THE BARFF MEMORIAL.

Kumara Times, Issue 3004, 19 June 1886, Page 2

THE BARFF MEMORIAL.

[to the editor.]

Sir—Touching the meiporial to the late Edmund Barff and the subscription lists now distributed 1 1 the members of the committee to raise the necessary funds, a few words about the deceased gentleman may not be amiss by one who can date back as far as 1854 as an acquaintance. The first public affair in which the deceased took any very prominent action was the celebrated Ballarat Riot, so called by the then authorities, but which I consider, at this distance of time, a spontaneous outburst of indignation by an outraged people. It must be borne in mind that the digger at that time had no consideration given to repeated complaining. Mr Barff, from the first, strenuously opposed outrages, and, by his and moderate advice, was the means ot preventing much and serious mischief; his well known kindness of heart gave him a good deal of influence even at that early date. Soon after the settlement of that afiair he did as others did at the time—went from rush to rush, and it does .mot occur to me that he took much active part in public matters. The next place I bad the pleasure of personally renewing my acquaintance with him was when he was returned for the Provincial Council of Canterbury, and I need not say that he was triumphantly veturnd, and his Ballarat career did much to assist when made known by bis old Victorian friends. His after career is too well known to require any notice from me, but I must say that Edmund Barff was from the first to .the last a thorough, upright, well-meaning man, and one that any man might be proud to call friend. I think the least the public that he served so long and faithfully can do is to show, by their willingness to assist in this movement, that they fully recognise bis former services. It will not require any one to dip deep to assist, but let every one give as he gave to everybody. It may be said by some that he did this, that, or the other thing which was not according to their light; but they must bear in mind that the “man” without an enemy is an impossibility, and let them only remember what was best in a character which many would do welT to imitate.—l am, sir, yours, &c,, W. S. Hanna. Kiuuara, Juqe 18, 1886.' •