THE DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2960, 29 April 1893, Page 2

THE DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

(PJfB PRBSS ASSOCIATION).

_, __ . liONDox, April 28. lhe Marquis of Ripon, Secretary of State for the Colonies, has expressed to Mr W. B. Perceval, Agent-Generali for New Zealand, his great regret at the death of Mr Ballance. (Received April 29, 10 30 a.m.) Adkhidb, \pril 29. The Trades and Labor Council has passed a motion of regret at Mr Ballance's death. '■■«.'

Auckland; April 29. The Auckland branch .National Association records its regret at the death of Mr Ballance and sense of the loss the colony has sustained, and expresses deep sympathy wich Mrs Ballance. Hamilton, April 28. At a public meeting last night to promote the legislative prohibition of the liquor traffic and organise a local prohibition league, a resoiution was earned on the motion of the Rev. Mr Walker, of the New Zealani Alliance, expressing sorrow at the decease of Mr Ballance, and profound sympathy with Mrs Ballance and those who sorrow with her. Wellington, April 28. The medical name or the disease from which the Premier suffered was " intestinal anostomoeis." When it became evident that an operation was inevitable Mr Ballance wished to resign, but his colleagues would not hear of it. At that juncture Sir Robert Stout, who had been staying in the Premier's residence during his present visit to Wellington, received his laßt request. The " Evening Post " says that Mr Ballance desired Sir Robert Stout to succeed him, and the latter will probably stand for the vacant seat of lnanpahua. The same journal Bays that Mr Ward will be Colonial Treasurer in the reconstructed Ministry. Ministers, themselves, however, have declined to say anything as to future arrangements at the present juncture. The "New Zealand Times" and the " Evening Post" publish copious obitur ry notices of the late head of the Government with a curiouo difference between them. Whereas the " Times'" article is devoted entirely to the history of the man and makes but passing reference to the manner of his death, and none at all to his domestic relations, riot even stating whether he left any family, the " Evening Post" is almost wholly taken up with details of the lingering illness to which he finally succumbed. On Sunday the operation occupied two hours and a half when it was felc it would not be safe to continue ; on Tuesday the conclusion of the operation lasted three hours. Mr Seddon has received cablegrams from the Governments of South Australia and Tasmania, expressing sympathy with the Government and the colony in the loss sustained by the death of the Premier, and conveying messages of condolence with Mrs Ballance. The Government have also received through His KxceUency the Governor a message from the natives assembled in meeting at Tomoana, expressing sincere and cordial regret at the death of Mr Ballance. All the members of the Government proceed to Wanganui, and will act as pall-bearers. Sir Robert Stout has received a requisition promising extensive support should he elect to stand for Inangahua. Sir Robert, who it is understood is quite willing to-re-enter politics, has replied that he will not decide until after tfce funeral, x Wellington, April 29. The-National Liberal Association's and Irish National Federation's brabchea passed resolutions of sympathy with Mm Ballance. lhe Freemasons of Lodge L'Amout deLaVeiite, G.0.F., had a special in memoi tarn meeting. A special meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce also passed a resolution appropriate to the occasion. Sympathetic telegrams have been re* ceiyed from Mr Rolleston and Sir John Hall. Mr Percival has cabled—" Much lament death Premier greatest regret expressed colonial and business circles." m* « • Christchurch, April 28. The Magistrates' Courts at Christchurch and Lyttelton adjourned to-d»y out of respect to the n.emory of the late Premier. ™_ ™ , ~ DuM5D ™> April 28.! The Mayor of Dunedin, the Trades and Labor Council, and rhe President of the Female Franchise League sent telegrams of condolence to Mrs Ballance. All flags are at half mast. iM Invjgbcargill, April 28. The Hon. Mr Rolleston telegraphed from Merivale to-day that the sad de%th of the Premier rendered a political address impossible. This was in reply to a requisition inviting him to give an address here on current politics,

The Chri«tchurch "Press," the most strictly Opposition newspaper in New Zealand, wrote thus of the late Premier :— The Premier is dead— slain in the very prime of Iris manhood by a lingering, appalling disease, and at the very senith of hia career. After years of dogged courage hs had fought his way to victory, triumphant alike in the Senate and the country, at the very forefront of his party its unquestioned leader. With apparently a golden future before him, Mr Ballance was stricken with a fell disease which pursued its relentless course to the grave. His great rival, Sir Harry Atkinson, got his " marching orders." as he called his death warrant, when he had largely lived his life; but the Hon. Mr Ballance had just entered into the lull possession of his powers. The lingering Suffering of his last years and his untimely death make his fate the mogtpathetic in our political history. . 4 typical colonist, Mr Ballance had risen from one of the humblest to one of the highest positions amongst us-and he had risen by sheer force of industry, ability and courage, Gifted with fceen intellectual grasp, and a man of wide reading and re. source, he rose from one position to another in rapid succession, and qualified himself for each. From business man to journalist from journalist to politican, from politican to Premier—these were the main steps in his public career. In each he showed the same unflinching energy, the same unceasing determination to succeed. At the outset of his political career he modestly cdnfined himself to two or three set speeches in a seßßion; at the close of it he had become the Rupert of debate in his own party As leader of his party in Opposition, he was but a moderate success. When he was called to form his last Cabinet, he rose at once to his high position, and filled it with coaspicuous credit. Whether as a financier, a debater, or a tactician, he was easily first among hie compeers. His charm of manner, his conciliatory tact, his loyalty 5 to his party marked him as a leader of men. When thfe Agent-Generalship fell vacant some years ago his family and friends implored him to accept the post^ feeling his health was unequal to the strain cf qontjnized I office. B.ut he resisted the prospect of comparative rest that must haye attracted him: his services cpuld not be spared to his party, and to his party he Sacrificed Jus bTghpsp personal interests. Hia course has been steadily downwards. There were momen* tary rallies. Once and again he stood and faced his foe; but the enemy with relentless strides drew closer and closer on its victim. The pity of it is that S3 many of our public men should have to pay so dear a price for their devotion to their country's service; The late Sir Harry Atkinson and Mr Bal-* lance are but the latest of the list of New Zealand's Ministers whose health has broken flown undw'the utrajn. of political s trif«

political work. In many other democracies politicians retire in the lull vigor of middle fife, with comfortable fortune*. With ua they die in harness, and they die poor. And that is something for a democracy to be proud of. Mr Ballance's eclectic mind led him to sympathise with all—even the most extreme of political doctrines, made him see social questions rather in the rose-colored glamour of the optimist and enthusiast than in the dry light of the rigidly practical mind. But whatever diversities of opinion may have existed as to his head, no one doubted his heart was in the right place. The news of his death will be read with a thrill of sorrow in every corner of New Zealand, by every colonist, of whatever party bias. And, indeed, in Mr Balance's case there is little need of the exercise of political magnanimity ; for against Ballance the man not even the strongest opponent of Ballance the Premier ever had one unkind word to utter. The sounds of political strife are hushed over his grave. Hushed are all the echoes of his busy life—as trader, soldier, journalist and politician. The cries of the money-changere? the fife and drum of battle, the clamour of controrersy, the watchwords of party are alike hushed. He has fought the battle of life bravely as becomes a man, and met his doom without flinching as became the soldier. The rest is silence.

At a farewell address delivered at Alexandria on Thursday night, Mr Scobie Mackenzie, M.H.R., spoke with deep feeling of the serious condition of Mr Ballance, and said that to touch upon controversial politics was impossible; every other sentiment died away to give place to sorrow for the sufferer and sympathy with those who were undergoing such terrible anxieties on his behalf. He had passed through the fire himself, and knew how to sympathise with others in suffering. The spirit of comradeship was strong in Parliament, and among good men and true the occasional sharp things said of one another had no shadow of enmity in them.