DEATH OF MRS. SEDDON

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 8, 9 July 1931, Page 10

DEATH OF MRS. SEDDON

"A WONDERFUL LIFE"

SPLENDID WIFE AND MOTHER

"I have had a wonderful life," said Mrs. Scddon to a friend in recalling some of her experiences lately, and it was indeed wonderful in many ways, made so partly by her own fine nature and personality.' Mrs. Louise Jane Scddon passed away early this morning at the age of eighty-one, "full of years and honour," at her beautiful home, "Ecclcston," oil Ecclestoii Hill, fortunate to tho last in being surrounded by the surviving 'members of her family, who loved and appreciated her to the finest extent. She was tho daughter of the Jato Captain Stuart Spotswood, land and ship-owner of Williamstown, Victoria, ono .of the early pioneers of that colony. Her grandfather was Captain John Spotswood, of the 84th and 98th Begiments, and her grandmother was" the daughter of Major-General Waddington, of the East India Company, and at one time Governor of Bombay. ON THE WEST COAST. Her first wonderful change in life came when, after her marriage, she left her comfortable home, in the "gold rush" time, for the West Coast of Now Zealand, when Mr. and Mrs. Seddon made their home at Kumara. While there they both became known for their thorough kindness and hospitality, and a family of eleven was born to them. Although tho life was strenuous, and duties almost overwhelming, Mrs. Seddon kept bright and cheerful, and always spoke of her Coast life with affection, her fine J spirit carrying her through all troubles and making her the loved and respected "helpmeet" to her husband which she was to the end of his life, and which mado him, from the first of his political career,. place her side by side with himself in every social function, while ho took her advice and held counsel with her on many, important matters. Those in which she took special interest, and watched from tho gallery of the House with deepest interest, were the passage of tho OldAge Pension Act and the inception of what is now the "Child Welfare Act." "A LEADER AMONG WOMEN." After coming to Wellington, when her husband, was Premier of New Zealand, Mrs. Seddon was soon ■ recognised as a leader among women. She was elected to the presidency of Ihe Women's Social and Political League (following on after the late Mrs. T. Kennedy Macdonald), and held the position with honour for many years. This society originated many of the movements towards tho betterment of womon and children which have grown to great proportions and success since. Mrs. Seddon was also among tho. very early presidents of tho Navy League and tho Victoria League. Those who remember' the early days of the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Seddon in tho Molesworth street house will recall the wonderful hospitality and kindness which ' reigned there. The "door was always open," it might be said, and happy entertainment went on continually. The recollections of tho members of the family are of the happiest, as both father and mother (although they had largo and absorbing interests outside) always kept their best for home, and their care and intorest in their children wero an example to all. EXPERIENCES IN ENGLAND.' Later on-came some wonderful experiences in England and abroad.: Mis. Seddon was present with her husband at the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897, when the first Imperial Conference was hold ; again at the Coronation of King Edward, and at that of King George, being an honoured guest at each. There was a special "draw-ing-room" at tho time of the Jubilee, and ithe visiting wives of Prime. Ministers were 'presented, Misses Louise and.Mary Seddon being presented with their mother. The visit at tho time of the Coronation of King Edward was marked interestingly on the voyage by a call at South Africa, when Mr. and Mrs. Seddon, with Misses Phoebe and Mary Seddon, were given an armoured train (it was during the South African war) aud taken to Lord Kitchener's camp, where tho New Zealandcrs, as many as possible, were gathered together to meet them. The meeting gave great mutual pleasure. Mr. and Mrs. Seddon met Lord Milner at the Peace Conference, and Lord Roberts, General Baden-Powell, and others when in London. During another visit to England Mrs. Seddon was much touched at visiting the crypt of St. Paul's Cathedral, for there is the 1910 memorial, to her late husband, which was unveiled by the Duke of Argyle, and which is close to that of the late Sir George Grey, who had been one of his friends. One'of the interesting episodes of a former visit was the privato audience given by His Holiness the Pope to Mrs. Seddon and her two daughters. ' This was mentioned by Mrs. Seddon as being particularly interesting, and the Vatican was the subject of their great admiration. MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY.' A still further visit to England.and abroad was a sad one, being after the war, when Mrs. Seddon wont to visit the gravo of her eldest son, Captain Eichnrd Seddon, - at Hebertume, France. Both the other sons had fine war service to their credit, Captain T. E. Y. Seddon, and his brother, Stuart Seddon. These, survive their mother, with six sisters, Mrs. W. S. Bean (Christchurch), Mrs. F. Dyer, Mrs. C. Morice, Mrs. F. Hay (widow of the late Dr. Hay), Mrs. Knox-Gilmer (widow of the late Mr. Knox-Gilmer), and Mrs. Seddon-W.oods (England). ; ' '■ Among the memorials to the late Mr. Seddon were some of special interest to Mrs.- Seddon. When the Lancashire band, "The Besses 0' th-' Barn," toured New Zealand they put aside a.fund for a memorial to their great fellow-towns-man, and this was devoted, after being supplemented, to the beautiful pulpit at St. Paul's, Wellington, to a carillon at Addington, Christchurch' (tho Bey. Canon Bean being a son-in-law of Mrs. Seddon), to a lectern at Kumara Church, and to choir stalls at St. Helens, Lancashire. Mrs. Seddon was a fine and steadfast churchwomaii, and had an unfailing interest in tho work at Kumara, carrying it on to St. Paul's in Wellington, where she worshippod regularly as long as her health would allow, and kept her interest vivid, up to the last. IDEAL TO LIVE UP TO. In every way, therefore, Mrs. Soddon's life may bo said to have been wonderful, for it was full of the most varied and wide interests and experiences. She was a splendid friend, and full of the "milk of human kindness." Her friends, as well as her family, have happy memories of her, while her grandchildren, the daughters of Mrs. Dyer, Mrs. Knox s Gilmer, and Mrs. Morice, and the son and daughter of Mr .and Mrs. T. E. Y. Seddon, have a fine ideal to live up to in the lives of their grandparents. Mrs. Seddon lost her second brother about six months ago, and the only surviving member of her own family is Mrs. Heunah, of Wellington. The funeral service will take place ;it St. Paul's Church at 11 o'clock on Saturday morning.