THE LATE HON. W. REEVES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8534, 7 April 1891, Page 5

THE LATE HON. W. REEVES.

[by telegraph—own correspondent.]

Wellington, Monday. The death of the late Hon. Mr. Reeves has awakened a great deal of sympathy, social as well as political, especially for his son, the Hon. W. P. Reeves, Minister for Education. The career or the deceased was that of a colonist in the best sense of the word. As a young man he was a member of the London Stock Exchange When ho came to New Zealand he went into the heart of the Rangiora bush, bought .a team of bullocks, and established a carrying business. The establishment of the Lyttelton Times by the late Mr. Crosbie Ward brought Mr. Reeves into the literary venture. The former was the successful statesman and brilliant editor ; the latter tho shrewd business manager. On Mr. Ward's death Mr. Reeves took over the whole concern. In 1876 he joined in the great provincial contest of that year with Sir G. Grey, Sir R. Stout, and Sir William Fitzherbert as allies, and was the author with them of the first and greatest stonewall within Parliamentary experience. He was beaten at the hustings by Mr. Fitzroy in 1876. Tho Stout-Vogel Government in ISS4 called him to the Legislative Council which event practically closed his political career.

[by telegraph.— association.] C-HRISTCiitfRCH, Monday. The Hon. W. Reeves was buried this afternoon. Bishop Harper and Archdeacon Cholinondeley conducted the service. The funeral was the largest seen here since that of the Hon. Mr. Moorhouse. Over sixty carriages followed the "hearse. A large number of tho Lyttelton Times employes and others walked. A great crowd assembled at the cemetery. The Hon R. Seddon, Major Steward, Justice Denniston, Judge Ward, and several members of both Houses of Parliament were present. The pall-bearers were : — Messrs. F. W. Maude, F. D. Malet, W. Montgomery, L. Harper, J. T. Matson, and P. C. Wilkin. The coffin was covered with wreaths, including some from the Master Printers' Association, the Press Association, and the Otago Daily Times directors.