed, but I cannot remember a single occasion on which Sir William Herries ever showed the least inclination to lose his temper or to become intolerant. I think he was the one man in this House who was able to set an example of tolerance to other members. I remember when on one occasion, right in the middle of the war period, when there were very great differences of opinion, it became my duty to go to him, as the senior Minister then in Wellington, with reference to certain matters upon which the Labour movement held strong views. We met him, and all through the interview he was most tolerant and good-humoured ; he listened to our representations, and when he disagreed with us he did so with a clear-cut expression of his own opinion, but never once did he

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betray the least intolerance. In the House, during the big fights on matters of principle, he figured always as a man who was well read, and one who could claim to be amongst the intellectuals of New Zealand, and certainly in the forefront of the intellectuals as far as this House was concerned. lam sure that his death, which must have been a very severe loss to his party, also inflicted a great loss upon this House. He will be greatly missed, especially in the debates and for his deep knowledge of current history and the history that belongs to the past. I wish to convey to the Government the sympathy of the members of this party, and our regret that they should have suffered the heavy loss which they have sustained ; and I also wish to join with the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition in their expressions of sympathy with the relatives of the late Sir William Herries. lam sure that there is not one single member in the House who will not deeply regret his passing.

Mr. MACMILLAN (Tauranga).—Mr. Speaker, as the successor in the seat of the late Sir William Herries it is only fitting that I should add my tribute of respect to the late member. I did not have the pleasure of sitting in this House with Sir William Herries, but I may say that I knew him personally and intimately for twenty-seven years. I can endorse all the remarks in regard to the deceased honourable gentleman which have fallen from the Right Hon. the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, and the leader of the Labour party. It is with great sorrow that I sit in this House, knowing that I am filling the place rendered vacant by the death of Sir William Herries. He was a man who did good by stealth, who never let his left hand know what his right hand was doing. He was a very worthy example of the class of man that the late Cecil Rhodes endeavoured to establish in the world by his scholarships. Sir William Herries stood for all those principles which the late Cecil Rhodes had in mind in providing his scholarships. He was a very good example of the British public-school man and university graduate, and I think members of the House, and statesmen in the world generally, can very well model themselves on Sir William Herries’s lines.

The Hon. Mr. NGATA (Eastern Maori District). —Mr. Speaker, in the absence of the Hon. Sir Maui Pomare, I should like to join with the leaders of the chief parties in the House in paying a tribute to the late honourable member for Tauranga, a man whom we all respected very highly. It was the privilege of a few to do more than respect him—they admired and loved him. I was one of Sir William Herries’s political opponents,

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H R H. the Prince of Wales at Rotorua with Sir William Merries and Sir Maui Pomare.

and I have said to his face on many occasions what I thought of him as a public man. I think it is on record somewhere that I called him a hard-hearted man, and that if one looked into his heart there was nothing but a cold-blooded scientific interest in human kind. But it was my pleasurable duty during the last few years of our acquaintanceship to be able to retract what I had said formerly, and to say to the late member for Tauranga that, after all, he was only the typical Englishman with a cold exterior whose heart very few men were privileged to look into. Two or three years before Sir William Herries gave up the portfolio of Native Affairs he rose higher in the estimation of the Native race than he did at any time during the whole course of his term as Native Minister. The occasion was the reception to the Prince of Wales at Rotorua, when, figuratively speaking, the ice was broken down between Sir William Herries and the people to whom he owed the duty of looking after their welfare. It was the occasion of the railway strike. All manner of difficulties arose in and about the camp at Rotorua, not only in connection with transport, but with other arrangements. It was then that the cold Englishman was able to come out of his shell and to reveal himself to the Maori people as a man with human feelings who considered all the small details of their comfort. They were able to say that to his face at Rotorua, and before his death he had the satisfaction of knowing that from one end of the North Island to the other, and throughout the South Island, too, he had reached the highest pinnacle of any man during his time in the estimation of the Maori race. Already they have paid a tribute to his ashes where they are laid at Te Aroha. This tribute has been paid in various ways —by telegrams, by letter, and on public occasions—and it is fitting that on this occasion one of the Maori representatives should join with the leaders of the House in paying respect to the memory of a rangatira A I think the keynote to the success of the late Sir William Herries as Native Minister was essentially his sense of justice, and above all—this is a fact the country might take note of—he was in fact a rangatira. Whenever the day may come when a tutua shall hold the seat of Native Minister I am sure difficulties will arise. The country has been fortunate in the past in the regular succession of the men who have held that portfolio, because they have been men in every sense of the word. I listened to the tribute paid by the Prime Minister, the leader of the Opposition, and the leader of the Labour party, and I find they are quite in accord with the majority of the Maori people,

1 Chief.— Editor.

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who have paid a tribute of respect to the memory of the late Sir William Herries because he was not only a great man but a great rangatira.

The Hon. Mr. PARR (Minister of Education). —Sir, I desire to pay a very brief tribute to the memory of a man who was my oldest friend in this House. I can recall the late Sir William Herries when he came to New Zealand in the early “ eighties ” and settled in a backblock district near Te Aroha, a few miles from the property owned by my father. I was a lad attending the district school, and I remember Sir William when he settled in that district. It was a strange environment, Mr. Speaker, for a man of his type, for he was a scion of a great English family whose name is famous in English parliamentary history, and fresh from the ancient seat of learning—Cambridge—thrown suddenly into this backblock area. A remarkably fine spirit, a genius for adapting himself to his environment and to circumstances—these qualities were revealed in Sir William Herries. Within twelve months he was the best-liked man in that district; within, I think, a year, he was elected to the County Council, and a few years afterwards to the Hospital Board. My father and he were warm friends—almost bosom friends—to the last. I think my father was the chairman of his first committee, and he occupied that position for many years. I merely mention this to show how beloved the man was in this backblock district where he first made his home. Then he came to this House. He has been spoken of in eloquent terms by previous speakers as a great politician. May I remind the House, Sir, that there was another side of Sir William. He was indeed a great scholar. I think, probably he was one of the best classical scholars in New Zealand. I have seen him sitting by the Prime Minister’s side reading in the original Latin authors, and last session I remember him also reading in the original French such diverse authors as Montaigne, Balzac, and Dumas. He was perhaps the most highly educated man in this House. He certainly was, in my humble judgment, the most widely read and best-informed man in this House. Sir, the member for the Eastern Maori District has referred in fitting terms, and in language which that gentleman alone can command in this House, to Sir William’s association with the Maori race. Truly, as that honourable gentleman said, we have had great Native Ministers. I can recall, as a boy—coming from the Auckland Province, as I do—the day when the office of Native Minister was second only in importance to that of the Prime Minister, such were the troubles and travail

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of those early days in the relations of the pakeha 1 with the Maori. We have had great men in that office. One can recall the names of Sir Donald McLean, of John Sheehan, John Bryce, and others ; but of all the Native Ministers that New Zealand has had I do not believe there was one who was a more honest or truer friend of the Native race than that quiet, reserved, and honourable Englishman, Sir William Herries. He possessed what few pakehas possess—an accurate knowledge of the psychology of the Maori. He knew the Maori mind and temper ; he knew the Maori could not be driven ; he knew that almost anything could be accomplished with the Maori by gentleness, by affectionate treatment, and by tactful patience. He was indeed, Sir, a great Native Minister. But, as has been said by the leader of the Opposition, I think his greatest exploits were in opposition. If some day a book of his life were written by some impartial and well-informed pen, I think it would be recorded that probably he was the greatest oppositionist—if I may for a moment com a term —that has ever been seen in the New Zealand Parliament. I shall not mention “ stonewall,” as the term is contrary to our Standing Orders, but I have been told, and members know from experience, that in the gentle art of organizing parliamentary opposition Sir William Herries was easily a past-master. Mr. Seddon—and Mr. Seddon was himself a great man and a great parliamentary tactician, with unsurpassed knowledge of the Standing Orders—l believe admitted on more than one occasion that there was no criticism more effective or more deadly than that which came from the pleasant lips of the late member for Tauranga. Sir, I wish to conclude by saying that nowhere in New Zealand is his death more deeply and sincerely mourned, nowhere in New Zealand will his memory be so long preserved, as in the little backblock district where he lived and where I was greatly indebted to him for many kindnesses.

Mr. SIDEY (Dunedin South). —Mr. Speaker, I should like to add just a very few words to the tribute being paid to the memory of the late Sir William Herries. He was in this House when I entered it over twenty-one years ago, and from that time to the time of his death we both had an uninterrupted parliamentary service. I can speak of him, as the leader of the Opposition can, from the opposite side of the House. I saw him for just about one-half of that period on the front benches of the Opposition, and for the remainder of the period on the front benches of the Government side of the House ; and I am sure

1 Maori word for European.— Editor.

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I can say that there was no more capable member. In my individual opinion he was the ablest member in this House. He has told me that he enjoyed his work in opposition far more than his subsequent work as a Minister of the Crown. He was a keen critic and an able debater, and, while he could administer very severe blows, one always felt by the smile that was on his countenance that there was no personal animus. Reference has been made to his keen sporting instincts, and I am just going to refer to one incident in my own experience that made me feel that the late Sir William Herries was what is known as a “ real sport.” A year or two after I entered the House I was in charge of a public Bill which was referred to a Select Committee of which the late Sir William Herries was appointed Chairman. I know, when the Bill was in Committee of the House, that he might have raised some points against it—in fact, he spoke to me himself of them—but he was generous, and he refrained from offering any opposition to my Bill, which was subsequently placed upon the statute-book. I have always remembered the assistance given to me by the late Sir William Herries on that occasion, especially as it came from one on the opposite side of the House to myself, and I am glad of the opportunity of joining in this tribute to his memory. I sympathize with the Prime Minister in the loss of so able a colleague, and join in the expressions of sympathy extended to the relatives.

Mr. YOUNG (Hamilton). —Sir, I wish to add my quota of appreciation of the life and service of the great man, Sir William Herries, who has passed away. There were three outstanding features in his character ; First, the kindly nature and gentlemanly bearing—a true type of English gentleman and a great sportsman ; secondly, the perfect sense of justice and fairness he showed towards all men, especially in dealing with Maori matters and with those opposed to him ; thirdly, the great intellect of the man—he was in every sense a brilliant scholar, and his was a master mind in diplomacy. In regard to this last feature of his character it was very prominently brought to my mind, and gave me an insight into the man, when some fifteen years ago I was contesting an election with him. He was delivering an address at Cambridge, and when he came to deal with the question of Native-land policy he said to his audience, “ My opponent, Mr. Young, has been here, and has dealt ably with the subject, and, as his views are identical with my own, he has left nothing for me to say.” There was the master-stroke of diplomacy and gentlemanly instinct. I have been thrown much into contact with

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him for a number of years, and the more one knew of the man the more one liked him and learned to love him. What impressed me most was his grasp of all matters appertaining to Native affairs. His knowledge of the history of the more important blocks of Native lands in various parts of the Dominion, and especially the tribal history associated with their ownership, was unrivalled. There was not another pakeha in New Zealand who came near him in this respect. His wise counsel will be sadly missed at the deliberations of the Native Affairs Committee, and his place will be hard to fill. I was Chairman of that Committee all through the years when he was Minister of Native Affairs. He was most attentive to the work of that Committee, and always held the record for attendance at its meetings, thus evidencing his devotion to the Native affairs of this country. The most important and lasting of his work as a statesman, and by which he will be long remembered, will be that accomplished as Minister in charge of Native Affairs. He was held in the highest respect by the Native race, who had for him the greatest aroha. 1 In many respects he set a very exalted standard of life, and his name will occupy a high place of honour among the men who have sat in the New Zealand Parliament. Words fail to express one’s feelings of admiration for the late Sir William Herries, and as I speak I am reminded of the words which, I understand, were written by Robert Burns and placed on his father’s tombstone :—•

‘ Few hearts like his with virtue warmed,

Few heads with knowledge so informed ;

If there’s another world, he lives in bliss ;

If there be none, he made the best of this.’

And undoubtedly that typifies the great man who has passed away, and whose memory we are here honouring this afternoon.

Mr. HOCKLY (Rotorua). —As the member who now represents a large area of territory which at one time was represented by the late Sir William Herries, and as I had the privilege during Sir William’s last visit to England of looking after the interests of his constituency, I wish to add my tribute to his memory. Throughout the length and breadth of the territory which I represent Sir William Herries is held in affectionate and grateful memory for the great services he rendered to the people there. They recognize that it was a privilege to be represented by a man of such outstanding character and of such great ability. And

1 Love.— Editor.

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D

it is not only a privilege, but a very great responsibility, to have to follow in his footsteps. He has raised the tone of the public life of this country. By his example he has laid an impress upon it for all time, and the public life of New Zealand is on a higher plane because of his participation in it.

The Hon. Mr. COATES (Minister of Native Affairs). —I have very little to say ; so much has been said, and well said. The late honourable gentleman has set an example which the younger generation can well follow. His strict impartiality, good judgment, and absolute justice stood to him in his conduct of affairs as Native Minister. His work has, for the time being, fallen upon my shoulders, and I must say that it has been an inspiration to follow what he did, and to see how strictly fair he was, and to note the justice and sense of fair play he showed towards the Native race. I think that whoever follows him will find an inspiration in his work. As to what the Maori race think of Sir William Herries, one has only to turn up the files and see the telegrams which they sent. I have here a telegram in Maori sent by three of the most prominent Maoris on behalf of their race, and addressed, in accordance with the ancient custom of Maori chiefs, to the remains of the late Sir William Herries, care of the Right Hon. the Prime Minister. The translation of it reads—

‘ Affliction’s deepest gloom

Enwraps this house.

For in it Herries lies,

Whose death eats out our hearts.

’Twas he to whom we closest clung

In days gone by.

‘ For thee, O Sire !

We raise the loud cry of grief,

For the Ship of Fate has passed

Haumu’s distant shores,

On whose all-destroying sea

Our great one died.

Farewell ! ’

Motion agreed to.

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LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

June 19, 1923.

The Hon. Sir FRANCIS BELL (Attorney-General).— Sir, I beg to move, That this Council records its sense of the distinguished service rendered to New Zealand by the late Honourable Sir William Herbert Herries, a member of the House of Representatives, and for some years a Minister of the Crown, and respectfully tenders to his relatives an assurance of its sympathy with them in their bereavement. The late Sir William Herries was the one outstanding member of Parliament, during all the time that he sat in the House of Representatives, whose knowledge of political methods—and honourable political methods—was beyond that of any other member of Parliament. He was brought up in England in the atmosphere of English politics, a close relative of one who was Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Goderich Administration, imbued with the traditions of the great places of learning where he was educated—Eton and Trinity. He came to New Zealand and settled as a farmer in the district which, not many years after his arrival, chose him for important services on local bodies, and later elected him to Parliament, and returned him as its member during the whole of his political career in New Zealand. During the time he served in Parliament in opposition he was Mr. Massey’s chief lieutenant. After accession to office—he took office at the same time as Mr. Massey and by Mr. Massey’s choice—he was the foremost Minister in the Administration, in which he continued from the day when he took office until the day of his death. No one of his colleagues can think of him or speak of him without emotion. I speak of a loyal and a faithful friend of many years, a man who was wise in council, and who never agreed to take a mean advantage, in politics or in private life. He was in that way a guide and a help to us all. In the Departments that he administered he was most diligent and earnest in his service. Sorrows in private life had cut him off from social engagements, and he gave all his time to the public service. Ido not speak of his work in other Departments than the Native Office, because it is in his administration of that Department that he distinguished himself so much and did so much credit to the Dominion. There is no page in the story of our relations with the Native Race of which New Zealand has any cause to be ashamed. No other country, I believe, has so clear a record of regard and respect for the rights of the aboriginals whom it supplanted in the possession of territory ; but the pages

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which record Sir William Herries’s part in the defence of Native rights—with due regard to the rights of their fellow-countrymen in New Zealand—will be not the least distinguished in the story. When the Native Land Acts were repealed in 1909 —not consolidated, but replaced by a new statute which displaced many of the old traditions of Native legislation—the great lawyer who drafted the Act inserted in it a section—section 100 —which reserved to the Crown power to prevent inquiry by the Native Land Court into Native rights in cases where such an inquiry appeared to the Government to be contrary to the public interest. Sir William strenuously objected on behalf of the Natives to any restriction of their right to approach the Native Land Court in respect to any claim whatsoever. His first act in the year 1913 was to cause that section to be repealed. The Native Land Court—the Court of Native right—became opened again to every class of claim ; whether legitimate or illegitimate, it again became the duty of the Court to determine it. The Natives had learned to trust him, and relied upon him throughout the whole period of his administration of the Native Office. I remember well a distinguished Native member of another place, who himself had served as member of another Government, stating that he could always leave at any period of the session, because he knew that Sir William Herries would not allow any Native legislation to proceed which had not been fully understood and explained to him (the Native member) and his colleagues before the legislation was introduced or at least immediately after it was introduced. Nothing was more touching than the real sorrow shown by the Natives throughout New Zealand when they heard that his end had come. We who carried his ashes through Te Aroha, conferring the last rites on our departed friend, passed through in that procession a concourse of people such as Te Aroha had never seen before. Men and women had assembled there from every part of the constituency to show their respect for the memory of the man in whom they had shown so much confidence in his lifetime. Let me say that this is not an ordinary form of resolution that the Council is asked to agree to. We who have sat in this Chamber for years, while he sat in the other, learned to know and respect him, to understand what a courteous gentleman he was, how careful not to offend ; nevertheless, he was always certain of his own opinion, determined in his purpose, but always without offence to those whom he had to meet in opposition. Sir, as I think of him it is always with the greatest sorrow that I remember we shall never meet again.

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The Hon. Sir E. MITCHELSON.—Sir, in rising to second the motion, I desire to place on record my tribute of respect to the memory of the late Sir William Herries. I knew the honourable gentleman for many years before he entered Parliament. When he did enter Parliament he was for sixteen years in opposition before attaining Ministerial rank. From my knowledge of his career I can endorse every word that has fallen from the leader of this Council in respect to his Ministerial career. While in opposition the Hon. Sir William Herries was a most severe and caustic critic, and never raised tys voice to speak on any subject without having fully mastered it. His great forte was in Committee, but, although he was a very severe and caustic critic, his very pleasant and happy smile never failed to please his opponents. I remember on one occasion hearing the late Right Hon. Mr. Seddon say that he always feared Mr. Herries, who kept him on tenterhooks all the time he was being opposed by him ; and there is no doubt he had reason to fear so able a critic, for he was a thorn in the side of the Government, for when he spoke he was “ on the ball ” the whole time. Ido not think there was any ordinary member of Parliament who had such a thorough knowledge of parliamentary procedure as the late Sir William Herries had. He was very often consulted by the younger members on points in connection with the Standing Orders. He made many friends in Parliament, as our leader has stated, and he had also an enormous number of friends in and around the district where he settled to take up the occupation of a farmer, and since his advent into politics that number has gradually increased. During the time he served as a member of the Government he displayed great administrative ability, and I am satisfied from my knowledge of his career, as well as from what the leader of this Council has said, that he was a great source of strength to the Massey Government. I do not think, if you look over the history of the Parliament of New Zealand, you will find any member who had a seat in it that was more constant in his attendance upon his parliamentary duties than the late Sir William Herries was during the whole of his career in Parliament. Ido not know of any one who was so regular in his attendance : he was always in his seat at the ringing of the bell. And, as I have said, he was indeed a tower of strength to the Government, and Mr. Massey never had any reason to fear because of his own absence from the Chamber if the Hon. Sir William Herries was there. Now he has gone from whence no traveller returns. Peace be to his memory.

The Hon. Mr. E. NEWMAN.—Sir, it is with considerable

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diffidence that at this early stage in my career in this Chamber I venture to speak ; but I cannot allow this occasion to pass without joining in the tribute which has been paid to Sir William Herries in such fitting language by the leader of the Council and by my honourable friend on my left, Sir Edwin Mitchelson. Sir William Herries was a stamp of man which is not very often found in these colonies. More of his stamp are to be found in the outlying parts of the Empire—in those vast provinces where Great Britain holds protective rights, and where British influence is represented very often by young men, who almost alone and unprotected control and administer justice over a numerous Native population. These men spring, as a rule, from the same class in life as did Sir William Herries, who was fortunate in having been educated at one of the best, if not the best, public school in England—Eton. He also had a degree from one of the oldest universities, and some training, I understand, as a barrister 1 in London. Gifted in this way, it was natural that the settlers in the Bay of Plenty district speedily discovered the ability and capacity of the man and the extent of his knowledge, with the result that before long he was elected as their representative in Parliament. When I entered Parliament, in 1908, I found Mr. Massey, Sir James Allen, and Sir William Herries the leaders in what was then the Opposition party. In the course of a few years, when the Opposition became the Government, Sir William Herries was appointed Native Minister and Minister of Railways. The honourable the leader of the Council has explained the admirable manner in which Sir William Herries carried out his duties as Native Minister. I believe that remarks were made in another place by the Hon. Mr. Ngata which corroborate every word which has fallen from the honourable gentleman who leads this Council. I believe, without in any way disparaging any previous Native Minister, that there has been no Native Minister since this Dominion was founded who gained and maintained the confidence, respect, and, later, the affection of the Native race as did Sir William Herries. His capacity for governing was also shown in his administration of the railways. In the course of his duty he had often to differ with the men in the service ; but I have often heard men say that the railway servants always respected the Minister of Railways. In a way. Sir William Herries was a lonely man. After the death of his wife—he was a most devoted and loving husband—he never had a home of his own. His great interest in life was

1 This was not so, as Herries went out to New Zealand immediately after taking his degree.— Editor.

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politics—the service of his country —and sport. Like the great majority of Englishmen, he dearly loved a good horse, and he wrote one of the most valuable books about the horse that have ever been published in New Zealand. Long before he died he knew that his end was approaching and was inevitable. I had the privilege of living in the same house with him for many years, and for fourteen years, I should say, almost without interruption we journeyed backward and forward together at all hours of the night and day to and from our work, and I never found him change. He had an imperturbable and optimistic view of life. Confident of his own purity of motive, he always had the courage of his convictions. He was a severe critic, but always a courteous one. I have heard him make a speech defending the administration of his Department—the Railway Department—entirely without notes, extending close upon an hour, and it was admitted afterwards by his opponents that it was a masterly defence of his administration. To my mind, his greatest work was that he created an ideal for the young men entering public life to follow for all time in this country. He never feared hostile criticism—in fact, he enjoyed criticism—but always replied to it with that courtesy which won for him the affection of all who knew him. In Tauranga and all over the Bay of Plenty he was adored by the people of all classes, as was shown at his funeral ; and that he reciprocated those affections was demonstrated by the fact that by his special instructions his ashes are deposited in their midst. And so his life and his ever-faithful services to his King and his country came to an end. His last public act was to renew his oath of allegiance to his King. When at last the Master’s voice was heard, we have every reason to believe that he responded with that quiet confidence with which he had met all the difficulties of life, and his end was peace. The Hon. Mr. SAMUEL.—After the eloquent and exhaustive speeches that have fallen from the honourable gentlemen who have already spoken, I will only allude to one phase of the activities of the late Sir William Herries, and that is in connection with the sport of racing. There are tens of thousands of people in some way or other interested in racing, who look upon it as a sport which should be encouraged and from which they are not prepared to detach themselves. The Hon. Sir William Herries recognized that, and devoted a great deal of time for many years endeavouring to so regulate that sport as to prevent those evils to his fellow-men which too often result from it. I was associated with Sir William Herries for some twenty-odd years in connection with the efforts which were made, and continue

to be made, to purify the sport of racing and prevent it from being a great social evil. As a member of the Racing Conference and of its various committees, and as a judge of appeals, I was constantly associated with him, and can bear testimony to his recognition that it was a duty of those in a position to do so to spare no endeavour to prevent the engaging in that sport from demoralizing the people. He had always before him his responsibility, the responsibility of a man in a prominent position—put by his fellowmen into a position of prominence and power—to be an example to his fellow-men. I can remember many occasions when he paused in considering various matters before him and referred to what he believed was the dominant motive, or what should be the dominant motive, of those who were regulating this sport. He asked, “ What effect will this have upon the people ? Will it tend to increase those evils which too frequently result from indulging in this sport, or will it, on the other hand, tend to counteract evil influences and have a good effect as a whole ? ” Sir, those tens of thousands of people who do take pleasure in this sport in New Zealand have, fortunately, amongst them in their counsels, endeavouring to aid in its regulation, men who are respected by their fellow-men, and known to be honourable, and not influenced by any sordid motive. Amongst them all there was none standing out more prominently than the Hon. Sir William Herries ; and whatever may be the views of men, however much they may allow themselves to be induced to think evil of those who differ from themselves in their opinions, I venture to say there will not be found one who would ever attack the honour and uprightness of the distinguished man who has passed away. Apart from his success in promoting the welfare of his fellow-men in politics, in private life, and under all circumstances, he affords us a good example ; and every man who passes away having done that has done much for his fellows. I feel that Sir William Herries, whose great tact, whose constant avoidance of ever hurting the feelings of those with whom he was associated, enabled him to carry his views into effect and to secure the cooperation and the approval of his fellows, has done very much for the social life of this country ; and, Sir, his loss is one which we all feel very deeply indeed.

The Hon. Mr. GARLAND.—I should like, very briefly, to pay my personal tribute to the great son of the Empire who has passed away. What has been said of him as to the nature of his work in another place and his devotion to service is verily true. But there was that personal quality about the man, who evidently

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At the Races with General Pau, Head of the French Military Mission to New Zealand at the end of the War.

clearly understood those lines of the great poet where he says, “ When thou hast found a friend, grapple him to thyself with hooks of steel.” Sir William Herries was one of those men who made friends, and, having made them, they were grappled to his heart. Ido not think he ever lost a friend. In so far as his personal life was concerned, I know him perhaps better there than in the hurly-burly of political life. I can call up many instances of his kindness, of his tenderness, of his helpfulness to those who could not help themselves. I know that, great scholar as he was, having retained his scholarly instincts and the traditions of the house and the country from which he came, those instincts were with him to the very end. He looked forward with complacency to the end which was approaching, and he was able, when the call came, to face with fortitude that great moment. Those of us who came in contact with him years ago recognized in him a man who would make his mark—and it has been recognized to-day that he did make his mark—upon the lives of many thousands in this country. More especially did he make his mark upon the Native race, who trusted him and who venerate his memory. Sir, we have had many great Native Ministers. In my early days in the Auckland Provincial District it was a troublesome time. Many things happened. The first of the great Native Ministers that I remember was Sir Donald McLean. Then there were other men—Sheehan, Bryce. By that time matters had become more peaceful ; but a sense of injustice rankled—and rightly, too —in the minds of many of the rangatiras. Then we had other eminent men, and not the least of them was that gentleman who spoke the other day, the Hon. Mr. Ngata. That gentleman, as was stated by our leader, had the utmost confidence in the administration of Native affairs when it was in the hands of Sir William Herries. Of the men who held the portfolio from the middle “ sixties ” until the present time, there has not been one greater —at least, in my judgment—than Sir William Herries. He left upon the lives and the characters of the Native people a mark which has not been, and cannot be, effaced, because he was actuated by honesty of purpose, and with him justice was tempered with mercy. He was one of those bright, kindly, tender-hearted men, and when he gave his promise the Native knew—indeed, we all knew—that that promise would be fulfilled. To-day we mourn because we have lost a friend whom we learned not only to trust, but to honour and to love. Some of my own people who were present at the last scene at Te Aroha told me that it was very remarkable to see all classes.

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young and old, rich and poor, paying their tribute of respect and honour to the memory of a man whom each and all loved. We can do little—only express our sense of the great loss we have suffered by the death of this son of the Empire, who seemingly had only one great object in his life, and that was service. The Hon. Mr. Samuel has said that Sir William Herries was a “sport.” Yes, he was a “ sport ”in the truest sense of the term —not for gain, but that he might lead others in the world of sport to recognize that they were not there for what they could get, but for service ; that they were there to build up and help. That, I think, was one of the great objects which Sir William Herries had in his life. I join with the leader and other speakers in what they have said to-day, and I bow my head and acknowledge that a personal friend has been taken from us. If we can face our work on earth and face the grim enemy when he comes to our door as our friend has done, then happy indeed will be our lot. Motion agreed to.

In addition to the tributes paid in Parliament, a special Resolution was passed by the Native Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, of which Herries had long been a member, even before he became Minister for Native Affairs. This, with the accompanying letter of the Chairman to one of his brothers, is printed below.

Wellington, 30th July, 1923.

Dear Sir, — I have the honour, by direction of the Native Affairs Committee of the New Zealand House of Representatives, to forward you the enclosed copy of a resolution unanimously adopted at a meeting of the Committee, on the motion of the Hon. Mr. J. G. Coates, Minister of Native Affairs.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant,

J. A. Young,

Chairman of the Native Affairs Committee.

House of Representatives, New Zealand.

Extract from the Minutes of Meeting of the Native Affairs Committee , held on Tuesday , the 7.\th day of July, 1923.

Resolved ;—“ That this Committee desires to place on record its high sense of the great and distinguished services rendered to the Maori Race by the late Honourable Sir W. H. Herries, and also its appreciation of the valuable work done by the late

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honourable gentleman as a member of the Committee, and further expresses its sincere and profound sympathy with his relatives in their greatsorrow. The Canoe of Fate, Tatataeore, has taken an illustrious chief from amongst us. Haerera Z 1 Further, that this resolution be recorded in the minutes and reported to the Bouse, and a copy of the same forwarded to the relatives of the late honourable gentleman.”

We include, besides, a number of appreciations of Sir William Herries, from the Governor-General, the Prime Minister, Sir Joseph Ward the former Prime Minister, Mr. Wilford the Leader of the Opposition, and other members of Parliament, and Public Bodies. We also append several notices of his life and accounts of his funeral taken from some of the New Zealand newspapers. The following two letters were received by relatives from His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe.

Government Bouse, Auckland, New Zealand. June 18, 1923.

Dear Mrs. Berries, —In replying to a despatch which I sent to the Secretary of State for the Colonies informing him of the death of your brother-in-law, The Honble. Sir William Berries, the Duke of Devonshire requested me to convey to Sir William’s relations an expression of his deep sympathy.

In doing so I should like to add my own sincere regrets at the loss of this valuable life, and my sympathy with you in your bereavement.

Sir William’s death caused genuine sorrow throughout the whole Dominion where he had so large a circle of friends, and to which he had rendered such distinguished service. I know that I am voicing the general opinion when I say that no one can replace him.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed ) Jellicoe.

Government House, Auckland, New Zealand.

June 18, 1923.

Dear Mr. Herries, —When replying to the letter, in which I informed him, as Colonial Secretary, of the great loss the Dominion had sustained with the death of your brother, the Duke

1 Farewell.— Editor.

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of Devonshire asked me to convey to Sir William’s relations an expression of his deep sympathy.

In doing so I should like to tell you of my own deep regret at the loss of so great a man, and of my very sincere sympathy with you in your bereavement. There was no more popular or more highly respected a man in this Dominion, and tributes were paid to his memory from men of all classes and creeds and of all shades of political opinion. It was my privilege to know him well, and the sorrow which his family must feel is shared by everyone in New Zealand.

Yours sincerely,

(Signed) Jellicoe.

On February 23, 1923, the 'Dominion , the Reform party newspaper, published at Wellington, had the following account, headed “ Death of Sir William Herries—Statesman, Patriot and Sportsman. Maoris mourn loss of friend ” :

Deep regret will be felt at the announcement that Sir William Herries, a member of the Executive Council, died yesterday morning. He had a peaceful end, after a lingering illness. His last public appearance was the opening of Parliament, sixteen days ago, when he attended for the reading of the GovernorGeneral’s Speech, returning to Bowen Street Private Hospital, where he was under the care of Drs. Herbert, Hardwick-Smith, and Fenwick. With characteristic energy and fortitude he put up a great fight. He was aware of his grave condition, but refused to yield to the enemy, retaining consciousness almost to the end. He was in his sixty-fourth year.

Sympathetic reference to the loss suffered by the country by the death of Sir William Herries was made by the Prime Minister (Mr. W. F. Massey) yesterday.

“ For over a quarter of a century Sir William Herries and I have been closely associated in connection with the politics of the country,” said Mr. Massey, “ and I can say this, that no one could have had a better friend or a more loyal comrade. A man of sound judgment, absolutely straight and reliable in all his dealings, generous to a fault, disdaining everything small or mean, he was without exception the noblest man I have ever met.

“ As Shakespeare says ;

‘ His life was gentle, and the elements

So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up

And say to all the world ; This was a man.’

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“ His place in the councils of the nation will be very hard to fill. Popular and respected, even by his opponents, he was loved by his fellow-Ministers and those with whom he worked. Lately, failing health prevented him taking that active part in public affairs to which he had been accustomed, but his interest both in Empire matters and the politics of his own country continued to the last. During his illness he never murmured or complained, and his last words in answer to a question were : ‘ I am all right.’ His last duty was at the opening of Parliament—taking the oath of allegiance to his Sovereign—and in that connection those, who knew him as I did, know that there was no more loyal subject of the King or citizen of the Empire than the statesman who has passed away, and whose loss we mourn, but whose memory will be cherished by a very wide circle of friends both in the Parliament of the country and outside of it.”

When the lowering of the flags on the State Departments indicated that the end had come—it had not been unexpected—people experienced a sense of deep personal loss. Sorrowful expressions were heard on every hand. In the streets, the public offices, the law courts ; in fact, wherever one went in the city, one met people that knew Sir William Merries, either through his association with racing, the Railways, Marine, Customs and Native Affairs Departments, which he administered for many years.

Arrangements have been made by the Government for a funeral service to be held at St. Paul’s pro-Cathedral this morning, at which the Bishop of Wellington, the Right Reverend Dr. Sprott, will officiate. Prior to this, the remains will be borne from Parliament House at 9.45 a.m. The cortege will leave for Karori Cemetery after the cathedral service. In accordance with the wishes of Sir William Merries, the body will be cremated, and the ashes forwarded to Te Aroha, the headquarters of his electorate, where he has resided for many years. The final rites will be performed there on Monday afternoon. The pall-bearers will be his colleagues in the Ministry and heads of Departments controlled by Sir William Merries.

In the Parliamentary lobbies yesterday the news of Sir William Herries’s death was received with profound regret. Members called on the Prime Minister to express their sorrow. The Secretary of the Labour Party (Mr. P. Fraser, M.P.) wrote to Mr. Massey expressing that party’s sympathy with the Government and the country in their loss. Leading Liberals, in the absence of their leader (Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P.), who was at Wanganui, also voiced their sorrow at Sir William Herries’s

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demise. To one and all of them—political opponents and friends —he was a man with typically English gifts of courage and imagination, whose purpose in life was to give support and encouragement to those who sought a sane and abiding solution of national problems. They admired the high spirit in which he fought his battles, and many of them could recall having winced under his ready flow of wit and sarcasm. They loved him none the less for his faults, his stone-walling tactics, his occasional outbursts for which Mr. Seddon once counselled him to use the language he had learned at Cambridge. Rather were they proud of his success in life, and of the great part he played on the stage of Maori history.

“ He was to us as one of the great chiefs of our race,” said a Maori member of Parliament yesterday. “ When he gave his word for anything, we knew that he would stick to it. He will be remembered by the Maoris of coming generations for his having converted pakeha public opinion to the equitable recognition of the needs of the Maoris. Their great tablet to his memory will be the Native Trustee Bill, which he was instrumental in getting on to the Statute Book, and through which was created the office of Native Trustee, now held by Judge Rawson. He fought hard for the freehold rights of the Maori tenants, and, with Mr. Hockly, secured the passage of the Rotorua Bill, which created the Town Board. The Hon. A. T. Ngata, although opposed to Sir William Herries in politics, earnestly requested that he be allowed to * pair ’ with Sir William Herries in the divisions in Parliament at the recent short session.”

“ His personal acts of kindness to the Maoris will be recalled by them long after his death,” said a Native official. “ When 10,000 Maoris were assembled at his invitation at Rotorua to welcome the Prince of Wales, three years ago, there was a railway strike, and Sir William Herries was concerned as to how he was to get them all back to their homes. ‘ I will be the last man to leave Rotorua,’ he said, as he arranged their transport. That is the spirit of our chiefs—that, when they bring a guest at their invitation, they ensure his return to his home in comfort. Up in his electorate, his supporters were concerned about his health at the time of the last election, and they assured him that they would guarantee his return to Parliament without his appearing on the hustings. Despite this, he could not keep out of the fray, and won the election by 1400 votes.”

“ Members of the Arawa tribe, assembled at the Native Appellate Court, Rotorua, having heard with sincere regret the

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news of the death of Sir William Hcrries, express their sympathy with the Dominion in the loss of a notable citizen and an able administrator, and regret the loss of one who was a firm friend of the Maori race and was loved and esteemed by them.” This resolution was telegraphed by the Chief Judge (Mr. R. N. Jones).

“ Please accept heartfelt sympathy of tribes throughout Eastern Maori district, who will always respect and honour the memory of a great and just man,” telegraphed Hon. A. T. Ngata.

A paramount chief of the Arawas, on behalf of the Maketu people, telegraphed ; “We send our heartfelt sympathy and sorrow for our beloved friend, a white crane that flies but once and now has passed ; one on whom the gaze of the two races has always been directed.”

“ He stood four-square for the principle that there should be no confiscation of native lands, nor any compulsion in the purchase of them,” said another Maori official. “To the Maoris he was a man of sound judgment and foresight, sympathetic to see the right way to do a thing, and always quick to decide.” “ He was a very intelligent and indefatigable worker,” said another. “He had a gift, like visual memory, that enabled him to take in at a glance all that was contained in a page of close-

written manuscript. Lord Jellicoe telegraphed from Wanganui :—“ Her Excellency and I are deeply grieved to hear of death of Sir William Herries. In him New Zealand loses a great personality, and one whose services to the Dominion have been of immense value. We can well appreciate your personal sorrow, and tender to you our most sincere sympathy.”

At the general meeting of the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association yesterday morning, the death of Sir William Herries was announced. The chairman said it was fitting that representatives of the newspaper Press gathered from all parts of the Dominion should express their regret at the death of a man who had for a long series of years rendered distinguished service in the public life of the Dominion. On his motion it was resolved (members standing) that a letter of condolence be sent to the relatives of the late Sir William Herries.

The members of the United Press Association at their annual meeting yesterday placed on record their deep regret at the death of Sir William Herries, “ who has for many years taken a great part in the administration of the public affairs of this Dominion. His political record is one of unblemished probity and honour throughout his long years of public service, and the unfailing

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courtesy and urbanity which have been among his distinguishing characteristics have endeared him to a wide circle of friends, who will deeply mourn his loss.”

Officials in Parliament, many of whom were associated with Sir William Herries since his first election, had a more intimate sorrow. “He was a strong man in a stirring era,” said one. “ He had many sides to his nature, some of them rarely revealed. For instance, his literary education was so wide that if one was in doubt, or had any hesitancy in regard to a quotation, he had only to appeal to him, and he would answer, casually, and without any show of self-assertiveness, giving the correct reference.” His knowledge of the rules of Parliament led another to call him “ an encyclopaedia of information.”

Telegrams poured into the Prime Minister’s office until far into the night, from the Speaker, members of Parliament, and citizens of all shades of political belief, as well as local and rural bodies and organisations. They sounded a note of loss to the country, as well as to the Government of the day, in referring to the death of Sir William Herries.

The Mayor of Tauranga (Mr. R. Coulter) telegraphed : “ It is with profound regret that we learned of the death of our

esteemed and able member, whose passing is deplored by all sections of the community. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to you and your colleagues in the loss of such a staunch comrade.”

The Mayor of Morrinsville (Mr. Frank Marshall) telegraphed ; “ Mayor and Councillors convey sympathy on learning of death of our late member, and sorrow that a valuable life is cut off while giving its best service to the Dominion.”

Besides the above expressions of condolence and messages of sympathy mentioned in the Dominion , the following may be quoted from various sources. Eulogy by the Prime Minister, Mr. Massey :

The Prime Minister this afternoon paid a tribute to the late Sir William Herries. “ Naturally,” said Mr. Massey, “ I feel very keenly the death of Sir William. He and I had been close personal friends for many years past. There are thousands to-day, not only in the district which he faithfully represented for so long, but throughout the Dominion, who appreciated his worth, and who will mourn his loss. He was a man in ten thousand, one of Nature’s gentlemen, a statesman, and a pariot, one who was proud of the land of his birth and equally proud

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of the land of his adoption. He was a great friend of the Native race, and in its interest, as well as in other directions, he has left a mark on the legislation of the country. I feel certain that in years to come historians of New Zealand will place the name of William Herbert Herries in a very prominent position.”

The Prime Minister to the Borough Council of Tauranga (one of the principal towns in, and that which gives its name to, the late Sir William’s constituency) :

When news of the death of Sir William Herries was received, the flags of public buildings throughout the town were halfmasted. The Mayor, Mr. B. Dive, and the county chairman, Mr. H. Southey, have forwarded messages of sympathy to the Prime Minister.

In reply, Mr. Massey says : “ Please accept and convey to members of the Borough Council and burgesses of Tauranga my sincere thanks for the very kind message of sympathy expressed in your telegram regarding the death of the late Sir William Herries. His loss will be mourned, not only in the constituency he so zealously represented in Parliament, but by a very wide circle of friends throughout the Dominion.”

The Prime Minister to the Tauranga Harbour Board :

The Chairman of the Tauranga Harbour Board (Mr. R. King) has received the following telegram from Hon. W. F. Massey (Prime Minister) : “ I thank yourself and the members of the Tauranga Harbour Board for the kind expression of sympathy contained in your telegram regarding the death of my late colleague, Sir William Herries. The electorate has indeed lost a true friend, who served their interests faithfully and well over a long period of years, and the Dominion as a whole has lost one of its foremost citizens.”

The Prime Minister to the Maoris of the Tauranga district :

On Saturday last Reweti Ngatai, P. Tangitu, Te Mete, Raukawa, and Roretana Tupaea wired to the Prime Minister (Hon. W. F. Massey) expressing the sincere sympathy of the Tauranga natives at the great loss sustained by the death of Sir William Herries. The Prime Minister has replied in the following terms : “On behalf of the Government I desire to thank

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yourself and other Maoris of Tauranga and district for your kind expression of sympathy in the lamented death of the late Sir William Herries. Throughout his long career he was ever the friend of the Maori race and always worked strenuously in promoting their best interests and prosperity. His place in the council of the nation will be hard to fill.”

The Mayor of Te Aroha to Mr. Massey. It was near Te Aroha that Sir William lived throughout the greater part of his life in New Zealand, and in the churchyard there, according to his wish, he was buried.

The Mayor of Te Aroha (where the burial will take place) : “ It is with profound regret that we learn of the death of our esteemed and beloved member. Sir William Herries, whose passing is grieved by all members of the community. We extend our heartfelt sympathy to you and your colleagues in the loss of such a staunch comrade.”

From Te Aroha, also, the relatives at home received the following resolution of sympathy :

Te Aroha, March 14, 1923.

Dear Sir, — I have been instructed to forward to you the undermentioned resolution of the Te Aroha Borough Council, embodying a tribute of respect and sympathy in regard to the death of your brother, the late Sir William Herries, M.P. Your brother has represented this district in the Parliament of our Dominion for the last twenty-six years. He served the electorate faithfully and well, and was esteemed and loved throughout the whole of his constituency. His death is deeply deplored, and we shall miss his kindly presence from our midst.

Resolution ;—“ That this Council deeply regrets the loss sustained by the town and district in the death of Sir William Herries and places on record its great appreciation of his services as the Representative in Parliament of this electorate during the past twenty-six years.”

Yours sincerely.

F. Wm. Wild,

Town Clerk.

From Sir Joseph Ward, the ex-Prime Minister and a keen political opponent, to the Mayor of Tauranga :

The Mayor of Tauranga has received the following telegram from Sir Joseph Ward : “ Though politically opposed to your

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late member, I wish to convey to his constituents of all shades of politics my deep regret that one of such outstanding qualities should have been removed by the Great Harvester Who recognises no distinction. Sir William Herries had opponents but no enemies, and men of his calibre and long experience are a loss to the country. His valuable services will be greatly missed by his constituents and the country, as also by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.”

From Mr. Wilford, the leader of the Liberal opposition, but who, like Sir Joseph Ward, had served as a colleague of Herries in the “ National ” (Coalition) Government during the war :

The Leader of the Opposition, Mr. T. M. Wilford, referring to the death of Sir William Herries, said he was the Erskine May of the New Zealand Parliament. His mind, like that of the late Mr. R. J. Seddon, was card-indexed with the Standing Orders of Parliament, and like Mr. Seddon, he became the greatest authority of his time on the Standing Orders.

“ We, the members of the Liberal-Labour Party, regret sincerely the death of one of the kindliest of souls. I have been twenty-three years in Parliament with the late Sir William, and I never during that time remember him losing his temper or creating a scene. His smile disarmed anger, and his very temperament induced tranquillity. In the National Government his broad Imperialism and wise counsel helped to smooth out many a wrinkle during the war period.

“ As a sportsman he was known throughout New Zealand. He loved racing for the sport’s sake, and wrote a book on the thoroughbred in recent years which evidenced wide knowledge and exhaustive research. As a Parliamentary tactician he was second to none in the House of Representatives. May I, in conclusion, describe him as one of the ‘ whitest ’ men I have ever known ? ”

From Sir James Carroll, a political opponent, who for many years filled, like Herries, the position of Minister for Native Affairs :

Referring to the death of Sir William Herries, Sir James Carroll said : “ I have lost one of my dearest friends. Politically we were opposed to each other, but our political differences were always kept on the high plane of argument, leaving the issue always to be settled by a majority decision. In politics Sir William

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Herries was a man who always played the game and never hit below the belt. Of kindly temperament, he was a strong party man, with a keen conception of the balance between right and wrong. He was a ‘ sport ’in a deeper and wider sense of the term than that given to it by most people. I have lost a good friend, the Maoris have lost a good friend, so have sportsmen, so have all reasonably-minded men. Peace to his ashes.”

From Mr. (now Sir C. J.)Parr, one of Herries’ colleagues in the Government :

A tribute to his deceased colleague was paid by Hon. C. J. Parr this afternoon. Sir William, he said, was the most loved man in the Reform party, carrying with him an Etonian public school spirit of unselfishness and kindliness, and was always considerate of others. His long experience in New Zealand politics, and his unrivalled knowledge of the Standing Orders, made him a most useful member and lieutenant to Mr. Massey.

“ He took a great interest in the prosperity of his electorate,” added Mr. Parr, “ and only a few days before his demise he urged upon me the advisability of establishing a high school at Morrinsville, which was in his electorate.”

The relatives at home received the following vote of condolence from the members of the Pakuranga Hunt, Auckland ;

Auckland, March 13, 1923.

Sir,—l have to advise you that a vote of condolence with yourself and relatives of your brother the late Hon. Sir W. H. Herries was passed at the Annual Meeting of Members of the Pakuranga Hunt on the 9th inst., all present standing in silence out of respect to the memory of the deceased.

Feeling reference was made by the Chairman, Mr. BullockWebster, and several members to the loss sustained by all in the passing over of such a highly esteemed statesman and sportsman. The late Sir William was formerly a Vice-President of the Hunt for many years and a very loyal supporter who was largely responsible for placing the sport in its present sound position. He will always be remembered with much respect by all adherents of this sport as a great statesman and a loyal and good sportsman.

I am, Sir, Yours respectfully,

Robt. D. Neal,

Secretary.

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From the Railway Officers' Advocate in respect of the relations between Herries as Minister of Railways and the staff :

Commenting upon the death of Sir William Herries, the Railway Officers' Advocate says : “ Sir William Herries was a gentleman in the true sense of that much-abused word, and invariably met the numerous deputations the institute sent to interview him as Minister for Railways in a kind and courteous manner. Differences of opinion, naturally, frequently occurred, for it was not to be expected that the institute’s representatives and the Ministerial head of the department would view many of the questions under discussion from the same angle, but the former were always given every opportunity to state their case and bring forward their arguments in support of the claims made on behalf of those they represented. This trait in his character combined with the fact that he invariably gave a straightforward answer to the requests brought before him, and that he could be absolutely relied on to carry out to the full any promises he made, earned for Sir William the unfeigned respect and regard of all who had occasion to meet him in his official capacity.”

The New Zealand Herald (Auckland) for February 23, 1923, under the headlines “ Veteran Legislator ” ; “ The Man and His Service ” ; “ Member of Nine Parliaments,” says :

The death of Sir William Herries in his sixty-fourth year removes from the active politics of the Dominion a veteran legislator, who had been in the front rank of Parliamentary service since 1896. He held that place by virtue of political ability and a very pleasant personal attraction. From his first and very effective speech in the House of Representatives on October 22, 1897, to his last and loyal appearance at the opening of the recent test session on February 7, when the shadow of his severe illness impressed the House with the sad feeling that his splendid laughter would be heard no more in the clamour of politics, he had never made a political enemy. His friends were all who knew his sterling qualities as a legislator, a comrade, and a broad-minded citizen.

It may always be doubted whether an administrator’s friends are his best critics. There is no difficulty about gaining the true measure of Parliamentary appreciation of the conscientious service

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of Sir William Herries to his country and Empire. It is not necessary to go to his innumerable friends for an adequate tribute. One of the tributes that serve as a great reward to conscientious men was paid to him by a keen and candid opponent in the House of Representatives on November 3, 1920, when the former Minister for Native Affairs was constrained by failing health to relinquish that portfolio. “ I have been a native representative in this House for fourteen sessions,” said the Hon. A. T. Ngata, “ for one-half of that time in opposition to the honourable gentleman, and at times in bitter opposition. I condemned his policy because I considered him to be cold. But, after all, a man’s policy can only be interpreted by what he does, and I may say of Sir William Herries that during the last three or four years he has revealed a side of himself to the Natives of this Dominion that has caused him to go up very high in their estimation. He has revealed himself to the Maori not only as a just man—he has always been that—but that with that justice he has always been able to infuse a little of the element of mercy, which, after all, is one of the great things of life. . . .” The eloquent sentiment of the Maori critic needs no elaboration. It only requires the emphatic endorsement of the pakeha. A just administrator with the element of mercy—that was the man who has gone.

Sir William Herries was born in London in 1859, and was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1880. He was the son of H. C. Herries, barrister-at-law, and Leonora, daughter of Henry Wickham, of Hampshire. In 1881 he came to Auckland in the s.s. Tararua , and, after travelling about for a year, settled in the Shaftesbury district, near Thames. Eight years after his arrival in New Zealand he married Catherine Louisa, daughter of E. F. Roche, of Johnstown, County Cork, Ireland, and Ohineroa, New Zealand. His wife predeceased him ten years ago. He owned about 900 acres of land in the Shaftesbury district. From 1891 to 1899 he represented Te Aroha Riding in the Piako County Council, and was a member of the Waikato Hospital and Charitable Aid Board from 1893 until 1897. His work in local government was thorough and progressive.

He was first elected to the Thirteenth Parliament on December 21, 1896, for the Bay of Plenty, defeating the sitting member, the late Hon. W. Kelly, by 143 votes. Mr. Herries was again returned for the Bay of Plenty in 1899, 1902, and 1905. In 1908, when the boundaries of the electorate were altered and the constituency of Tauranga was formed, Mr. Herries contested

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the new seat and defeated Mr. J. A. Young, the present member for Hamilton, by 1303 votes. He was again re-elected for Tauranga in 1911, 1914, and 1919, and at the recent general election.

During the regime of the Liberal Ministry Mr. Herries was a leading member of the Opposition Party, which was led by the present Prime Minister. When Mr. Massey’s first Cabinet was formed in July, 1912, Mr. Herries received the portfolios of Railways and Native Affairs. In 1915 he also took over the portfolios of Customs and Marine, and he held these until the formation of the National Cabinet in August of the same year. In the National Ministry he administered the departments of Railways and Native Affairs. On the dissolution of the National Government in August, 1919, Mr. Herries relinquished the portfolio of Railways (which was taken over by Mr. Massey), and assumed charge of the departments of Customs and Marine as well as Native Affairs. He was created a K.C.M.G. in January, 1920. Early in 1921, owing to ill-health, he relinquished the portfolios held by him, still, however, retaining a seat on the executive. He then made a trip to England, which extended over several months.

When in England Sir William, who was a keen sportsman with an enthusiasm that did not require speculation for its support, for he did not bet, published, in 1921, “ The Successful Running and Sire Lines of the Modern Thoroughbred - Horse,” a notable treatise, which arranged in tabulated form the principal strains of blood through which the most successful racehorses and sires of modern times have descended. If Great Britain and Ireland were the home of the thoroughbred in the Northern Hemisphere, he contended, he confidently predicted that New Zealand would take a similar position in the Southern Hemisphere. His experience of country racing was extensive, and he was a staunch advocate for the smaller clubs. At various times he held the position of patron of the Rotorua Jockey Club, and president of the South Auckland Racing Club and the Te Aroha Jockey Club. His last visit to Ellerslie 1 was at the recent midsummer meeting.

As a Fellow of the Geological Society of London, Sir William was a keen student and a wide reader, his knowledge of constitutional history being especially wide and thorough. In politics he was a nationalist first, last, and all the time, and loved the land of his adoption second only to his native Motherland by the grey North Sea. He was an able colleague to administrators, a staunch comrade, and a warm-hearted friend.

1 Ellerslie is the course where the Auckland Races are held.— Editor.

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The Auckland Weekly News for March i, 1923, has the following leading article :

Death has removed, in Sir William Herries, one of the veterans of Parliamentary life in New Zealand. Long before the turn of political fortunes brought him Ministerial rank, he had left upon his career the impress of exceptional ability and outstanding personality. It may be said without a shadow of reproach to his work as a Minister, that his most impressive achievements in Parliament were while in Opposition. It was as a critic, always remorseless yet ever genial, searching but never vindictive, that his exceptional qualities gained fullest play. As one of the stalwarts of a numerically weak Opposition, he gained the ungrudging admiration of colleagues and opponents alike for the manner in which he could fight a cause to the last ditch without descending to acrimony and without offending against either the letter or the spirit of the Standing Orders. When he became a Minister, the shadow of ill-health was already upon him. Everyone could not know the extent to which his colleagues relied upon his calm judgment, his deep understanding, and his knowledge of men and affairs. Therefore, in externals, many thought that his earlier promise was not being fulfilled. One aspect of his Ministerial career stands out in bold relief, however. While holding the portfolio of Native Affairs, he did work which will be to the lasting benefit of the Dominion, and made for himself a place in the esteem of the Maori people which few have attained. Finally it may be said that he brought into politics a spirit of culture and tolerance which is all too rare to-day. As public life has been richer for his participation for over two decades, it will be infinitely the poorer for his loss.

In the same paper’s “ Sporting ” columns this note occurs :

The death of Sir William Herries, the sad announcement of which came from Wellington on Thursday last, removes a much-liked man from the busy throng. For a considerable time past Sir William’s health had been unsatisfactory, and when he came to Ellerslie in December last to attend the A.R.C. meeting it was sorrowfully recognised that his days were drawing to a close. It was in the year 1881 that Sir William Herries reached Auckland from England, and, lover of the thoroughbred as he undoubtedly was, I found myself many times in his company in the early days prior to his entering the political arena, and even

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in the pressure of the duties which came to him when holding ministerial rank many old conversations and views were wont to be reviewed when we met. With a vivid memory and well abreast of every racing question he undertook to discuss, and with fine conversational qualities, Sir William’s company was always to be courted, for the words that came from his lips were always cast in a form that showed the cultivated mind. At one time, when a resident at Te Aroha, Sir William Herries kept a few mares and he bred a few winners there. On matters appertaining to turf government his advice was at all times most valuable, and for many years he was one of the strong men identified with the New Zealand Racing Conference. Despite the holding of ministerial rank, Sir William Herries found time to pursue studies of the thoroughbred family, and the work he published in 1921 under the title of “ The Successful Running and Sire Lines of the Thoroughbred Horse ” was very warmly praised in the highest circles. It has been said that no man who sat in the New Zealand Parliament was more universally liked than Sir William Herries, and it can be said with equal truth that in the realms of sport he got close to all hearts. Sir William’s cheery face and smile will be greatly missed, but his friends—and they are legion—will ever treasure his memory with sincere affection.

The Auckland Star for February 22, 1923, has the following :

Sir William had a most genial personality, and was one of the most popular and striking personalities in the House. He took a keen interest in sport, particularly racing, and was a great judge of horseflesh. It was said that he knew by heart the pedigree of every thoroughbred on the turf. He was patron of the Tauranga Racing Club, and a member and official of several other sporting bodies.

As Native Minister, Sir William played a very important part in negotiations with Maoris for the acquisition by the Crown of large tracts of native lands. It was he who, at the instigation of the Mayor and councillors of Auckland in 1914, bought Orakei for the Crown for the purpose of a garden settlement.

The Evening Post (Wellington), for February 22, 1923, in a leading article, says :

It is with the deepest regret that all who have had any part or interest in politics in the past twenty years will learn of the

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death of Sir William Herries. 111-health in recent years made him a less prominent figure in the political world than when, in the full vigour of life, he was a keen and active member of the Opposition. It was in opposition that he made his name as a courageous and able fighter. He fought hard, but he always fought fairly, and those gentlemanly qualities which throughout his life distinguished him earned for him the respect even of opponents whose opinions differed most widely from his own. His judgment was remarkably sound and made him a counsellor whose advice always carried weight. It was this and the desire at all times to be just that won for him as Native Minister the esteem of both Maoris and Europeans, and enabled him to achieve great success in the administration of Native lands. To those members of the public with whom he had dealings he was at all times courteous and sympathetic ; and in the worlds of sport and politics he was deservedly highly regarded. The possession of culture and education much above the average, and the tolerance of a man widely educated, caused his friendship to be valued in a wider world than that of politics.

The following is taken from the New Zealand Times (Wellington), the Liberal or Opposition paper, and is headed “ Great Career Ends ” ; “A Patriot, a Statesman and a Gentleman ” :

Sir William entered Parliament in 1896 as member for the Bay of Plenty, and when the electoral boundaries were readjusted in 1908 he became M.P. for Tauranga, continuing to represent that electorate up to the time of his death. The Reform Party, when he first became a member of Parliament, was a small band of Opposition members. But what it lacked in numbers it made up in ability and tenacity of purpose ; one of the most able and effective of those who fought side by side with Mr. Massey in those days was undoubtedly his late friend and colleague, Sir William Herries. The Opposition was well organised, and in the division of labour that was established Mr. W. H. Herries, as he then was, made a special study of native affairs and railways, proving himself a keen critic, for whom the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon had the greatest respect. Sir William also made a close study of the Standing Orders of the House, and could put his knowledge of Parliamentary procedure to effective use during the “ stonewalls ” which were not unknown in those days. When Mr. Massey constructed his first Reform Cabinet in 19 12, he made

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Sir William Herries Minister for Native Affairs and Minister for Railways ; and the new Native Minister forthwith set to work to practise what he had preached by accelerating the settlement of native lands. In this endeavour he met with considerable difficulties ; and throughout, while doing his best to meet the wishes of the would-be settlers of native lands, he was careful to see that the natives were given fair-play and were not deprived of lands which they might be taught to use. He succeeded in winning the confidence and esteem of the Maoris, and eloquent tribute to his work as Minister for Native Affairs was paid him by the Hon. A. T. Ngata, who represents the native race on the Liberal benches. It was by Sir William Herries that Mr. E. H. Hiley was appointed general manager of the New Zealand Railways. Sir William resigned the portfolio of Railways in 1919, and when the National Government was succeeded by the Reform Government he became Minister for Labour, Customs, and Marine. In consequence of a severe illness towards the end of 1920, he resigned his portfolio to take a health trip to the Old Country. He retained his seat on the Executive Council, but did not take office again on his return to New Zealand. He was created K.C.M.G. in 1920.

Sir William Herries always took a great interest in horseracing. He represented the Auckland country clubs on the New Zealand Racing Conference from 1897 onwards, and was a recognised authority on breeding. His volume on this subject, published in 1921, is recognised as an authoritative work. He was also a particularly well-read man, had a great knowledge of history and literature, and was a Fellow of the Geological Society of London.

The Weekly Press and Referee (Christchurch), in a leading article on March 1, 1923, says :

We record this week with very great regret the death of Sir William Herries after a long and trying illness. His death removes a man who in some respects had no peer in the political life of the Dominions. Had he been ambitious there is no position to which he could not have climbed, while the honours that came to him—it might almost be said in spite of his efforts to escape them—never in the smallest degree obscured the man who wore them. It is never easy to say of such a man precisely what his influence is in any community ; for in the first place such men are extremely rare, and they seem, in the second place, to desire only to be

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nobody and nothing. Sir William went into public life more from a sense of duty than because he wished to. Deep down in his heart, no doubt, it was from feeling that “ noblesse oblige ” that he gave so many years to the discharge of his political duties. The supreme quality of the dead Minister was integrity ; and after his integrity came his wisdom—a ripe wisdom that could not be excited or hurried ; and after his wisdom, which is not the same thing as ability, came a downright capacity that, when he used it to the full, surprised his friends almost as much as his opponents. On the occasions when the deceased led the House he displayed tact and judgment of a very high order. But he did not like leading. If the job had to be done he would do it, but he was always glad when he could escape to his books and to his horses, and to the quiet converse of neighbours and friends. He was particularly interested in, and of service to, the Native race. During its long term in Opposition the party to which he belonged owed very much to his ability and cheerfulness, and in office he was a source of great strength to his chief. His death will be sincerely mourned, not only by his party friends, but by all the members of the House, for no member has ever enjoyed more completely, or better deserved, the affectionate esteem of his fellows in all parties. His loss is a serious loss not only to the Government, but to Parliament, and the loss is the more for the rarity in our politics of men of his quality.

The Otago Daily Times (Dunedin), in a leading article, says :

The sincere regret with which we record the death of Sir William Kerries, one of the most prominent and highly esteemed members of the Massey Government, will, we feel sure, be shared and manifested throughout the country which he served with intelligent fidelity for so many years. Though he had been in Parliament for a quarter of a century, and in the Cabinet for nearly eleven years, Sir William Kerries was not a familiar figure in this part of the Dominion ; but here as elsewhere there was a well-informed and favourable appreciation of his personal worth and public usefulness. As a politician he belonged to a type which was more common in the early generations of New Zealand statecraft than it has been in later years —a type happily blending trained old-world culture with the fresh and less conventional characteristics of colonial life. Without invidiousness it may be said that “ he bore without abuse the grand old name of gentle-

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man,” but it would be quite a mistake to suppose that any quality of exclusiveness had place in his thoroughly sensible and democratic mind. A Cambridge graduate and a practical farmer, a typical Englishman and a devoted New Zealander, a grave man of affairs and an ardent sportsman, his variously-equipped character made him “ persona grata ” to all sorts and conditions of men, and gave him a distinctive prestige in Parliament and Cabinet. When he first entered the House of Representatives his political chief was that amiable, high-minded, and very capable statesman, the late Sir William Russell, and it might not be altogether fanciful to suggest a resemblance in the salient qualities of the leader and the follower. For fifteen years in the shade of Opposition he was a forcible, reasonable, and consistent critic of the policy and administration of the Seddon and Ward Governments ; and in 1912, when at long last the Reform Party received the cachet of popular confidence, no one thought of questioning his claim to a seat in the Cabinet. He did good conscientious work as Minister of Railways and Native Affairs, and though he was sometimes blamed for taking things too easily, his ability was of an order that always commanded the highest respect. His temperament was somewhat reposeful, and he would have made a more impressive and influential figure in politics if he had been endowed with a larger share of energetic ambition. Sir William Herries was a finely cultivated, large-hearted, and most likeable man ; and of few Parliamentarians could it so confidently be said that they will be mourned and missed.

And the same paper in a dispatch from its Wellington correspondent has the following :

By the death of Sir William Herries, which took place in the Bowen Street Hospital this morning, New Zealand loses one who has played a very important part in the political history of the Dominion. He was educated at Eton, and Trinity College, Cambridge. He took his B.A. degree in 1880, and arrived in New Zealand in the following year, settling in the Te Aroha district, where he immediately began to take a keen interest in local affairs. In 1896 he was elected a member of the New Zealand Parliament, of which he remained a member until the day of his death. He married a daughter of Mr. E. F. Roche, of County Cork, Ireland, who had settled near Te Aroha. She died some years ago, while on a voyage to England, and was buried at sea. Like her husband, she took a keen interest in

New Zealand and also in English politics. Sir William Herries quickly made his mark in the New Zealand Parliament, as he at once proved himself a keen debater, and one who lightened debate with kindly humour. Indeed, for a time, his humour almost overshadowed his ability as a Parliamentarian, but, quickly realising this, he adopted a more serious role and soon became one of the most prominent men on the front Opposition benches, in the days when a small band of so-called Conservatives faced the big majorities of the Liberal-Labour Party under the masterful Richard John Seddon. Later when Mr. Massey succeeded in ousting the Liberals from office Sir William (then Mr. Herries) became one of the leading members of his Cabinet. Of late years he had been in poor health, and within the last few months on two occasions was under medical treatment in a private hospital. When, the other day, he came out of the hospital and attended the opening of the new Parliament to be sworn in as a member, his friends realised that his days were already numbered. He himself, however, though knowing full well that he was very ill, remained cheerful until unconsciousness veiled the past. A few days before he died he said to his best friend that he intended to ask the doctors if he had any chance of recovery, and in the event of their saying no that it was his intention to take passage by a direct steamer in the hope that he might be buried in English soil. There is, however, a provision in his will that if he died in New Zealand his body should be cremated and the ashes conveyed to Te Aroha, where as a young man he had lived for many years with his wife. These wishes will be carried out.

Those of us who have been in the environs of Parliament for many years had grown fond of Sir William Herries. To the journalist he was always the courteous gentleman, and often in the small hours of the morning, or later, when, during “ stonewalls,” the sun was appearing above the eastern hills beyond the harbour, tired pressmen would fill the gallery to listen delightedly to the quaint humour with which he “ held the fort,” until the morning watch arrived just in time to keep some strenuous debate alive. Yet, while he had the saving grace of humour, he had also keen rapier-like thrusts, that got right home in more serious conflict. The late Mr. Seddon knew the temper of his steel, and was generous enough to own to it, and in the last Parliament, members of Mr. Holland’s Party, 1 too, have admitted that when Sir William Herries spoke in reply they

1 The Labour Party.— Editor.

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A Snapshot at the Auckland Racecourse.

felt the keenness of his blade, while at the same time, they, like other political foes, realised that there was no venom in his soul. But Sir William Herries was more than a politician ; he was a scholar as well. He knew history, and he knew literature.

More than ordinary was the interest he took in the Native race, and when the time comes to refer to his death in Parliament none, perhaps, will pay him a kindlier and more sincere tribute than the Hon. A. T. Ngata, the silver-tongued Maori orator, who for so many years has been his political opponent, yet his friend. In regard to the forms and procedure of the House, he was unexcelled by any member of his time.

The New Zealand Observer, a journal devoted to sporting matters, had the following paragraphs, accompanied by a “ snapshot ” (facing this page) in a very characteristic attitude ;

The death of Sir William Herries, M.P., is a grief to uncounted people, for he was incapable of any meanness, in politics, sport or anything else. He was recognisable everywhere, and by anyone, pakeha or Maori, as a gentleman. No Maori ever mistook him for anything but a rangatira, nor did he ever do anything unbecoming in a man of high breeding and culture. Sir William Herries possessed in an exceptional degree the analytical, logical mind. He was without venom in debate, but he was so closely logical and persistent that whatever cause he fought for (first believing it to be a strictly honourable cause) was in the best possible hands. He was a good, clean fighter. He would have made a fine soldier had he gone from Eton to Sandhurst instead of to Cambridge, for he was incapable of any unfairness. He was one of the few great sportsmen, for his attachment to it had nothing to do with the monetary benefit to be secured from it. He knew horses and loved them, but he never made a bet on a horse race. He belonged to the best type of public man any part of the Empire has—honourable, upright, loyal, cultivated and unafraid. He was bred the right way and he died game.

“ Blue Rod ” writes in the same paper :

Many are the tributes that have been paid to the marked ability and high integrity of the late Sir William Herries. It may not be generally known that such a well-known judge of men and character as the late Mr. R. J. Seddon expressed the opinion more than once that Mr. Herries (as he was then) was one

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of the ablest men and best-informed financiers in Parliament. The only fault that the late Premier had to find with his redoubtable opponent, when he made these pronouncements, was that Mr. Herries “ sat on the wrong side of the House.” Mr. Seddon, however, recognised that he had in Mr. Herries a high-principled and generous opponent —a foeman, in fact, well worthy of his steel. “If ever there is a weak point in one of my bills,” once said Mr. Seddon to one of his supporters, “ Mr. Herries is the man to put his finger on it.” A friend who for a long time resided in the same district as Mr. Herries has described him thus ; “ A prince of good fellows, a warm friend, a kindly neighbour, the soul of honour, and a man who would scorn to do a mean or unworthy action.” On the passing of such a man one may well re-echo Sir James Carroll’s kindly tribute, and with him say, “ Peace to his ashes ! ”

We may conclude these extracts with an article which appeared in the New Zealand Times for February 4, 1921, on the occasion of Sir William’s resignation of his portfolios of office when he visited England on account of his health.

Such a remarkable tribute, coming from the chief organ of a statesman’s political opponents, especially in his lifetime, must indeed be rare.

Sir William Herries has done the State so much good service that his retirement from active political work—which, we trust, may only be temporary —cannot be allowed to pass without due notice. Sir William is a consistent member of the Reform party. But everyone of the Liberal party which has opposed him during all his career will regret his absence quite as much as the members of his own party. They will miss Sir William’s unselfish devotion to public duty, his great ability, his broad-minded public spirit, his freedom from personal considerations in the whole of his public work. These high qualities of his were recognised by both sides of the House when he entered it many years ago, and during all those years their recognition has grown without any uncertainty whatever of its completeness. When the honour of knighthood fell upon him, it was universally acknowledged, without reserve, that honourable desert had received its due recognition. New Zealanders differed about his political views, but there was no difference in their appreciation of the honour done to this upright New Zealander—for he is a New Zealander

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by adoption, and thoroughly staunch—for his straight and useful career. During that career he has kept the best traditions of work and of play. In Opposition as in Office, he has always devoted his time and brains to the work before him. For him there was no short road to the knowledge required of him. Every question received from him adequate study for the formation of judgment and careful preparation for its accurate pronouncement. This the House appreciated in debate, his friends feeling the benefit of his advocacy, and his opponents acknowledging the sound equipment which honourably distinguished his adverse contention. It came quickly to be recognised that his case was neither understated for lack of knowledge, nor exaggerated by any tendency to flamboyancy. He spoke always as he worked, with workman-like commonsense and single-hearted meaning, which commanded absolute confidence. In Opposition these qualities impressed themselves on the House ; in Office they shone, of course, with greater lustre ; and they were acknowledged throughout every department over which he had the honour to preside. In connection with this, we may mention the splendid tribute paid to his work as Native Minister by the Maori members in both Houses last session, one of whom characterised him as the greatest Native Minister who had ever held office. This tribute was appreciated by all sides without a single dissentient. It was often a regret to us to differ from him. But that only increases the pride with which, while regretting his retirement, we give our tribute of respect to as sterling a man as ever took a hand in the politics of New Zealand.

That Sir William Herries was a party man we have never doubted, and we do not think he would for one moment deny the statement. He is of the stamp of party man we should not like to see die out of our political arena. The stamp of man, we mean, who sees things as they really are ; one who understands that principles are the governing factors in politics ; that opinions vary honestly about those principles ; that parties form on one side and the other, each convinced of the superiority of its views for the benefit of the country they both wish to serve with ideal devotion. That is why Sir William Herries joined his party, why he served it with honourable devotion, why he gave that devotion without for a moment losing sight of the duty he owed the country. In that spirit he served his party. In the party warfare to which he was necessarily committed he was always distinguished for scrupulous fairness. In tactics he would take any tactical advantage, and so play the game, just as men of honour

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play all games, from football to war. But his playing was always scrupulously fair, and he never “ hit below the belt.” And whatever he said in settlement, or understanding of any kind, went. No one ever thought of doubting even ever so faintly, and no one ever had occasion to regret his trust. Humour was a frequent weapon of his, and it was always welcome, for it never descended to personalities, and never was cruel, even when biting shrewdly. As for ascribing motives to opponents —his conduct was a standing reminder of “ Let not such things be mentioned among you.” Needless to add, that his own honour he carried spotless throughout his career. From the party point of view—as we have defined party allegiance—it is obviously the thing to say that “he gave up to party what was meant for mankind.” But that, so far from being a reproach, is the strongest form of regret, for it is a regret that he does not belong to the party which, in our opinion, can do the most for mankind.

Sir William Herries will be regretted, perhaps, most by those who recognise his ability. He is a very able man, one of the ablest, if not the ablest, on the present roll of the House of Representatives. His powerful brain will be missed, especially at the present time. It is the most difficult time which New Zealand has ever encountered. It may, quite possibly, be a time of very great crisis. It is a time in which the strength of every New Zealand brain will be required for the national counsel. Sir William Herries will be required in the front ranks of study and discussion. He has studied the problems of the day ; he has spoken clearly, sensibly, and shrewdly of them ; he has had some experience of handling them ; and has read of the handlings in other countries. With what mastery he discoursed, we all remember, applying the principles he had acquired with the polish of his university education, moving with easy, formless, not-too-fluent cogency of speech through shrewd demonstrations of the new things that press. It is for such work, as well as for the old things of our own with their new pressures, that we want Sir William Herries. We hope, therefore, that when he has rested enough—he has had a strenuous time among us—he will come back.

The following account of the state funeral at Wellington is taken from the New Zealand Herald, and that of the subsequent ceremony at Te Aroha partly from the Morrinsville Star and partly from the Bay of

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The Funeral Procession ready to start from the Parliament Buildings. Wellington.

Plenty Times, newspapers published in Sir William’s constituency :

WELLINGTON

The funeral of Sir William Herries this morning was most impressive. A long procession, representative of all classes, followed the coffin from Parliament Buildings to the Anglican Pro-Cathedral, the mourners walking bareheaded the whole way. Crowds also gathered on the side of the walks in Parliament grounds and on the street footways and stood uncovered while the procession passed.

The Prime Minister was the chief mourner, and walked in front with the Government Official Secretary, Mr. A. C. Day, who represented the Governor-General, Lord Jellicoe. At St. Paul’s Church, the Bishop of Wellington, Dr. Sprott, assisted by the Rev. A. M. Johnson, conducted a brief service. The church was crowded with friends and acquaintances who had assembled to pay a last tribute to a man they all honoured.

Afterwards the body was taken to the Karori Crematorium. Among those who attended the funeral service were the Hons. Sir Francis Bell, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Sir William Fraser, D. H. Guthrie, G. J. Anderson, W. Nosworthy, and J. G. Coates. Members of the Ministry, together with Sir George Hunter, a very old friend of Sir William Herries, walked alongside the hearse. The bearers were Messrs. R. W. McVilly, General Manager of the Railway Department ; J. W. Mac Donald, Assistant-General Manager of Railways ; L. Johnson, formerly Sir William’s private secretary ; Balneavis, private secretary to the Minister for Native Affairs, who was associated with Sir William in the same capacity ; A. Shepherd, of the Native Affairs Department, representing Chief Judge Jones ; and F. W. Rowley, Secretary for Labour.

Both branches of the Legislature were represented, the representatives including Sir James Sinclair, Sir Walter Buchanan, the Hons. T. W. Hislop, W. H. Triggs, W. Earnshaw, Sir John Luke, Messrs. P. Fraser, T. O’Brien, and W. J. Jordan (representing the Labour Party), W. H. Field, H. Atmore, W. J. Girling, Tau Henare, and A. Young. Messrs. Edward Newman and S. Malcolm, formerly members of the House of Representatives, were also present. The City Council was represented by the Mayor and Councillors, and the Chamber of Commerce by Messrs. W. F. Cuthbertson, J. Myers and H. Fairchild.

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Among others present were Sir Joseph Ward, Sir John Findlay, Sir J. B. Coates, Sir Harold Beauchamp, and Lieut.-Colonel C. G. Powles, representing Major-General Sir E. W. C. Chaytor, General Officer commanding the New Zealand Forces, and the heads and chief executive officers of every Government Department.

TE AROHA

A vast concourse of people gathered at Te Aroha yesterday to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of the late Sir William Herries. Settlers and residents from every part of the deceased statesman’s far-reaching former electorate were there, as well as many others from further afield. Shortly after two o’clock a great crowd gathered at the railway station to await the arrival of the Thames express bearing the ashes of the deceased —whose remains were cremated at Wellington on Saturday—the members of the Ministry, members of Parliament, and heads of various Government departments that Sir William Herries at various times controlled. The train was on time—2.3B —and was met on the platform by representatives of every local body in the Tauranga electorate. Among those who arrived by train were the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. W. F. Massey), Sir Francis Bell, Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, Sir Frederic Lang, Sir Joseph Ward, Sir William Fraser, the Hons. Coates, Guthrie, Anderson, and Nosworthy, and also the two former private secretaries of the late Sir William, Messrs. Leod Johnson and Balneavis. The members of the Ministry acted as pall bearers from the mortuary carriage to the hearse, and then the long procession moved off to the Church of England. The band with muffled drums led, and immediately preceding the hearse came the Prime Minister, while immediately following it were the Messrs. Roche (brothers-in-law of the deceased gentleman) as chief mourners. It was an impressive and affecting scene—the long procession of men with uncovered heads, completely forgetting for the moment all differences of opinion and shades of political belief, intent on one common act of respect and reverence for him whose loss all so sincerely mourned, passing through the streets densely packed with a people whose silence and reverent attitude eloquently revealed the feelings they could not otherwise express. The wreaths were in great number and required a special conveyance.

The pall bearers whose office it was to convey the miniature coffin into the church were : Mr. F. Marshall (Mayor of Morrins-

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The Anglican Church at Te Aroha, where the Funeral Service took place

ville), Mr. Walters (Chairman of the Piako County Council), Mr. Anderson (Chairman of the Matamata County Council), and Mr. Coulter (Mayor of Te Aroha). St. Mark’s Church was quickly filled to overflowing and only a very small proportion of those desiring to participate could secure an entrance, a big crowd having perforce to remain outside while the service in the church was celebrated. The customary psalms and hymns were sung, the Venerable Archdeacon Cowie, of Hamilton, assisted by the Rev. R. L. Connolly, vicar of St. Mark’s Church, officiating.

In simple but effective language the Venerable Archdeacon Cowie paid a glowing tribute to the memory of the great statesman who had passed away. Sir William, he said, had been educated in the celebrated colleges at Home where it was the daily practice to recognise God, and it was now a fitting thing that Sir William’s remains should be brought within the little church in which he had been accustomed to regularly worship. The Venerable Archdeacon said there were the striking lessons of Service and Courtesy to be drawn from the life of the late Sir William Herries. From the outset of his career he did not seek personal aggrandisement. He would have preferred to continue his work upon his property until such time as he was able to retire to a well-earned rest. But he felt that his educational equipment and endowments were such as fitted him to render service to the people, and so he put duty before his personal inclinations. As an evidence of Sir William’s gentle instincts the Venerable Archdeacon Cowie related that upon making his first speech to the rough mining community at Waihi Sir William immediately won the hearts of those present by a courteous bow. “ That was not a piece of acting,” said the reverend speaker, “ it was the natural act of a cultured gentleman.” The respect and love of the people went out to Sir William not alone because of the good service that he had rendered to his constituency but because of his distinguished qualities as a man.

The service over, the cortege, led by the band playing the Dead March, filed slowly out along the densely packed streets, to the cemetery, where the service was concluded, and the mortal remains of William Herbert Herries, of dearly cherished memory, were placed in their last resting place.

It is probable that a public Memorial will be erected in the beautiful grounds of the Domain at Te Aroha. Meanwhile a stone has been placed by the relatives over

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the grave in the cemetery there. This is of grey granite, with a horizontal cross on the top. An inscription is carved on the sloping surface of the stone on each side of the cross. On the one side the legend is as follows:

Sacred to the memory of the Hon. Sir William Herbert Herries, K.C.M.G., of Shaftesbury, near Te Aroha, who for 26 years was a Member of the House of Representatives and for more than 10 years till his death was a Minister of the Crown, filling the offices of Native Affairs and of Railways with conspicuous ability.

The eldest son of Herbert Crompton and Leonora Emma Herries, of Frimley Park, Surrey, he was born in London, April 19 th , 1859, and died at Wellington, February 22 nd , 1923, beloved and respected throughout the Dominion.

“ That they may rest from their labours ; and their works do follow them.”— Rev. xiv. 13.

On the other side the death of his wife is thus recorded:

Also of Catherine Louisa, his beloved wife, daughter of Edward Francis Roche of Ohineroa, Shaftesbury, and formerly of Johnstown House, co. Cork, Ireland.

She died on board the steamer lonic, homeward-bound from New Zealand, April 21 st , 1912, aged 53, and was buried at sea.

“ When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee.” —lsaiah xliii. 2.

Printed in England at The Ballantyne Press Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd. Colchester, London & Eton