THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1893.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9186, 28 April 1893, Page 4

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS. FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1893.

All our thoughts to-day arc overshadowed by the sorrowful intelligence from Wellington of the death of Mr. Ballance. From the beginning, the Premier's illness lias been felt to bo serious, and he has received the deepest sympathy from men of all shades of opinion. His fate has been peculiarly bitter, cut off as ho has been in the midst of his active career. It may be said that he has been in public life since 1873, when he first stood for the Egmont district. After serving an apprenticeship to political work as a representative, and then as a member of a Ministry, he at length won the position of Premier, ami became the leader of a strong political party. lie has been in office as head of the .Ministry since January, 1891, and has introduced and carried into law many measures of groat importance. He had attained the summit of his ambition. And we believe that his keenest political opponent (for of personal opponents he had none) will acknowledge that Mr. Ballance strove to attain political power only in order that lie might bring into effect legislation which he considered would be for the benehtof the people of New Zealand. No one evor questioned Mr. liallance's motives. No act savouring of corruption was ever attributed to him. During the whole of last session, lie received the consis- i tent ami loyal support of the members j of his party, who all respected him as j

their chief, and ... ,„..,. „ ~ ,?d him as a man. Hownathußenab " pass laws effecting change, of 6 . importance in several department » doubfc , |e coked forward to ars of us( . ful abour To all appa he might have held ollice undustu, {f)r severa i sessions, and have \> , ft jj s _ tinguished part in his tory for many years to o> ' g ufc - t lias nil been ordered otlu. -vf_ se. iVir. Ballance is another exam]'). » pn who have reached the height • j hoped and striven for, and tl. v. eeu cut down.

Of Mr. Ballance as a politic do not feel inclined at the Ps n t moment to speak at length. Ofu we have differed from liim on poinir policy, we have never questioned . purity of motive. But we believe tl to-day men of all parties will be i ( dined rather to dwell upon his genia_ and kindly nature as a man than upon his greatness as a statesman. No one ever knew any difference in Mr. Ballance. When he was simply a member of the Parliamentary rank and file, and when he had attained the office of Premier at the head of the strongest party which hassupported an Administration, he was precisely the same— ever courteous and considerate to all who had any business with him. And those who were privileged to enjoy his friendship know what a thoroughly good man ho was, how kind-hearted, amiable, and tolerant. His widow and relatives will have the sympathy of the whole colony in their loss; all who knew Mr. Ballance will feel as if they had lost a friend. Mr. Baliance's death will no doubt cause a profound sensation throughout all these colonies. Since he lias been in office New Zealand has thrown off all the clouds of depression that have rested upon it for several years. The other colonies of the group have been by no means so fortunate. New Zealand has thus come to be looked to as showing how a fair measure of prosperity may be regained, and the legislation and the administrative measures inaugurated by .Mr. Ballance have received a large amount of attention and scrutiny. It is to be feared that Mr. Baliance's death is owing in great measure to the hard work and worry he has had to undergo. His case resembles that of Sir Harry Atkinson. Mr. Ballance was a man of powerful frame, and was still in middle life. But the constant departmental work which he had to go through, and which he would in no wise shirk, and the prolonged night sittings in the House which it was absolutely necessary he should attend, told upon his constitution. He had not the art of sparing himself, and probably his kindliness and courtesy, which compelled him to give a patient hearing to all and sundry who had plaints to put before him, tended great! v to wear out his system.