THE LATE PREMIER.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1106, 12 May 1893, Page 45 (Supplement)

THE LATE PREMIER.

' The death of John Ballanoe on Thursday week has cist a gloom over the country he served so faithfully and bo well. We have been fparing the sad news for some days. For months it has been apparent that the life of the Premier hung by a thread. The Colony watched with sympathetic interest the long, painful, gallant struggle) he made for life ; it divined the sad details of the sick room, it followed the salient points of the'story of manly resignation and wifely devotion, filling in dotails for itself; it hoptd much from day to day, and it feared more. The friends of his Government and its enemies joined together in the bond of sympathetic hope and discouraging foar. They agreed in their admiration for the personality of the man who lay sick so long ; they joined together in appreciation of his great powers, his singlenfss of purpose, his intellectual stature end the keennesß of his far-reaching mental vision. Above all things, they wore united in appreciative kindliness and honourable esteem. But though everyone has felt in this way for months that death was probable, , end though tho bulletins lately issuing from j the sick room converted the probability into ] a coming oortainty, the Premier's death has ] coma, nevertheless, with a great sense of sho-k. I

His illness and death were tbe universal subject of conversation in the city on Friday, and the cause of the deep gloom which settled over the place in the darkly sympathetic atmosphere. Overhead was the rain falling ceaseless, flags everywhere hung at half-mast, publio business was suspended, tbe Government deoartments were deserted, the C urts stood adjourned, at the residence in Tinakori road messengers were arriving all day with messages of oondolence from pullie men, publio bodies and private friends, pouring in from every put of New Zealand and the neighbouring colonies. In all places of resort there was but one thing talked about.

The Btory of the loug illness has but few salient points. It began during the session, and seemed at first but a temporary attack. Gradually the disease became obstinate, developing serious complications. Btfore that stage was reached there was an apparent recovery, and when the firm, calmly cheerful face of the stricken chief was once more eeen in its wonted place, the House gave a burst of warm congratulation, thinking that tho evil had passed away. That impression was strengthened when Mr Ballance made his splendid reply in the big debate. It proved the last of his great speeches, for the effort overtaxed hi* strength, and though he appeared again at rare intervals, the publio business knew his brilliancy and vigour no more. After the session there was a change for the better, slight, but euoagh to justify a hope of a recovery slow and steady. To get tho benefit of change of air, and to rest from tho cares of his office, Mr Ballance took advantage ot the fine spring weather to go into the country. When he returned ho was cheerful, bright, full of interest in all that went on about bim. Keen for his work, acoesßible to all, but not better. And so the struggle went on, the sickness gradually gaining the upper hand. When he tried change of air a second time, Mr Ballance was a wreck, enfeebled, emaciated, but still cheerful and brave. His officers visited him at Wanganui, he attended closely to the details of his work, and he came back to die. THE END. All that medical skill could do to save him was done; unremitting care and unceasing wifely devotion were his, but ho sank fast. Nevertheless, as there was no organic disease, his friends hopod against ihope, until the necessity for the fatal operation became evident. When the intimation was made to him he received it with composed resignation and cheerful dignity. He recognised that it might ba his death-war' rant, he put hie house in order, taking thought for everything down to the minutest detail, he watched with steady courage the dread preparations in his room, so terrible in their nuggestivenesß, and when all was ready submitttd himself without a tremor Into the hands of the medical men. The netvs went forth over the land, and all the Oolony waited tho result in breathless suspense. It had not long to wait. On Thursday afternoon his wife was kneeling at his jedside with her uioters; his colleagues itood round his bed, with tiir Robert Stout,

the old Mend and associate of former days; the medical men wore with them. In mourn' ful silence, brokon by the sound of sobbiDg, I they were waiting for the last sigh. He lay on his bed, the drawn faco pale in the half ' I light of the gas turned low, the sharp lines 1 j of the emaciated form making a striking 1 contrast with the strong burly figures around—it was a solemn death-bed scene. In the forenoon he had said 'I hope I shall not be forgotten.' As the day turned he began t> lose consciousness. Best was coming and peace. It was then that the report went out that he was dead, and flags were everywhere lowered in the sorrowing city. But his heavy breathing went on in the sick room until ovening, when it stopped. Rest and peace had come. THGOATJSE OF DEATH. Doctors Fooks and Gave examined the body after death, and found a strloture in the oonrse of the bowels, which could not help proving fatal. There was no tumour in the stomach orbowols. BIS WIDOW, She is the daughter of the labs David Anderson, of Wellington, and married J him three and twenty years ago. It bas boen well said by one of our cnntimpcraries that theirs was the 'marriage of ; true minds,' for from ' tho wedding day to the last sad hour in tho sick room the was the oompanion of every act of his life, taking the deepest Interest in his work, sharing with hirn tho jovs and the sorrows of his brilliant career. She was by his side In every eleotion contest he fought, she was i his counsellor In his business affair a, she was tho friend who sympathised with all his ai.rns and pursuits, cheering him in adversity and adding brightness to his prosperous hours. Her devotion, vigilance, and care in the last long struggle which ended two days ago are beyond description. She has the deep sympathy of the whole Colony, as many ujbbi sages of oondolence aro abundantly testifying. To console her ohe has the little daughter they adopted (the bright little Kathleen, his neiie), the memory of her husband's wurnb, and tho pnblio appreciation of it, which is the justification of his last hope. John Ballance will certainly not be forgotten in New Zealand. EARLY YEARS. John Ballanoe was born at Glenavy in the County Antrim, in the country peopled by the tenaoious, shrewd race that ' went ovar ' two centuries ago in the wake of Ciomwell and possessed the land. The first 14 years of his life were spent chiefly on his father's farm, with a very few absences at school, and after that ho started bravely in the world. He carried the education of the National school system and the shrewdness of generations of tenant farmers with him into the iron trade, and these advantages he combined during his apprenticeship with a fixed desire to get on in life. That desire carried him to Birmingham, and kept him there till 1860, equipping himself in every way he oould think of for tho great part awaiting him at the Antipodes, His work for tho firm that employed him showed bim men aud oities, turning over for him the pages of the bonk of human nature ; his reading, which was wide and deep, filled his mind ; ho wrote for the newspaper?, forming that incisive, vigorous style which always distinguished him in later years; ho attended assiduously at the Midland Institute, and became a practised debater. Reading mude him, as Baoon says, a full man, writing an exact man, and speaking a ready man. Thus equipped, he sailed for New Zealand in 1866. One who travelled with him from Molbourno (be bad gone out round the Cope) in the old Albion, the craok ship of the intercolonial service of those days (Captain Kidney), has borne testimony to the manner of man he then was. Pleasant, genial, well informed, ready at all points, above all things original, he made the time pass remarkably agreeably for all, and was tho centre of attraction in consequence. NfcW ZEALAND. j Wanganui was his first place of settlement, I and there he made a start in colonial life on i the land. But the business of farming waß clow for bis active intellect, and there were other reasons why it failed in those days to offer special attractions, Mr Ballance therefore took to town life, bought a shop on Taupo quay, stocked it with jewellery, prospered, and before long sold off ni3 stock to tako to journalism. There was then in Wanganui the plant of a newspaper whoso name has nob survived. It had boen edited by a gentleman of the name of,

Parsons, and the plant belonged to Mr John Martin (subsequently the Hon J. Martin), of Wellington. Mr Ballance bought this plant and started tha Herald. There were two journals already in existence biweeklies—the Chronicle and the Time*. These at once made common cause against the new evening daily—Mr Ballanoe was nothing if he was not thorough—and cams out as tri-weeklies, appearing on alternate days. But the new editor-proprietor was too strong to be put down. As the writer of hie short career in the W'anganai Cavalry juitly observed of him, he could not only write a good artiole himself, but he had the faculty of making his paper interesting. A complete journalist he was in fact, aad in addition ho knew how to manage a news paper economically and well. The Herald therefore made ft reputation rapidly foi itself ind a fair name for its enterprising proprie-tor-editor. There was scope for an energetic, well informed writer in those days, especially if of independent mind. Day after day the readers of tho Herald got fresh evidence of the vide information, the deep thought and the incisive power and calm courage of their fellow townsman. The Herald prospered, and eventually beoame the property of a Limited Liability Company (the same whioh owns it now), Mr Ballance retaining a large interest and guiding its counsels, In 186 S Titokowaru alarmed the Colony by his raids upon the Patea and Wanganui districts, there was riding in haste and much mustering of armed men. A proclamation oalled upon the people of Wanganui and other places to join the Militia or some Volunteer corps. Mr Ballanoe at once summoned a publio meeting, wrote vigorously in the Herald, and the Wanganui Cavalry was formed forthwith, A few days afterwards another proclamation was issued, oal!in» out the Militia and insisting on putting every man into the ranks. Mr Ballanoe made a strong protest against the ' senseless tyranny' of this proceeding, and was immediately arrested. But as he was emphatically in the right the authorities promptly released him. In tha campaign whioh followed he did good service with the cavalry corps he had raised. The corps did much scouting, patrolling, skirmishing, and had its share of the general actions whioh have set a mark on that troubled time—Wereroa, Wairoa, Nuknmaru, Moturoa and others. At Nukumaru Trooper Ballanoe—be had entered as a trooper the corps he had raised—distinguished himself and was promoted to bq corporal. At the fight in tho Waitotara Blook (Handy's woolshed, if we remember rightly) he was present and also distinguished himself; it was the fight in whioh the Kai Iwi and the Wanganui Cavalry Corps co-operated, during which Sergeant Maxwell was killed in the charge up to the palisadeo of the Maori pah, and Trooper Lingard, now well known in Wellington, won the New Zealand Cross for his brave deed in rescuing Trooper Wright, who lay under his dead horse close to the stockade, uuder a heavy fire. Soon after this, Corporal Ballance was pro™ moted to the rank of cornet. His duties done, ho turned to his correspondence each ovening, and his paper was filled with accurate, graphic sosounts of the campaign, the best that were cent from the front. It was during this period that the friendship between Colonel, now General Sir 6. Whit, more, who commanded the operations, and Mr Ballanoe oommencjd, which oontinued unbroken till the sad death which has occasioned the writing of those lines. POLITICAL LIFE.

After a brilliant, enterprising local career of leadership in all things necessary to a progrestive community—the details of which are presented elsewhere by Mr Duthie and our Wanganui correspondent—Mr Ballance entered political life. It was in 1873 he made his first attempt, after his fellow-townsmen had dieoovored that he could epeak as well as write—the best speaker in the whole countryside he waa then reokoned. He stood for Egmont, and as William Seftnn Moorhouso, who had just resigned the registrarship of lands, was his op. ponent, and Major Atkinson was in the field, a great contest was anticipated. But Mr Ballance, true to bis unselfish instincts, declined to endanger the successof his party. Supporting Mr Stafford, he retired in favour of Major Atkinson on condition that he would vote with Mr Stafford on crucial question?, and loft the two big reputations—one earned in the Canterbury tunnel, the othtir in the TaianaUi war —to fight it out. In 1575, the Rangttikti seat being vacated by Mr Pox, Mr Ba.llaneo stood, and was returned in the Provincial interest, beating Mr Watt, and Mr W. Hutchison, then editing the Wellington Tribune, by a small majority, He thus began political life on the side of Major Atkinson, unsuspicious of the long rivalry that was one doy to be their fate. He met in the House for the first time Sir G. Grey aodMr(oowSir Robert)Stout, who wero also both, like himself, entering political life. It waa then that were established those close relations of friendship and mutual esteem between Mr Ballance and Sir Robert which have been so pleasant a feature of their political careers. In the following year, 1876, Mr Ballance was reelected at the general election for Rangitiket, defeating Mr James Bull by a heavy majority. In the short period of his service he had dis tinguished himself by proposing tho present system of municipal loans seoured on special rates. He made such an Impression that the Ministry in the next year adopted the system, which has been in foroe ever since. In 1876 Mr Ballance fought hard for the reduction of the municipal plural vote from five to throe, Mr Stout standing out for the single vote, pure and simple ; but bath were defeated, Provincialism disposed of, Mr Ballance joined the Liberal Party under Sir George Grey and Mr Stout and came rapidly tojjthe front, the new ideas being congenial to him and thoroughly familiar. His speeches attracted great notice at the time. Some critics thought them rather too litorarv in character, fanoyiog they detected in them the hand of the praotised loader writer, and insisting that they Bhowed a want of readi. ness and a necessity for long preparation. Incisive, vigorous, logical and well informed.

they, however, unreservedly admitted them to bo. Bat ths disparaging part of their critioism was tpoedily worn away by Mr Ballanoe'a suooeases in debate,

From a photograph by Wrigglesworth A Binns-

We will take this opportunity of referring to this point. Ab a debater Mr Ballanoe very quickly established a reputation for readiness, often speaking remarkably well on the spur of tho moment. He never spoke for speaking's sake always with an object, ever in a neat workmanlike manner, often with a logicsl power close as it was vigorous, always with a mastery of polished flowing Inglish. In introducing measures he was businesslike, speaking to the point, saying not ono word too much, exhausting his Mubjsct in the briefest possible time, It was in reply that he put forth his great strength. Then he was vigorous, rapid, enorgetio, his eloquence rushing on like a foaming river, carrying all before it, leaving no point unanswered, no department of bis subject without adequate

and often picturesque illustration. The gallery objected that bo turned to the House too much, but the House always heard him, and what is moro, admired the disciplined ardour of his rushing speech. Ono of the most courteous speakers ho was in the Honse, perhaps the most consistently courteous man who ever spoke there. His style, moreover, was entirely free from personalities. He hail plenty of gracoful banter for his opponents, »nd also for injudicious friends, and very effective he could make it, but he never forgot the difference between the banter which belongs to the subject and should be used with tact, and the personality whioh should rot be used at all. Take bim all in all he was tho best debater of his time, and ono of tho most able, convincing, logical, and incisive Breakers who ever addressed the Houto.

To resumo; in 1877 Sir Georgo Grey de. foated Major Atkinson by a narrow majority, and tho Liberal Party came to power, Mr Ballauoo voting steadily with it. The Major's Government was, wo remember, correctly described as having been ' fairly talked out of office.' In the following yearMr Ballance was taken into the Government as Minister of Education, Sir George Grey's campaign throughout the country had given the party a powerful majority, and things looked well for them. When Mr Larnaoh went Home on loan business Mr Ballanoe succeeded him as Colonial Treasurer, making his first Pinanoial Statenient in tho session of 1878. Its feature was the introduction of the Land Tax, with the statesmanlike reasons advanced in its Bupport. From that day Mr Ballanoe was recognised by tho House as a financier of consummate ability. His Budget was adversely criticised afterwards on account of tho deficit of 1879. But the Treasurer's estimates wore all realised, except the Land Fund estimates. But the reliance on the Land Fund was not the fault of Mr Ballanofi aB Treasurer; it waß his misfortune through the shortness of time it his disposal before making his Financial Statement ; and it was brought to nought by the unexpected commercial depression which set In on tho failure of the Glasgow Bank. Furthermore, the deficit of 1879 was Increased by tho refusal of Uio House to grant certain Uses whioh the majority was ready enough afterwards to grant to the very men who had caused it to withhold consent.

Before tho tension of 1879 Mr Ballance retired from office with honour, after a

misunderstanding on the part of kn chief, but not from the party. At tho general election of 1879, ia consequence of the dissolution granted to Sir George Grey, ho stood for Wanganui in the Liberal interest, in conjunction with Mr Bryoe, the placards everywhere calling upon the citizens to ' vote for tho two B'a., the Liberal candidates.' This injunction* they obeyed, placing the third candidate, Mr Fox, at ths bottom of the poll. This was the last act of the political friendship long subsisting between tha two B's,, the ' parting of tho ways' being reached fwhen Mr Bryco entered the Hall Ministry, after the defeat of the Grey Government in the second session of 1879, immediately after the eleotion. For two years Mr Ballance fought with all his might for the Grey Party, and with Messrs Macandrew and MonJf-onjery virtually led it. In 1881, thore was another general election and a revulsion of feeling in Wanganui. The Pariliaka prestige was strong, and tho Waitotara district had been shorn off from Wanganui; and Mr Ballaace was defeated by Mr Watt by a majority of four. Three years later, after the dissolution granted to Major Atkinson in 1884, in consequence of his defeat on Major Steward's motion, the wheel of political fortune took another turn, and Mr • Ballance beoame onse more the elect of Wanganui, a seat which horotainod till his death, having been returned at the elections of 1837 and 1890, ou tho latter occasion by rather a narrow majority. STOUT-VOGEL, In 1884, whan the Stout Vogal combina. Hon emerged out of the chaos of falling Governments, Mr Ballance held fcha portfolio of Lands, Defence, and N&tiva Affairs. In all three departments ho achieved a genuine and striking success. In the first his tiame will over be connected with the village settlements, whioh were a leading feature of the Liberal lan;l policy of his Government. The system got rid of the, unemployed problem in many districts, and attracted the attention of advancad thinkers outside the Colony. Lord Aberdeen, who made a special study of it, has spoken highly of it in England, and with a success which haß influenced Liberal aspirations in the Old Country greitly. At an interview he bad with Mr Ballance on the subjsct in Wellington, he was, as he said, much

impressed by the clearness and power and suggestiveness of his mind, and the great administrative strength he displayed. The settlement scheme was opposed afterwards, and hard things said of it; but it has been abundantly jaotified by results and has been adopted in some of tho neighbouring colonies. It will yet be a widespread monument of living prosperity to Mr Ballance'a memory. As Defence Minister Mr Ballauoo appealed to the patriotism and solf>reliaoce of tha people in 1885, tho year of tho war aoare, inaugurated an effective system of defence, took the highest ground, mastered the details with his usual rapidity, threw himself into the work with vast energy imd courage, and made a magnificent record, His Native work was distinguished byacarefully thought out measure, whioh, though it; did not succeed, brought a complicated aud difficult problem a step nearer to solution. The chief features of his administration tvere tho successful negotiation with tha Natives of the King Country with respect to their lauds, aud the substitution of the ordinary police for the military force in the preservation of law and order amongst the Natives, He always admitted that in Native matters he carried on tho work begun by his predecessors. But he is, nevertheless, entitled to the highest credit for the skill, fairness, sense of justice and tact whiah ensured the suooess of his policy. THE OPPOSITION, From 1887 to 1890 Mr Ballance led the Opposition (though not formally elected till 1889) in a manner in which no Opposition was over led before. True to his iuytiuct which led him to prefer the public interest to all others, he placed bi 3 force at tho disposal of the Government, materially help, ing it to build up the publio finance on sound linos, assisting their economic policy and insisting upon further reductions of the public service. PRRMIRII. Jn 1891 ho reached tho goal of/'his legitimate ambition, as Premier of..tfsew Zealand. The Liberal Party having coma under bin leadership to tho front in the general election of 181)0, placed hira in ofibo with a powerful majority, ho over had greater diilicukiea to enoouater, aud no statesman over overcame them no successfully. Eis ftroVJ work was. thd alteration of tha incidence of taxation, the striking success of which ia admitted even by most of bis opponent?. The Land Act, the labour measures, the

statuto for the settlement of the West Coast reserve, the co-operative system, the Labour Department— theso ara among the records of his Government. The Edwards case and the Legislative Council appoint' meats and she altered prerogative of mercy are instances of his grasp of constitutional principles, and determination to have them recognised. The story of hia short adminls« tration is too long to tell here, and too fresh in the public mind to require telling yet. We must content ourselves with recording our deep regret for the sad death which has brought it to an untimely close.

THE PIKST N.Z. PREMIER TO DIE IN lURNBSS.

lb is the first time in the history of New Zealand that a Premier has died in his harness. There is no such oase in Australian history, and the instances in British history are extremely rare. Before 1714 Prime Ministers were not of the same importance as after that date, and not one, if we remember rightly, died in office. After that date six Prime Ministers laid down life and offioe at onco—Henry Pelham in 1754, the Marquis of Rockingham in 1782, William Pitt in 1806, Spenoer Perceval (murdered by Bellingham) in 1812, Mr Canning in 1827, and Lord Palmerston in 1865. These are , thn rare instanoes in British history since the Revolution. Mr Ballance'e death makes ' the first in our annals. MR BALLANCE AT WANtANUI. (FBOM A COItRESFOKDHFT.) A Wanganui gentleman, who has been on terms of personal intimacy with Mr Ballance ever since the latter arrived in the Colony, has kindly furnished us with the following interesting particulars as to Mr Ballance's career in Wanganui: -Mr BaUance arrived in Wanganui in 1866, and started a jewellery business. He very early took an interest in public questions of the day, and by his brilliant speeches and strong debating power shown at the meetings of the Wanganui Literary Society attracted considerable at< tention. Mr George Hutchison, now mem* be* for Waitotara, was also a prominent membsr of this sooiety. While carrying on the jewellery business Mr Ballance, out of pure love of literary work, waß a frequent contributor to the columns of the Wanganui Times, one of the two bi-weekly morning papers published in the town. Giving up the jewellery business Mr Ballance with a partner started a brewery, and at Mr Ballanoe's instigition the firm brought out the Wanganui Herald aa a penny evening paper. This journal first saw the light on June 4, 1867, and was the second evening journal published in the Colony, its pr.ede. oessor being the Wellington Evening Post. Mr Ballanoe's first partnership did not laat long, and a division of interests was made, Mr Ballance giving up the brewery and taking over the newspaper. Not being a practical printer, he made overtures to Mr A, 0. Willis, then overseer at the office of the other Wanganui morning paper, and the partnership of Ballance and Willis was formed. While the Native war was engaging the attention of the whole coast the little evening paper, being vigorously edited,, was in great demand, but with the close of the rebellion it was soon found that the business did not offer scope enough for two partners. Mr Ballance was urged by bis partner to try a larger field, but thus ewly he had conceived a strong affection for Wanganui, and he determined to stand by the town of his adoption. Mr Willis then retired from the paper, and oa his partner's strong recommendation started in business as a bookseller in the town. Mr Ballance during this time necessarily took a leading part in all local questions, both socially and politically. In 1869 hestaited the Wanganui and Raagitikei Building Sooiety, the forerunner of a series of highly successful terminable societies. He originated the chess club, was a promoter of the local lodge of American Oddfellows, and was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the Public Library, which at first was an offshoot of the Oddfellows' Lodge referred to. Political life was, of coarse, Mr Balance's natural bent, and on Sir William Fox vacating tho Racgitilsei seat

for a trip to England, Mr Ballance became a candidate, his opponents being the late W. H. Watt, of Wanganui, and Mr W. Hutchison, now of Dunedin. The real contest lay, however, between Mr Watt and Mr Ballanoe, the first-named being supported by the former adherents of tho retiring member. Mr Ballanuo Beoured the eerdict of the electors, and thus entered upon his now famous career in tho New Zealand Parliament. Finding that his Parliamentary duties prevented bis giving that close supervision so necessary for a daily journal, Mr Ballance, In 187<5, wrote to Mr John Notman (then in England, but who had formerly sub-edited the Wanganui Herald for some years), inviting him to take charge of the paper. Mr Notman accepted the invitation, and in April, 1877, entered Into partnership with Mr Ballanos, assuming editorial direotion at the opening of the Parliamentary session of that year. Thus relieved of the responsibility of conducting a newspaper, Mr Ballanoe was free to devote the whole of his time to the study and praotioe of politics, and very shortlv afterwards be joined the Cabinet of Sir George Grey's Government as Colonial Treasurer. Hia subsequent career as one of the leading politicians of the Colony is publlo property. Mr Ballance first Btood for the Wanganui constituency In 1878, at the time when the electorate returned two members. There were three candidates for the two seats, Mr Ballanoe and Mr Bryoe standing together In opposition to Sir William Fox. The oonteat was very severe, but resulted in the triumphant return of the two B.'s. In 1881 Mr Ballance was defeated, through the misplaced confidence of his supporters, by the narrow majority of four votes, Mr W. H. Watt being the victorious candidate. This enforced retirement from the polit'oal arena brought about a change in his business arrangements. Mr Ballaace resumed the editorship of the Wanganui Herald, Mr Notman, the then editor, retiring, and as the partnsrship, which had commended in 1877, expired by effluxion of time in 1882, Mr Ballance once moro beoame sole , proprietor of the now powerful journal. In ( Ootober, 1882, Mr Ballanoe transferred his interest to the Wanganui Herald Newspaper Company, retaining, however.o large interest and also the editorship. At tho general eleotion in 1884 Mr Ballance again entered the field as a candidata for Wanganui, having for his opponents the late member, Mr W. H. Watt, and Mr George Hutchison. Viotory rested with Mr Ballance by a substantial majority, and in 1887 and 1890 he waß also re-oleoted, his opponent on the last two occasions being Mr Gilbert Carson, editor of the Wanganui Chronicle, who ib now on a visit to England. MR DUTHIE'S STORY. As is well known, Mr John Duthie, M.H.R., was for many years a resident of Wanganui, and was at one time a strong political supporter of the late Mr Ballanoe. This being the oase, a New Zealand Times representative waited upon Mr Duthie at his residence, and was favoured with the following particulars of his acquaintanceship with Mr Ballance : I came to Wanganui in the year 1867. Mr Ballance had been in business there for some time previously as a jeweller and fancy goods importer, but had just relinquished this occupation in order to start the Wanganui Herald newspaper, which he founded in conjunction with Mr A. D. Willis, the well-known printer and stationer of that town. Of Mr Ballanoe's career prior to that time I have no personal knowledge. I understand, however, that he had been in business in Belfast on his own account, and bad afterwords gained considerable commercial exi perience in Birmingham, his speciality being light ironmongery and fancy goods. When I first met Mr Ballance he had tho reputa" tion of being a ready and fluent speaker, a vigorous writer and a keen politician, and he certainly identified himself thoroughly with tho aspirations and interests of tho im. portant district in which he had eettlod. Tery bitter complaints wore made at that time by the Wanganui settlers respecting tho way ia which tho interests of tho dis-

trict were neglected by the Provincial Government of Wellington. The main road to Tnrakina was perfeotly impassable, and it had been deemed almost imposiible to get the Provincial authorities to make any move in the matter, and to attend to this aid other important requirements of the district. Mr Ballanoe, however, set to work, and by means of trenchant artiales in the Herald voiced the public sentiment on this and other local questions, and he especially took a leading part in a movement for demanding separation from Wellington, or the ereotion of Wanganui into a separate crmnty. As a result of the agitation several muchneeded reforms were effeoted. At this time Mr John Bryca was in aotive cooperation with Mr Ballanoe on all questions of looil and political concern, and I was myself olosely BRSOoiated with both gentlemen. Mr Ballanoe'd vigorous writing In tho Wangnnul Herald had the effeot of making that journal a very powerful organ, and it was read extensively all along the coast, being justly regarded aa the most Influential publio journal on the West Coast at that time. He was never a member of the Provincial Council, but in 1875 he suooeeded in carry, ing the Rangitikei seat, and it was not long before he made a considerable name for Hmself in th 3 House, taking offioe for the first time at the end of 1877 as Colonial Treasurer in the Grry Government. But the outgrowth of the Advanced Liberaliem, whioh may be dated from that time, lad to the disruption of many old politioal associations and the formation of new ties. It led, for instance, to a separation in politics between Mr Bryce and Mr Ballanoe. I myself had alwavs been a strong supporter of Mr Ballanco, and, indeed, his right hand man in election oontests. However, the divergencies of opinion between ub led me to throw in my politioal lot with Mr Bryce, to whom the New or Advanced Liberalism was not satisfactory. I said to Mr Ballanoe, 'As you and I have now taken opposite roads we must part politically.' Mr Ballanoe himself reoognisad that we were at the parting of the roads, and since then we have never b.eu on onr old terms of close personal intimacy, although we have ever maintained friendly relations. I suppose It is hardly necessary for me to contradiofc the absurd Btory about Mr Ballanoe having been a pedlar in his early days as a colonist. There was never anything to justify such a description being applied to him. The only foundation for

such a story is that when Dr Foalherston, Superintendent of the Province, went to Pa. rewanui for the purpose of paying a very large sum of money to the Natives for the nurchase of the Manawatu blook, Mr BaK lance, in common with many other prominent tradesmen, went to the settlement, taking with him a stock of his goods. But he never at any time travelled the country as a pedlar. Of the personal characteristics of Mr Ballanoe, I need merely remark that he was a man of generous sentiments and of very kindly disposition. In fact, it was a weakness of his—in amiable one, of oourse—to lend too credulous an ear to any tale which appealed to his sympathy, As a consequence, ho was imposed upon at times by unprlnoipled people. He was a great reader and student of all politioal subjects. He believed that the people were ever athirat for new ideas, and he was always eager to gratify the popular appetite in this wav. Always keenly alive to the interests of the district, he worked hard on local matters. He was for some time chairman of the Wanganui Harbour Board, and was instrumental in getting the harbour works pushed on, the ereotion of tho mole being due to him. This turnod out a failure, as too many harbour works have done in New Zealand.