THE PASSING OF THE PREMIER.

Evening Post, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1906, Page 5

THE PASSING OF THE PREMIER.

HIS LAST HOURS. "REST TO-MORROW, AND THEN TO WORK!" CAPTAIN TAYLOR'S NARRATIVE, "On the 10th of the 6th of 1906, the Hon. R. J. Seddon, passenger on the above steamer x from Sydney to Auckland, expired, and, after careful examination by the ship's surgeon, he pronounced the cause of death to be owing to heart failure."—Extract from the' log of the s.s. Oswestry Grange. ' "I sincerely hope that I may never ba called upon to make eUcli another voyage as that which has just ended with the passing of your late Premier! And there goes a man, the like of whom is only born once in a long time." The speaker was Captain Taylor, as he stood, with head uncovered, on the deck of the Oswestry Grange as the hearse passed from Glasgow Wharf bearing the body of Mr Seddon at an early hour yesterday morning. Afterwards, when he had given directions about cargo and mails, and had consulted with the ship's agents, Captain Taylor courteously granted an interview to a Post representative. The captain said the experience was one of a lifetime, and added that Mrs. Seddon bore up like the brave woman she was. '"Despite the awful blow that came to her with lightning rapidity," said he, "sho wds ever thoughtful of others. All the members of the family were simply dazed at the Stroke that had taken away husband and father. All of us could hardly realise that it was Death.!" Then Captain Taylor told the story of the passing of the Premier. Mr. Seddon, he said, arrived on board late on Saturday night, looking very tired, but appearing to be in bright spirits. The waiting and accompanying crowd gave the Premier three Cheers, but he would not give them a speech, though he thanked them for their kindness to him. Mr. Seddon soon retired to rest, and awoke in the morning refreshed. j Asked what he intended doing, he said Ihe would put in a quiet day. "I'll rest I to-morrow, and then get to work. We'll put in some hard work when we start." The smoking-room was cct apart as thfc Premier's workroom for tho voyage, and there the two private secretaries, Messrs. Andrews and Matthews, laid out a mass of papers —which were never touched oy Mr. Seddon. Fine weather prevailed on Sunday, and the Premier : and his family spent a very quiet day. About noon Mr. Seddon had sent for the ship's doctoi, Complaining of some slight pain, especially under the left arm. The medical man sounded the statesman thoroughly, and reported that he was very much run down, and must have a period of absolute rej.t. Otherwise, there was nothing to be alarmed about. "You require rest," said the doctor. The Premier admitted that he Wan very tired. Throughout the afternoon there were no signs of illness, no premonitions of the" coming end. Just before leaving Sydney the Premier had taken a great fancy to an exceptionally clever and handsome white cockatoo, with a ready flow of language and the gift of smart retorts. He purchased the bird, and had it cent on boafd as a present to Mrs. Seddon. He spent some of the short time he was on board the steamer on a seat alongside the bird's cage, and greatly enjoyed the new experience of being "talked at." Shortly after- 6 _ o'clock on Sunday evening, the Premier and Mrs. Seddon, theif daughter" May, and Mr. Andrews were in Mr. Seddon's cabin, just off the saloon. Mr. Seddon was reclining on the couch, nibbling at & biscuit, his Wife was sitting ori a chair at the head ot the couch, and the other two Occupants of the cabin were standing. An animated general conversation had been going on, when, without the slightest warning, the Premier straightened himsfelf, and, whilfet in the act of putting a hand towards his heart, exclaimed, "Ohj Mother!" Immediately his head fell over «o the right and lay upon his wife's shoulder. So passed New Zealand's Prime Minister.. Miss Seddon immediately called the captain, who sum. moned the ship's doctor, but death had left its unmistakable mark upon the now placid features. The story of the putting back bt the ateamer to Sydney and the diverting of her course from Auckland to Wellington has already been told in our columns. By the express wish of Mrs. Seddon, the body was embalmed on board the ship at "Sydney. Mrs. Seddon also directed that the members of her family should receive advice of their father's death before the public was made aware of the reason of the return of tho Oswestry Grange to Sydney. It was not until Mr. Matthews had had time to get his cablegrams away that Captain Taylor flew from his foremast the Now Zealand ensign as tho signal that the Premier had passed away. "The grief of Sydney," 6aid the captain, "was genuine and most marked on that day of our cad return."