Death Of Mr Ballance.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1893, Page 2

Death Of Mr Ballance.

i Wellington, April 21. The Hou John Ballancs, the Premier, died at his residence, Tinakori Road, at 19 minut?s past six o'clock this evening, aged 54 years and one month. During the latter pirt of the session Mr BUlance became indisposed, suffering from an inward com^ pi lint, and he had been in indifferent health since. Recently he visited Wanganui, and the trip was reported to have had a bene-, ficial effect, but oa his return here the old complaint reappeared, and he had several relapse?. A fortnight ago he was sufficiently well to take a trip rouDd the harbour in the Government launch Ellen Ballance, but a day or two later had a severe relapse, and on Sjr.day last the intestinal obstruction having become more ncute, and all other means having been tried without success, it was absolutely necessary to afford the patient relief by operation. The operation wis successfully performed on Sunday last by Drs Cleghorn, Henry, and Fell, and Mr Ballance felt immediate relief. Since S turd;iy, however, Mr Baliance has been unable to partake of any food, but yesterday champagne was injected, and gave t impo» rary relief. The parent's weakened constitution g^ve the utmost anxiety to his friends, and this morning a decided change f r the worse took place, and at 135 p.m. his modicil advisers gave up all hope, and intimated that the end was uot far off. During the aft9rnoo i Mr Ballance became unoon? sciou?, and remained so until death intervened. Among thos9 round the death bed were Mrs Ballanc3, two of her sisters and her brother, Sir Robert Stout, S r P. Buckley. Hods Cadman, Ssddon, Reeves. McKenzie ; Drs Henry, CleghorD, and Fell, and Mr A.. M. Smith (private Secretary). The health of the Premier has been the one a'> sorbing topic in the city since it was known that an operation bai been performed, and the daily buletins were anxiously awaited. When the news was announced by extras this evening, a sad gloom was cast over the city. About 4 30 this afternoon a number of flags in the city, including that of Governmsnt House, were lowered to halfmast, and reports Bpeedily spread that the Premier was dead, but a few minutes later they were hoisted to full height again. The RM. Court and the Land Board in the meantime adjourned, Mr Martio, R.M., who was presiding over the former, remarking th»t the death of Mr Ballance was a National calamity. This evening, on the City Oounoil meeting, the Mayor immediately moved an adjournment out of respect to the memory of deceased. In doing so, he said that at the present time he did not intend to make a Bpeeoh, as uo doubt later on the Counoil would desire in a formal way to mark its sensa oE the loss the Colony had sust .lined by the death of Mr Balance. He was a political opponent of the Premier, but had learned to rsspeo!; him for his honesty of purpose and good qualities, and, as Mayor, he could testify to the interest Mr Balance had tiken in the affair 3of the city of Wellington. He cordially aid sincerely regretted his death. Councillors Fraser and Yogel also paid a high tribute to hia memory, and referred to his death as a national calamity. Mr Billmce was born iv Antrim on March 27, 1839, and arrived in New Z3aland in AugusS 1865. He leaves a widow and an adopted daughter. Messages of condolence were received from all parts of the Colony. Litest. la the ciseof Mr Ballance, peritonitis did not set in, his death being due to weakaes?, occasioned by long iilness. The operation ha I been most successfully performed, and he had admitted t) the medic il gentlemen their gre.it skill in performing it. The doctors have bsen unremitting in their attention, and Dr Cleghorn his resided at the Premier's residence since the operation Mr Billaice became uucoa'cnus about four o'clock, but up to that time he had been able to recognise those aroucd him. Is ia understood that a pc=.t mortem eximiaatioa will be male to acczritely determine the ! cau?e of death, bat is is extremely doabtf nl if thy report of ths medical gentlemm will be announced to-night. The following ia a c^py of the Gazette issued by the Colonial Secretary: — It is with deep regret I have to aunounce that the Hon Mr Billance died this evaniog at the Premier's residence, Tinakori Road, o\ twenty miuutes past six. The officers at Government Buildings are relieved from duty on Friday anl Saturday. Auckland April 27. The news of the death of Mr Ballance ha* caused profound and uuiveraal regret here. At the mcc ing of the City Council tonight the Mayor (Mr W. Crowther) said that he had a painful announcement to rmke — the Premier of New Zealand was dead. He was sure there wa3 no one in the Colony who, whatever hia politioal feelings, would not feel that the country had suffered a very ! groat los 3. 16 was resolve! to send a teleg:am of c indolence to Mrs Ballance. The piinful news announced by the Mayor shocked all preseit. The Auckland branch of the Irish National Federation, at a meeting to-night, passed a resolution expressing the. deep sense of loss which Liberalism and the Colony have sustained by the death of Mr Ballance, a statesman who has in a conspicuous manner assisted to bring the legislation of this Colony up to its present advanced position, and who consistently assisted Home Rule by an intelligent aud fearless advocacy. The branch, out of respect to the memory of the Premier, adjourned without transacting any business. This Day. The Trade and Labour Council telegraphed to Mrs Ballance: " We express deep sympathy for your loss. He was a statesman warm friend, and gentleman, whom Ne.v Zailund La? to mourn. ' Tlie Knights of Libour telegraphed to Mrs Billance: "We express sympathy in your bereavement. May t'.io Lord strengthen you iv your time of trouble. 1 ' At the City and Suburban C>uncil meetings feeling refereuce was made to the death of the Premier. Several Aucklmd members will leave t^-day for Wunjanui to attend the f aneral. Th 3 Qigs on the ehippiug and in tha town ai\3 halfmist high, Wellington This Day. Doctors Fooks and Gapea examined the body of the late Premier after death, and found a stricture in tha bowels which could not help p:oviug fatal. There was no tumour in the stomach or bevels. The funeral will take pla?e in Wanganui on Sunday afternoon, and a special train will leave here on Sunday morning tiking the boJy, and the Minister.-, of the Cruvn. The Trade and Labour Council carried resolutions recognising the great services which Mr Ballance had rendered to the labour causr, and ttnr, unlike his predecessors iv the high oflioa of Premier, he win a mm of deeds and fully acq:aintjd with the requirements of the wnrk-r--. The acting Premier received the following letter from the Governor la-it evening. " The Governor has just heard with much regret trom Sir Patrick Buckley of the death of the Premier, and he desires to take the earliest opportunity of expressing to his Ministers his sense of the great loss which the colony has sustained in the removal of so able ami experienced a sUtisman. He also desires to express his own sorrow at the loss of one with whom his personal relations have ever been of the most pleasant and cordial description, and whose courteous assistance ami counsel have always been ;it the disposal of the Governor during this his lirst year of oflice." The funeral train will leave for Wanganui at 7 30 a.m. on Sunday and will return the same afternoon. _ Mr Seddon is endeavouring to arrange with the Union Company to put on a steamer from the south to connect with the train. The ceremonies both here and at Wanganui will be of a military character, and a detachment from 11. M.5. Katoomba will take part, The Appeal Court adjourned till Monday in consequence of the Premier.-! death, anil to-day all Hags are half-mast. Telegrams xre pouring iv from all over the country of Lhe mo-t sympathetic kind from local bodies and prominent men of all shades of opinion. With respect to the political ispect and the chants likely to be brought ibout by the Premiers death the initiative ,vill of course come from His Excellency, jut it i-s understood that there will be lothing to report till after the funeral. Mr tS ddon has ana'iged with the Railway Commissioners to run a special train from S T ew Plymouth to WVgmui on Sundiy norning for the convenience of Auckland mil Tunmiki rosi.liMU.-j who intend to be irtscLit ut the Premier':- funcr.il. Ha.miltov, This Diy. At a public meeting list night to promote egiaUtive prohibition, vt thy liquor traffic

and to organise a local prohibition league, i rcfolution was carried on the motion of Rev Mr Walker, of the New Zidlaod V.liance, expressing sorrow at the decease of Mr B.lUnce anl profound sympathy with Mrs Ballance and those who Borrow with her. Timaru. This Diy, Captvin Wray, E.M., i i adjourning the Court till Monday, eaid that he had known Mr Ballarci for tweity-five yearp, twenty of which were in Waiganui, Ha could apeak of the manner in which he served ttie country a;:d of his many estimable qualities. His de^th had caused an irreparable lose. Chiustchurch, This Day. The news of the Premier's death was re» ccived here with feelings of the deepest regret. Flags are flying half mast at many of the principal buildings to-day. Both the Press and Lyttdton Times this morning refer in feeling terms to his death. At the conclusion of a leading article the former says, " The news of his death will be read with thrilling sorrow in every corner of New Zealand, by every colonist of whatevf t party bi^a. Indeed, in Mr Ballance'a case there is little need of the exeroise of politic cal magnanimity for against Mr Ballance the rnau cot even the strongest opponent of Mr Billance, the Premier ever had one uakind word to utter. The sounds of political strife are hushed over hia grave, hushed are all the echoes of his busy life as trader, soldier, journalist, and politician. The cries of the money changers, the fife and drum of battle, the clamonr of controversy, the watahwords of pirfcy are alike hushed, He has fought the hard battle of life bravely as beoomes a mai, and met his doom without flinching, as became a soldier. The rest is silenoe." At the Resident Magistrate's Court thiß morning iMr Beetham siid that in faoe of the sad news of the death of Mr Ballance, the Benoh thought it only right and proper to adjourn for the day tha business of the Court in respect to the memory of one whose death w.s nothing less thun a natioial oilanvty. Dlwedin, This Diy. The IVayor of Dunedin, the Trades and fnb;ur Council, and the President of the Fema'e Franchise League ha^e sent telegrams of condolence to Mrs Ballanoe. All the flags are half maat.