A MEMORIAL TABLET.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16430, 23 December 1913, Page 4

A MEMORIAL TABLET.

the late sir william STEWARD. UNVEILING CEREMONY AT WAIMATE. An impressive service was . held in St Augustine’s Church at Waimate on Sunday, when a tablet to the memory of the lato Sir William Steward was unveiled. Before tho service the vicar read the Faculty given by the Bishop to himself and the churchwardens authorising the unveiling and then proceeding from the nave to the place on the south wall where tho brass was erected, he unveiled the. memorial. Tho tablet bears tho following inscription: —“To tho Glory of_ God, and tho most dear memory of William Jukes Steward, Kt. M.P. for the Waitaki electorate, Canterbury, N.Z., for 30 years, 1881-1911. This memorial is placet! by liis widow.”. “Passed from death unto life.” After suitable hymns had been sung, tho vicar said that that morning they had added another memorial to the many which had been given to the parish church, and in doing so they had in memory one who had gone from them, one who for more than thirty years had worked among them and for them with much unselfishness. Their esteemed brother to whose memory the brass was unveiled was one of the most conspicuous figures in the district, and many were the public services ho had rendered to tho "Waimate electorate, and innumerable were the services ho had given to individuals. Thoso of them who were privileged to know- him would not readily forget his genial, kindly nature, his simple courtesy and his keenness to serve wherever service was required, and it should not be forgotten that many of the settlements, small and great, to be found in the electorate, settlements which had not a little contributed to the prosperity of the district, were brought into existence largely through the persistent effort and determination of. their deceased friend. It was scarcely possible that any man, holding the position that he held, could have done more for the welfare of the electorate he represented than did William Jukes Steward for the Waitaki electorate.

The speakor said he feared that none of them fully appreciated the strenuousness of the life of their politicians. The exigencies and turmoil of public life were such , that no man could stand it for many years unless ho had some outside source from which' he might draw strength and help and comfort. It was the speaker’s privilege to know that their deceased friend found the strength he so much needed in the worship of the church he loved. Especially was this so when worshipping in the parish church, for he ever regarded Waimate as his home. Many years ago, when living there, he was vicar’s warden, and not infrequently he had served the office of lay reader. His last words to his nearest and dearest were these: —“WTaen I am gone,- be sure aud take me to Waimate, that I may lay mo down and take my rest among the people I have loved,” and his wishes in that respect had been carried out. Thirteen months ago his body was placed at the chancel step of the church, and then they bore it hence and laid it to rest in tho Waimate cemetery, “in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life.”.

There was a largo congregation, who entered reverently into the spirit of the service. ;