THE NEWS IN THE- CITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13201, 12 June 1906, Page 5

THE NEWS IN THE- CITY.

A PAINFUL SENSATION. "The Premier is dead'' was the brief message passed from lip to lip throughout the city yesterday morning, and (lis mows was received at first with incredulity, and when confirmed with real sorrow, ' lb was all so sudden, so totally unexpected. The city liad he-en looking forward to paying honour to the Premier upon his return, knowing that he had embarked ».t .Sydney apparently in good health.-and was expected here an Thursday morning.. Within half an hour of the posting of Hie sad news en the HrkaTJ) board, nearly every Has in the city was hoisted at half-mast. The consular flags were amongst the first to he lowered, and then all the shipping' in tke harbour displayed, the same signal. The bell of St. Patrick's Cathedral commenced tolling, and from many other churches in the city and suburbs the hells conveyed the tidings- of death.*' In a, remarkably short; spare of time there was a. crowd around the Hkkai.O board, and all day people came to read the news For themselves. The whole; city was stirred to sorrow by the intelligence, raid in every thoroughfare little groups of people stood discussing it. It came home its a genuine loss to all, for they had all known .the.familial' figure of the Prime Minister, and had "cheered him mwOrrtiawaS-.. '--''" ""■'..""

The death, tragic in its suddenness, seem-' ed to appeal to 'the people as a very real ; personal bereavement. There were very many in the city who had- personal friendship with the late Premier, and many more who, not knowing him personally, yet; esteemed him. His name was a. household word, and there wats more in the hearts of many of those who heard of his death yesterday than regret at the. loss of a great statesman, for there was also mourning for a friend. " Died in harness," .said one man in the street, "died i.a harness, as he always said he wished to do, Cod bless him." Another, an old'man, addressing a Strang if, said, '• Aye. he's gone, and we could ill spare him. I knew him on. the West Coast. He did a lot. for the people."-■ A third said, " Well, we've lost a true friend. . I'm glad lie was Dick to the end. and he died game.' - '; During I lie luncheon hour, on the streets and ia restaurants, the death of the Premier was almost (he sole topic of conversation. it seemed hard to many' to realise that the wews was true, that the Prime .Minister of the colony was really gone, that no more would he address meetings in the Drill Hall, or enunciate the Government policy from the public platform, and that never again would the. newspapers chronicle his doings from day to day. His name had been so .familiar, he had been known per-. sonally by so many, that it was-little wonder Auckland people found themselves mo.oraißg A friend., ; -Durh3is:iths;^ftentpoh,

ill]'the Government offices : were closed,-as .! mark of respect to Mr. Serfdom's memory, the various: courts: sit ting in. Auckland were .adjourned until 1 next day, amusements were; cancelled, and, the schools were closed. j

. Coming .so stulde.Miy after Lis Australian: tour, which almost partook of the nature' of a triumphal procession. Ihe news of hisdeath was a painful shock. The younger, people had grown 'up with his Premiership. j and in their minds his nam* denied almost) -.iudissolubly connected ■ with the New Zealand Government, They could not recollect, any. such national calamity. But- voting! and old. of ail classes and conditions, what-: ever their political creed, joined in the' general sorrow. Mingled with all the sorrow, however, there was a curious sentiment, which could only be described as one of satisfaction: that the Premier had " crossed the bar" with all sail set. as he wished to do, passing out with the day. It) Tennyson's" immortal words: —

"Sunset and evening star, .And one clear call' tor me. And mar thare be no moaning- of the bar When I. put out to sea."

,-ang, no performance -took place at the ;r Opera House,: and- Bostock and Wombwell's ■circus gave no performance, postponing -their change of programme till this- evening. The Palace of; Amusements, in Coburg■street, also closed: immediately on receipt of the .news. . The meeting of the Tuakau Political Re['form League, convened for this evening, was postponed 'as soon as the news of the J meath of Mr. SexJdon was received. : The Vet*rajis! Home flag was'hoisted at hal.T-nias.t-,, and grief yras expressed' by the I old men. !. When the announcement w.,-.. msi!« Die ; secretary to the* Auckland Education .tso?,rd ! (Mr. V. Rice) communicated with the .Technical School ami Training College aid Norma! School, and the chairman of the City Schools Committee (Mr. P. MackayJ, All the city schools were immediately elased, and after the scholars at the wther twe institutions liad.been addressed on. the s work done by Mr. Srddon, as 'Minister for Education, and on his general political' life--they 100 were, closed. The meeting of the Onehunga Borough Council in committee last night was postponed, owing to the death of the Premier, until to-night. All parades of volunteer companies called for last evening were cancelled. The' officer commanding the district, Colonel B. H. Ba.vies, C,8., was present, at the Drill' Hall, and.ordered"the dismissal of the vatj-.'; .ouaicorps ..tfter^hajgar . statics \s4 hein ■. : . ■'■.■'■.■■■■ . .■ •■%■■■■'