SEDDON MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14000, 4 March 1909, Page 6

SEDDON MEMORIAL.

UNVEILED AT WAIHI, far TELEGRAPH.—SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT.] Waihi, Wednesday. ;■•' At Waihi this afternoon tlfe Hon. R. McKenzie (Minister for Public Works V and Mines) unveiled a memorial, erected by the townspeople, to the late Premier (the Hon. . R. \J. Seddon). - The memorial; consists

. >. of 'a. lamp and drinking fountain, and is ' situated in,' the centre of the main street. :; ■;-;- There was a {large gathering ,at the func- .,;.,- 4 tion, the Waihi Cadets forming a guard of honour, while the local band and fire brigade were also in attendance. {The

Mayor -(Mr. J. Newth) introduced the Minister. -v.-'','..'. '",'■•"../-■ :::'■-".-:"" ,''" '

In ; unveiling the memorial, Mr. McKenzie said that he was particularly pleased to have been asked to perform such a cere- ; mony. * The late Mr. Seddon had started > his-life amongst the miners, and always took the closest interest in their affaire. He had known Mr. Seddon for 33 years, and'always found him to be a manly man amongst manly men. T He went on to refer to Mr. Seddon's great qualities as a ■■'■•:' statesman, and to the legislation he had V; put upon- the Statute Books of the Do- :'. minion, and said that his career should be ;V'.-. emulated by the young people of to-day. : He thought the people of Waihi had done credit' to themselves in erecting the me-"-;'■;.••'•.morial. " ''■-..''." '.'■' ;, Mr. Hugh Poland, M.P. for Ohinemuri, . added his tribute to ' the memory of ' his ..;'-„:•' late chief, to whom he referred as a great ■ man and a master mind. . At the instance of the Mayor, three cheers were given for Mr. and Mrs. McKenzie,;ahdin response the Minister said .: that this would - not be- his last visit- to ■. ■ Waihi. Whether he was amongst the ;.'.!;; people of- Waihi or " not, he would always j give 'them, as a i mining community, any ': t assistance that lay in his power. ■•■.",'