PRESENTATION TO MRS SEDDON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVI, Issue 12559, 22 July 1901, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MRS SEDDON.

■ The address torn the people of tke.West:iand constituency to Mis iSeddon;-.on ; the occasion- of her birthday, has ■mounted and' illuminated,, and is,to be at once forwarded to her. The address has in album form, in a handsome embossed morocco binding' embellished with gold, tooling. A vellum plate «n the outer cover bears-the name of the recipient in gold letters. The, first page is de-voted also to an iUumination of the recipients name, being further adorned by a series of charaeteristio pictures of colonial lake and mountain scenery, and flowers. The rremainder of th© volume is devoted to the address and signatures, which ore beautifully printed -on" a series of handsome mounts. Tho work has 'been done at the "Lyfcteltoß Times" Office. The following is the test of the address: — Hokitdka, Westland, ; May. 28, 1901. To Mrs B. J. Seddon.< Dear Mrs Seddon,—On 'behalf of .the people of the Westland constituency, :a district which has for so many years beerv represented in Parliament by your honoured and esteemed husband, we desire to convey to you heartfelt congratulations on. this the occasion of your birthday, and to wish; you in th© fullest sense of the words, 'Many happy returns of the day." You have fa so many -ways endeared; yourself to the people of Westland, that you will be'gratified to learn, that when, this presentation was mooted, there was a ready wish to cooperate on all sides. (Perhaps your, many aets of 'kindness to individuals, particularly in regard to incidents connected with the ■war in South Africa, more than anything, created this spontaneous, expression'of sincerest regard and esteem'. In how many ways you, 'have -acted with, a motherly feeling to " our boys" when departing, to the relatives and friends in .the hour of supreme trial, or to the' gallant, lads; when returning, it,would* be',difficult';to 'enum&-" rate. We know that .the cajjes arejiegipn, and many of your friends'..whaV.haye the .personal experience of your'cintferist, -were among the first to join. .pleasurable opportunity of kind and' generous efforts. Your close personal x6> gard for the -health and .happiness of;, your distinguished;hu&bandihas : at 'all -.riniesj:conV manded our respect ,'ahd' admiration,''' and' we also' fully recognise ihow you have at all times'ussisted the.ipghtiMon', ;the Premier in the ai&A "and 'ofjSctf "of fois. ).great work ; to arid Uplift the;peop;e of.iGSTew?Zealand'. We'ne'ed not say with, what feelings of gratification we. heard of''Mr Seddon's improvement 'healihj' or of /your' daughter's recovery if din': ■'"a. receipt serious illness. Your concern- and interest* were, of "-course, natural, but Ichow-i; irigyour intense devotion to your- family,-' we:,can'.'readjly 'believe thab ; you experienced a period of euspeife. We are glad.that thW) has. du£ 'to.'you- oiSt '^yiHxrs.. We>. '&s&■.. also .pleased at the opportunity of ,re-ferring-io the bearing.-, of your gallantJ;'sbn in &>u'tb. Africa, .where he has so readily rdnaittecMo assist in fighting the battles of fche Empire, His self saorifito. iii ,re'mainiag,, though tho'opporturi^y'ol(returning offered, seemed'f6 r iho# tlfafi he has caught the spirit of-bra fatOier.whoihas.so publicly declared a»d! ■denionMia.teii 'Ms de--. sire to uphold the unity and .'-mtegTity, /of our nation. TBsj combined: with his proaotioni" to ft andvlis, special- rde- : &ire to -remaim yriifa <bh& New though tempting 0%-rSj ©f staff appointmieaitg were \ made, • aro'-McJcJents.,nobsd in his ,careery,and frim -will? be;

to the land of his birth. In conclusion, we oan only-say that the old ties of friendship on the West Coast are more firmly bound to you .than.over. The marked interest you always display in the welfare of Westland and its-people ever ramind us of y&ur personal regard, and that warm feeling is most heartily reciprocated. As some.,slight, expression of the high esteem ?in which you l are held, we ask you to aocept the accompanying present of gold 'procured from -Seddon's Terrace, Westland, the gift of the people as emblematic of the golden-opinions in which you are held. .-Wishing, you and yours the 'brightest of ifutures,. and trusting that, as in the past, we shall have frequent opportunity of seeing , you amongst, us, enjoying, in com'mo'tt'with' your family, t!be best of good health, -which after all, is/the brightest) gift ~of all, on behalf of the subscribers, we have the. honour to /'remain, your admiring friends. ' (Appended are the signatures of the Mayor, Committee, and 502 friends).