IMPRESSIVE SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 10042, 21 May 1898, Page 8

IMPRESSIVE SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Received May 2Ut, 1.15 a.m. London, May 20. A touching and impressive scene wa3 witnessed in the House of Commons, All the members were in mourning, their complete silence testifying to the depth of their emotion. Mr Balfour, though suffering from the after effects of influenza, in a broken voice announced his intention to move to-day that an address be presented to the Queen praying that, unless inconsistent with Mr Gladstone's wishes, he be accorded a public funeral and a monument at Westminster, as expressing the public admiration and attachment of the Houses of Parliament and their high sense of his rare and splendid gifts, devoted labours in Parliament, and great offices to the State. Tho House then silently adjourned. The House of Lords did not sit.

The flags on tho hanks, mercantile, and business establishments in Christchurch were at half-mast yesterday, in consequence of the receipt of the news of the death of tho Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone. The flags on the shipping and most of the business places at Lyttelton were at half-mast. At Kaiapoi the flag at the Borough Council Chamber was placed at half-mast, a notice on the notice-board signed by his Worship the Mayor read—"The flag is half-mast as a tribute to tho memory of the late Risriit Hon. W. E. Gladstone, an honeet British statesman, whose public career for sixty years was marked by wisdom, purity and • zeal in the cause of good government for our Empire."