THE LATE PREMIER.

Feilding Star, Volume I, Issue 290, 13 June 1907, Page 4

THE LATE PREMIER.

AN OUTSPOKEN OPINION. REEVES ON SEDDON. In the course of a review of Mr Drummond's book on the late Mr Seddon, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, High Commissioner, thus analyses Mr Seddon's career: — "It would be interesting to analyse the cause which enabled one who started so heavily handicapped by fortune, and who as a private member of Parliament was chiefly distinguished as a maker of cyclopean speeches, to achieve the acme of colonial success sj suddenly and so absolutely. I have known all the leading New Zealand politicians of his time. Most of them were much better speakers, and men of wider knowledge and finer fibre. Ballance was a sounder Parliamentary leader, a better chief of a Cabinet, and a deeper thinker. More energetic and industrious than Seddon no man could be; but Stout, his most dangerous rival, equalled him in these respects, besides being a far superior speaker. Bold as Seddon was, Grey and Atkinson excelled him in political courage. "Yet with all this, the son of the Lancashire schoolmaster had a very striking combination of serviceable qualities. In addition to the boldness and astonishing energy and industry above referred to, in addition to the concentration and tenacity which caused him to live for politics first, last, and always, he had magnnficent physical strength, and a highly useful combination of combativeness and command of temper. His cheerful confidence brushed aside worries and pulled him through a thousand difficulties. He might sincerely have asked, "What is defeat? I never imagined iti" Supplementing a natural fund of geniality, be had far more histrionic power than most people gave him credit for. Then, when ho chose, no v administrator could make a more patient study of details, and grasp business more thoroughly. Not over fond of coming to the point in public, he could get to the essence of affairs fast enough when he settled down to transact them. It was a proverb that he knew the forms of the House of Representatives as well as the Speaker. Again, ho not only devoted himself to public life, but really liked ' it, and had a healthy, jovial enjoyment of functions, processions, and gatherings of all kind, which stood him in valuable stead. In two respects at least none of his competitors approached or anything like approached him. One of these was his power of "managing ordinary and inferior men; of attracting, controlling, or if necessary, intimidating them. The other was his extraordinary knowledge of public opinion and power of divining the trend of popular temper. "Much has been said about his opportunism, and somo of his friends have candidly argued that it is the duty of a democratic statesman to find out what the people wish, and then do it. To that doctrine Ido not subscribe, but on behalf of Mr Seddon this much may quite honestly be urged— he was not a doctrinaire! or the best of all reasons, because he was not systematically educated in any school of political thought. Slenderly stocked, therefore, with theories, if he usually went with the majority, it was because in most respects he was one of the majority. The impulses that swayed the mass of the people generally swayed him along with the rest. He had plenty of caution, however, except in one department, and while the first years ot his Premiership were famous. for almost revolutionary reform, the last were chiefly distinguished for uncommon material prosperity. He had his faults, some of them obvious enough*, but when all is said, the mam impression left on the reader of Mr Drummond's timely book is the very great amount of strong work and credit that can quite justly and truly be claimed for the manly, indefatigable figure and pugnacious, picturesque, stentorian personality ot New Zealand's most widely-known Prime Minister." _ ENGLAND v. GERMANY. It is the Piano that has made this generation the most musical that has ever lived. Up to the present the German instrument has held sway but owing to the alteration in the tariff in the colony, you can now place in your home, a Sterling English Piano at a prioe that defies German competition. Some idea of the popularity of the English Piano may be gained from the fact that the Spencer Piano Co., one of the foremost English makers, have sold over three thousand of these instruments in New Zealand. The makers estimate that there are over fifty thou, sand of their instruments in use at the present time, of which fifty have been supplied to different ships of his Majesty's Navy. The price of these instruments puts them within the reach of all, as they can be delivered free to your door from £42 10s, or 22s 6d a month. All the Pianos are iron frame, full tricord, and havo a patent check action, and in their model class IB at £42 you have a fulness of tone that is not equalled by many of the so-called semi-Grands, costing £60 or £70. The London and Borlin Piano Company, who are New Zealand agents for these celebrated instruments, have made Mr William Carthew, Feilding, agent, and he has full power to grant liberal terras to purchasors. Mr Carthew has several Pianos in stock, and will be very pleased for anyone interested to call and inspoct the English Spencer, and see what the Celebrities in the musical world have to say about tfiese world-renowned instrument. For Children's Hacking Cough at night Woods' Great Peppermint Cure, Is Gd and 2s Gd. i REP MRS. I All ot* the strength of body and mind, of power to move, to' work, to think, comes from proper food well digested. A few hours of effort use up certain elements in tho muscles, nerves, and brain, which can only be replaced by digested food. Unless tho daily waste is as promptly made good, the system soon becomes sick, and decays. It is necessary in many cases to assist nature in the repairing process, to give tone to the dormant digestive organs, and assist the process of food digestion. This is the work of Impey's May Apple. We give a guarantee to eyery suffarer that it will improve their 'condition. A few drops .alter meals or at bedtime insures a perfect condition of health. Mr Gilbert Kenny, of the Citizens' Life Assurance Co., Dunedin, says: — "I have used Impey's May Apple with most marked bene i flcial results. I have no hesitation in saying that Impey's May Apple is the best cure for indigestion and sluggish liver offered for sale.'* Chemists and stores, 2s 6d per bottle. Post | free from Sharland and Co., Ltd., Wellington. Liniments cannot remove the real trouble in rheumatism, gout, sciatica, and lumbago, Rheumo does, by removing the excess uric acid from the blood. Rheumo effects a thorough ; cure. 2s 6d and 4s 6d.