DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2959, 28 April 1893, Page 2

DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

(per press association).

Wellington, April 27. 6,30 p.m. Mr Bailance died at 6.19 p.m.

The following public telegram was re- * ceived at 8,35 p.m. :—" A change for the worse in the Premier's condition came at 1.30 p.m., and at 1.45 p.m. the doctors gave no hope. At 3.30 he became unconscious, and it was evident he was fast sinking. Members of the Ministry and relatives had been summoned, and assembled at the Premier's residence to an ait the end, which as already advised, took place at 6.19 p.m." • The following isa copy of the" Gazette" issued by the Colonial .Secretary :—"lt is with deep regret I have to announce that the Hon Mr Ballanoe died this evening at the Premier's residence, Tinakori Road, at 20 minutes past 6 o'clock. Th« officers at Government Buildings are relieved from duty on Friday and Saturday."

Weixinoton, April 27. During the lacter part of last session Mr Ballance became indisposed, Buffering from an inward complaint, and he had been in indifferent health since. Recently he visited Wanganui, and the trip was reported to have h»d.a beneficial effect, but on his return here, the old complaint reappeared, and he had several relapses. A fortnight ago he was sufficiently well to take a trip round the hubtfur in the Government launch, Eilen Ballance, but a day or two later he had severe relapse, and on Sunday last, the inteßtinal obstruction having become more acute, and all other means having been tried without success, it was absolutely necessary to afford the patient relief by an operation. The operation was successfully performed on Sunday last by Doctors Cleghorn, Henry and Fell. Mr Ballance felt immediate relief. Since Saturday, however, he had been unable to partake of any food, but yesterday champagne was injected and gave temporary relief. The patient's weakened constitution gave tha utmost anxiety to his friends. This morning a decided change for the worse tojk place, and at 1.35 p.m. his medical advisers gave up all hope, and intimated that the end was not far off. During tha afternoon Mr Ballance became unconscious, and remained co till death intervened. Among those around the death-bed were Mrs Ballanee, two of her sisters and her brother, Sir Robert Stout, Sir Patrick Buckley, Messrs Cadman, Seddon, Reeve* and McEenzie, and Doctors Henry, Cleghorn, and Fell, and Mr A, M. Smith, private secretary. In the case of Mr Ballance peritonitis did not set in, his death being due to weakness occasioned by his long illness. The operation had been most suciOßsfully performed, and he had admitted to the medical gentlemen their great skill in performing it. The doctors have been unremitting in their attentions and Dr Cleghorn has resided at the Premier's house since the operation. Mr Ballance became unconscious at about 4 o'clock, but: up to that time he had been able to recognise those around him. Dr Fooks and Dr Gape examined the body of Mr Ballance after his death, and found a stricture in the course of the bowels which could not fail proving fatal. There was no tumour in the stomach or bowels. The funeral will take place io Wan* ganui en Sunday afternoon. A special train leaving here on Sunday will convey the body, also Ministers of the Crown and others. Mr Ballahce's life was insured, but the amount is not known. About half-past four o'olock this afternoon a number of flags inline city, including that at Government House, were lowered half-mast, and a report speedily spread that the Premier was dead. But a few minutes later they were hoisted full height again. The Resident Magistrates Court and the Land Board in the mean* time had adjourned, Mr Martin, R.M., presiding over the former, remarking that the death was a national calamity. This evening, on the City Council meeting, the Mayor immediately moved the adjournment out of respeot to the memory of the deceased. In doing so, he said that at the present time he did not intend to make a speech, as no doubt later on the Council would desire in a formal way lo mark its sense of the loss which the colony had sustained by the death of Mr Ballance. He was a political opponent of the Premier, but had learned to respect him for his honesty of purpose and gocd qualities, and as Mayor he could testify to the interest which Mr BalUnoe had taken in the affairs of the City of Wellington. He cordially and sincerely regretted his death. Councillors Fruer and Vogel also paid high tributes to his memory, and referred to his death as a national calamity. At the parade of the Wellington Guards to-night, Captain Paterson referred to the loss which the volunteers had sustained by the death of Mr Ballance. At a meeting of the Trade and Labour Council to-night, a resolution was carried expressing the deepest regret at the death of Mr Ballance.

Auckland, April 27. The news of the death of Mr Ballanoe has caused profound and universal regret here. The City Council resolved to tend a telegram of condolence to Mti Ballano6. The painful news, which was announced by the Mayor, shocked all present. The Auckland branch of the Imh National Federation at a meeting passed a resolution, expressing a deep sense of the loss which Liberalism And the colony has sustained by the death of. Mr Ballance, and adjourned without transacting any business. Auckland, April, 28. The Trades and Labor Council and the Knights of Labor have wired to Mrs Ballance expressing deep sympathy with her in her loss. At the City and Suburban Council meetings feeling reference was made to the death of the Premier. Several Auckland members leave to-day for Wanganui to attend the funeral. The flags on the shipping and in town are half mast high. Wellington, April 28. The Acting Premr'er, Mr Seddon, received the following letter from His Excellency the Governor last evening :— " i'he Governor has just beard with itiuch regret from Sir P. Buckley of the death o\ the Premier, and'he desires to take the earliest opportunity of expressing to his Ministers his sense of the great loss the Colony has sustained in the removal of so able and experienced a statesman. He also desires to express his own sorrow at the loss of one with whom his personal relations had ever been of the most pleasant and cordial description, and whose courteous assistai.ce and counsel had always been at the disposal of the Governor during this his first year of ofhW A funerU train will leave for Wanganui at 7.30 a m. on Sunday, and return the same afternoon. Mr Seddon is endeavoring to arrange with the Union Cqmpany ty put on a steamer from the Soutty tq connect with the bain. The ceremonies both here and at Wanganui will ba of a military character, and H.M.S. Katqomba will take part, The Appeal Court has adjourned till Monday. All flags are at halt maifc. Telegrams are pouring in from all ottf

the colony of the most sympathetic kind, from local bodies and prominent men oi all shades and opinion. With ier pjct to the pclitical aspect; and the changes likely to be br night about by the Premier's death the initiative will of cource crom his Excellency, but ib is understood there will be nothing to report till after tho funeral. In the event of the Union Company being able to ran a special steamer from Lyttelton to Wellington to-morrow afternoon, the Railway Department will put on a sp cial train from Dunedin to-moreow morning, leaving probably about 7 a.m., to connect with the vessel at Lyttelton. ISjiisow, April 27. The news of the Premier's death was received with marked sorrow. At tho Horticultural Society's show the music was at oncestopped on reoeipi of the information. * Ohbjstchtjkoh, April 27. The news of the death of the Premier caused a painful shock here, and the feeling of regret is widespread. The Mayor sent a telegram exprest>iv» of sympathy to Mrs Ballance. A telegram was was also sent expressing on behalf of the mercantile community of Chriatohurch their deep sympathy with Mrs Ballance. Timartj, April 28. Captain Wray, R.M., in adjourning the Court till Monday, said he had known Mr Ballance for twenty-five years, twenty in Wanganui, and could speak to the devoted manner in which he had served the country, and his many estimable qua'ities. His death had caused an irreparable loss. Inveecakculi., April 27. The Invercargill Borough Council, before proceeding with business to-night, passed a resolution, conve/ing to Mrs .Ballance, by telegram to the Hon. J. G. Ward, their sympathy with her in the great calamity which had befallen her, and their deep regret at the loss the j colony hud sustained by the death of her j husband.

The following biographical sketch is compiled from authoritative sources :— John Ballance was born at Glenavy, in the county of Antrim, Ireland, on March 27, 1839, his father, Samuel Ballanco, being a tenant farmer on Lord Hertford's estate. He received his preliminary education at the National School, bub at the age of fourteen left his father's farm to be apprenticed to an ironmonger. This line of life took him later on to Birmingham, where he remained eight years, profiting in every way by the intellectuil progressive life of the great manufacturing centre. While following his business he found time to attend the evening classes in the Midland Instltu'e for the purpose of completing his education. Earnestly bent on self-culture, he took part in debating societies, and contributed largely to the press. At the age of twenty-seven he determined to emigrate, and, sailing for New Zealand, arrived in Wellington in August 1866. He at once, proceeded to Wanganui with the intention of engaging in sheep-farming, an occupation which he had been led to believe was an easy wey of making money without much capital. On this point he was soon undeceived, and ha then opened a jeweller's shop of the better class, but losing hia money in this enterprise, he promptly abandoned it, and started a newspaper under the name of the " Wanganui Herald," Of this paper Mr Ballanee was both proprietor and editor, and up to the present time he has continued to be its guiding spirit. As is usual with newly established newspapers in young communities, the " Wanganui Herald " had many initial difficulties to overcome ; but in the end its founder's energies were rewarded, and his "daily" becme recognised throughout the colony as one ot the best organs of puplic opinion. Mr Ballanee had goon achieved a reputation as an able and incisive writer ; but ib was not till he had surprised a Wanganui meeting by an unlooked-for speech that his qualities as a public speaker became appreciated. He contested the Egmont seat in 1873, in the interests of the Stafford Ministry, his opponents being the late W. S, Moorhouse and Sir Harry Atkinson. Although considered by his friends practically safe, he retired in favor Of the latter candidate on his pledging himself to support Sir Edward Stafford. He was elected for Wanganui in 1876, on the Abolition (of provinces) ticket, having .taken for many years a prominent part in local politics in opposition to the provincial system, then in existence. He marked his first session by introducing a bill to enable municipalities to raise loans by vote of the ratepayers on security of a special rate without the necessity of permissory legislation in each case. This important measure passed the House, but was rejected in the Council by a narrow majority; and in the following session it was embodied im the Municipal Corporations Bill by Sir Julius Vogel, who ireely acknowledged his indebtedness to the author of the scheme. The measure finally became law, and was found to work admirably. In the session of 1877 Mr Ballanee mo red an amendment to the Native Land Court Bill, against free trade in native lands, and the bill was ultimately withdrawn by the Government. Throughout that session he supported the newly formed Grey Ministry, refusing, however, to accept a portfolio whilst the Cabinet was being formed. Shortly after the termination of the session, the Ministry again pressing office upon him, and Sir George Grey himself soliciting his assistance, Mr Ballanee accepted the post of Minister of Education in January 1878, which he t exchanged for that of Colonial Treasurer in July of the same year ; but in June 1879 he resigned rather than comply with what he regarded as the arbitrary methi da of the* Premier. At the general election in the same year he stood fcr^.Wan^anui, and defeated Sir William Fox, Messrs Ballanee and Bryce, the late leader of the Opposition, being the two successful candid* est During the successive session* of 1879, 1880, and 1881 he took a very active part in opposition to the Hall and Whitaker Ministries. At the general election in December 1881 he stood for Wanganui, and was defeat< d by Mr W, H. Watt, by a majority of «nly fom. At the general election of 1884 he was elected by a majority of two to one over Messrs Watt and George Hutchison, and at the general election of 1887 by a s:milar majority over Mr G. Carson. He was returned again for Wanganui at the general election of 1890, but by a greatly reduced majority. In September 1884 Mr Ballanee joined the Stout-Vogei administration as Native Minister and Ministerfor Defence and Lands, and retained office till the retirement of fhat Ministry ip Qptob'er 188'f. In the'following year he was formally chosen as leader of the Opposition j and he became Premier, Colonial Treasurer, and Commissioner of Cuitoms on the resignation of Sir Harry Atkinson's Government in January 1891. lyir Ballanee was the author of many ot the most important measures now pn the Statute Book. In 1877 he introduced into tfie Land pi}l then before Parliament the well-known «• thirds " clauses. Ihis principle at first applied only to sales ot land on deferred, payments, but has since been extended to the perpetual, lease system. When in office in 1878 in the Grej Ministry it was Mr Ballarice who made the announcement that the Government would introduce a Bill conferring the residents franchise—#ew Zealand taking tiie'lead of all the other colpnies m this direction. The effect of the me^nre was practically niarshpod sutf-i-age. In 1878, when Treasurer in the same Ministry, he carried a m,easu.r9 inptitutingaLaM'Tix, but the Act was repealed in the next year by the Atkinson $oywnment ? who had succeeded to

• Hce. In the St. v .Vogel Miniatty of 1884-87 hu introduced and pub into operation the Vill »ge Homestead Settlemnt system, which has _ done much to relieve the congestion of unemployed and partially employed in the towns. The Native policy was also changed from a military to a civil system, a change which proved completely suocessful, and to which the present peaceful relations between the Native and European races are mainly due, while the heavy military expenditure under which the colony was bowed down was done away wiih. He established the system of defence that has since been adhered to,, fortifyiKg the principal ports and establishing the Permanent Militia. During fche " Continuous " Ministry Mr Ballance did much to maintain the organisation of the Liberal party; and when they returned to power in 1891, at the head of the largest majority that any New Zealand Ministry had posse/wed, he formed a sfcrong Ministry, the ranks of which were only broken by his death. In the fcwo fall working sessions of .Parliament that bare been held many bills were carried of which the piinciples had been affirmed at the general election, and it was hoped that the ensuing session would have s«en others passed. The taxation system was ohauged from property to land and income, the land and electoral laws ware reformed, the reform of the Legislative Council effected, *he railways I placed under non-political management, Acts passed for the protection of workers and for the promotion of industries and | settlement, and many other measures having for their object the welfare of the community. Mr Ballance held opinions adverse to New Zealand becoming » part j of an Australasian Federation, holding i that the circumstances of this colony were { fco entirely dissimilar to those of the neighboring colonies as to render their union impracticable.- He favored the scheme of Imperial defence, under which each of the colonies contributed according to its population to the maintenance of a Colonial squadron. Outside of politics Mr Ballance has done the colony good service; In 1868, when the Maori insurgents undor Titokowaru were ravaging the district, Mr Bal lance helped to raise the Wanganui Cavalry, and took his place in the ranks, but was immediately elected Cornet of the corps, which afterwards did good service in the field. He was, however, removed from his military position for having contributed to his paper some criticisms on the campaign which gave umbrage to the Government. -„, In May 1870 Mr Ballance married ' Ellen, daughter of the late David Anderson, of Wellington, who, with «n adopted daughter, survives him. Mr Ballance's only other relatire in the colony is Mr McKnighfc, of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company's Masterton branch. We may mention that Mr Arthur Wilson, Winslow, wae a schoolfellow of the deceased Premier.