THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1107, 19 May 1893, Page 39

THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL.

The committee held a meeting l&st week, Mr D. P. Fisher in the ohair. The secretary read the list of invitations which had been sens to all the most iufluen. tial ciMsens to attend the meeting to be held this evening at the Theatre Royal. It waß resolved—'That amounts be am nounced weekly, and that all amounts of £1 and upwards be separately published in the newspapers.' It was abo reßolved to send a letter to MrE. A. Haggon, Woodville, thanking him for the interest he was taking in the move. ment.

Letters were read from Mr W. H. Levin and Mr Justice Denniston expressing regret at being unable to attend tha public meet ipg, and from Dt Newman and Mr J. O'Dea accepting invitations to speak at the meeting. The following letter wss read from Mr J Notman, Wanganui:—' The Mayor of this town, F. R. Jaokson, Esq., has handed to me your circular and subscription lists, with a request that I shall make you acquainted with the course of action it is proposed to be adopted on this coast. At a publio meeting held at the Couno.'l Chambers, Wanganui, on the S'd inst (His Worship the Major presiding), it was unanimously decided to confine the subscriptions that might be collected towards a " Ballanoe" memorial on this ooaet to a local memorial The objects of this local movement are more completely set out in the heading of the local lists, a copy of which I enclose. The colonial movement initiated by the Trades Council has our very warmest sympathy, and wa hope it will bo abundantly suoceisful. We are inviting subscriptions from the residents ia what is praotioally the territorial limits of the Wanganui educational district, so that our list will be strictly looil. lam pleased to notice that after providing for the main object, viz, the ereotiou of a suitable statue in Wellington, you propose to devote any surplus to an eduoitional purpose. Will you kindly bring under the notice of your oommittee the object the Wanganui committee have in view, as possibly your ends may be best sorved by assisting us.' Mr E. A. Haggen wrote reporting the manner in which he had distributed the subscription lists.

Mr R. A. Loughnan has received a cheque for £5 5s from the Confidence Assembly, Wo. 2564, of the Knights of Labrur of the World, who at their last meetiag had resolved, ' That this assembly vote tha sum of tivo guineas (£5 ss) to the Ballance Memorial Fund, as a slight mark of the appreciation in which his efforts on behalf of the Colony are hold by us working men, and our acknowledgment of his work as a man.' PUBLIC MEETING. THE PREMIER'S TRIBUTE. A publio meetirg was held in the Theatre Royal on Friday night for the purpose of pro• moting the movement to raise subscriptions throughout the Colony for the erection of a memorial to the late Premier, Hon J. Ballanoe. About 500 people were present, a number of Udies being noticeable in the dress circle. The stage was throoged with gentlemen who occupy positions of a moro or less representative character. Amongst them were :—Hon E. Richardson, M.L.C.. Hon J. Rigg, M.L.C., Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R.,Rev J. J. Lewi*, Or Henry, Messrs J Maginnity, J. Plimmer, J. O'Dea, O. P. Fisher, H. C. Jone', R. Lauchlin, J. Barr, A. Collins, 0. Smith Mackay, A. Ward, R. P. Johnson, Haggett, McGirr, Jenkins, Mille», Hi key, M. Kennedy, W. Hildreth, R. A. Loughnan. E. T. Gillon, J. Young, Councillors Willeston, Barber, Penty. Voga), White, Anderson, Petherick, Parsons, Fra. ser.

Hia Worship, as he entered and took the chair, was greeted with npplauee, and tbe Premier (Hon R. J. Seddon) received quite an ovation, while the Hon A. J. Cadman (Native Minister) and Sir Patriok A. Bnokley (Colonial Seoretary) were also recognised nnd ealuted in a similar manner. The Mayor opened thß meeting as follows : —Ladiei and Gentlemen —I have firat to mention that letters of apology for non> attendance from unavoidable causes have been received from several gentlemen who had invitations from the committee to he pre Bent to-night. First, from the Hon Mr Reeves, who was compelled by public business to leave for the South to-uay. Then I havs letters from Mr George Fiaber, M H. 8., Mr George Hutohiaoo, M.H.R. Hia Honor Mr Justice Denniston, MrL'vin, the Chairman of the Harbour Board, and Mr L. L. Harris, a oounoillor of the city of Wellington, Ladies and gentleman.—The invitation of tbe committee by which I, as Mayor oT the city, take the chair at this meeting is a testimony of their desire to associate with thorn all colonists of New Zealand of every shade of political opinion and of every clase. For the fact that the one who ohances to be in the ohair to-night is not one who can claim or could claim either personal intimacy or political , alliance with the man whose life and public services you are here assembled to commemorate aocontuatea the evidence that tbe public regret Is universal. (Applause.) Rut the naim fact obviously disqualifies me as a speaker, and, beyond a brief reference to a reminiscence of my own of the entry of Mr Ballance into colonial politic, I shall detain you no longer thar> to add my tribute of regretful recognition of his distinguished ability in politics, of his power of self-command, and of his rectitude of intention. 1 well remember hearing from the public gallery the first speech which Mr Ballanca delivered in the House of Representatives. Tt was upon the second reading of the Bill for the Abolition of the Provinces. T remembered it well, and I turned to-day to the journals of that time, and I road what you will allow me to repeat to you here. In the New Zealand Times, which was the organ of the then Government, this appeared

on August 18th, 1875 :—'But perhaps the very best speech in the debate was that whioh followed from Mr Ballanoe, whoße maiden effort on this great occasion will long be remembered in the House. Having heard this luoid and logioal speech, admirable in its matter, as in the manner of its delivery, wo must congratulate the Rangitikei district on the choice they made at the late contest for their district. His speeoh was the only leal answer which the lender of the Opposition has yet received.' And in the evening paper of the same date, whioh was opposed to the policy of the then Government, this appeared :—' We can cordially congratulate Mr Ballance on his speeoh. The House has rarely listened to a better maiden eff<rt, and it was undoubtedly the very bast speejh made on that side of the House.' (Applause.) That which I heard was hii maiden speech, and the mark which he then made in the estimation of the House and of the country pointed him out for the power and the influence and the leadership to which he subsequently attained. I have now, ladies and gentlemen, to call upon Mr D. P. Fisher to propose the first resolution. (Applause.) MrD. P. Fisher (president of theT'adea and Labour Council) said that before moving the resolution, he thought it his duty to explain what had been done in the way of starting this movement to perpetuate the momoryof the late Promier. After the late Mr Ballanoe's funeral the Trades and Labour Council met to consider a proposal to erect some suitable memorial of the late Premier's services. The proposal was unanimouly carried, and it was also decided unanimously that the movement should be a 'national one. Mr H. T. Gillon, Mr R. A. Loughnan and Mr A. Collins were pointed treasurers, and Mr H. C. Jones was appointed secretary, and he (Mr Fisher) was appointed chairman. Meßsrs Gillon and Loughnan were also appointed members of the committee. Subscription lists were then printed and circulated throughout the Colony, copies having been sent to all the borough councils in the Colony, all the county councils, road boards, trades councils, leading newspapers, and, in Wellington, the City Council, the Harbour Board, the Liberal Association, the Knights of Labour, the C«il Service Association, the unions and the leading citizens. In order that everything should be straightforward in this matter each list was numbered from one 1 upward, and eaoh list also bore on its face the initials of the three treasurers. Every precaution had been tikon to see that not only were the moneys accounted for but every list also. It was upon the strong recommendation of the Hon Mr Seddon at one of the Councii'j meetings that the present public meeting had been called, in order that the public might have the opportunity of expressing approval of or dissatisfaction with the steps already taken. (Applause.) It was the intention of the Trades Council that the committee of management should be of a thoroughly representative and national oharacter. The Council's only intention was to give the movement a start. It recognised that ultimately other people would oome in and conduct things according to their likings. Mr Fisher then proceeded to pay a personal tribute to the memory of the late Premier, whose death, he said, the press, the public and the pulpit had all referred to in solemn and most sorrowful terms. The workers of this Colony would ever remember Mr Ballance by his deeds. (Applause.) As a statesman he was always accessible. With his powerful, constructive and analytical mind ho had often cleared away what seemed difficulties to him (Mr Fisher). The late Promier had extended no specitl favours to him ; he was ever ready to receive and converse with men who required bis aid or counsel, no matter to what sphere of life they belonged. The labour cause had sustained in the death of Mr Ballance the greatest loss that had ever befallen it In this Colony. (Applause.) Previous Premiers were ready enough to make promises, but not to filful them. They were moo of words, but Mr Ballance was a man of deeds, and his promises he kept. (Applauae.) Mr Fisher concludod by moving—That in the opinion of this meeting it ia desirable that the movement to establish a lasting tribute to the memory of the late Premier (the Hon J. Ballance) should be encouraged, and thcjrofore agrees that tha names of the folio tying

gentlemen, with their consent, be added to the committee set up by the Wullington Trades Council:—The Hon tha Promier, His Worship the Mayor, tho Chairman of the Harbour Board, tin President of tho Chamber of Commerce, tho President and Secretary of the Wellington LibaralAssociation, and the President and Secretary of the Wellingtoa Knights of L»boui. (Applauso) Mr J. O'Daa (president of the Wellington Liberal association) had much pleasure in sec indlng tho resolution. This should be a thoroughly national movamnnt and other names ought tn baaddoi ti tho committee ; the ooad3, for instanae, of all public bodies in and arouud Wellington, aud hut, bat uot least, the names of all Mr Ballancs's old comrades -the mom'oers of tho Government. (Applause.) Those wore the men who, in troubled times, under the oimmwd of their late chief, took a hand at the wheel of tho Ship of State, steered her clear of the rooks and breakers and brought har into smooth water with the good cargo which they hoped to see discharged fairly and equally to tha satisfaction of everyone in New Zealand. (Applause.) The Premier (Hon Mr Seddon) was received with loud and prolonged applause. He Baid--Mr Mayor, ladies and gentlemen—vVe are met together this evening ti> do honour to the memory of the late Premier, nay colleague and chief—journalist, soldier and statesman. The journalists of this Colony have risen to the oocasion. Their notices in the papers did full justice to the memory of John Ballanoe. (Applause.) Many of them had differed from him, but when the end came they all did honour, to the memory of him who had been a journalist himself, and who did credit to his calling. As a soldier his works now, I think, apeak for themselves. They have been duly recorded. But even as a soldier he stood up manfully for the rights of those who were with him as against what he considered was a wrong doing. Of him as a statesman it does not require mo to say anything at all this evening.'"! It has been so well and ably done in the columns of the press. You, one and all, without reading the papers, have followed his careor from the time mentioned by tho Mayor, when Mr Ballanco made his entry to the House of Representatives, and was even then fighting with the party on that side of the House. You have heard from the extract read out by His Worship that those who were opposed to him did justica to his abilities, and saw in him a coming man—a coming leader. Yes ; but I will now spaals of him as a friend of nearly 20 years' acquaintance—such a friand, ladies and gentlemen, as one aud all of you would deplore when he was taken from you. (Applause.) Such was my feeling as regards John Ballance. Then I will speak of him as my leader. Though fighting in the rankß ho held a position in the politics of his country whon 1 entered Parliament for the first time. Aud though we fought in adversity, though he was well abused at times, and vhouim mauy injustices were heaped upon him, still I will say this : He was always a man to speak generously and fairly of those who then formed the dominant party, and of their works. (Applause.) So when the time came that he was oalled by the Liberal Party to take the lead, I think every one of his opponents will admit that though he was then all-powerful he was all gentleness, and generosity and fair.play. It has been said of him that he had not that firm. ness that should distinguish a leurbr. But those who speak of him in that way knew bim not." Let him ia laying down the lines of any policy hut be conviucad he was right, and there was none who bo firmly and decisively contended for every position he took up. He never deviated from the straight line. (Loud applause.) And so let me ask, ladies and gentlemen, that he may be judged by his work?, Hi« works stand out in bold relief. What is the condition of the country to-day ? (A voKe : Prosperous.) Prosperous. (Applause.) What are they doing in tho Australian Colonies? They are "following the lin<3& laid down by the j late John Ballanoe. ('Hear, hsar.' and loud i applaud.) What are thov doing in the Old World? They are following what New Zealand. had commenced and what tho othtir colonies imitated her in.

May I mention—even on an occasion of this kind—the telling fact that while within the last few days, owing to a financial panic—unnecessary I should say—we hear of the stock of the Australian colonies going down in the London money market, that of New Zealand remains firm and if aoythiog has risen. (Applause.) These are the results of the work of the far-seeing statesman, whose loss we deplore and to whose memory we haye met together to-night to do honour and justice. (Loud applause.) Ye?, when the historian of the fature writes the history of this country, tha name of John Billance will be written in letters of gold. (Applause.) Ye», it is his name that is engravon on the hearts of the peopla of New Zealand. We have not here in this country, as they have in older countries probably, that reverence for our public men and for publio thing 3 that we should have. I regret it very much. It is to be deplored. As a nation we should reverence and do justice to those who have saorinoed themselves in our interest. (Applause.) Take the pages of our school books and road them through and through, and you will find there no mention made of those settlers who came herein the early days, and whe lost thpir liveß in making and in assisting to make your country what it i 3 to day. They are those who fought our battles with tho Natives, and yet there Is no record of them. We are deficient in this reapeot, and the sooner that deficiency hi remedied the better it will be, far New Zealand and for the New Zealand of the future. (Hear, hear, and applause.) There is no Westminster Abbey in tbi3 Colony whore the remains of our groat men can be laid down side by side, and where tablet after tablet will record those great names and the many memorable deeds that mvy be associated with them. Bat whilst we have not, and cannot for generations, probably, look forward to anything of the kind, atill wo can—as Mr Fisher has told you— meet together when tho occasion arises and the opportunity is given, and by formal resolu. tion decide to enter upon commemorative undertakings of this kind. It is not a matter for the Trades and Labour Council alon9. It i 3 not a mattsr for one organisation more than another. It is one for tho whole people. It is for the entire country to do justice to itself by suitably honouring the memory of its great men, (Applause.) I take this opportunity of giving due credit to the Trades and Labour Council for who'; they have doua in this mafctar. I wa3 somewhat ] astounded that Mr Fisher Bhould have somewhat apolog'aed or should even hava thought it necessary to explain why the Trades and Labour Couucll took the initiative, and when they did it. They did their duty, and having done that they did all that was necessary. He is quite right in saying that unless you do those things at the proper time and moment it will often happen, as we unfortunately know, that other things arise to engage our atten. tion, and probably wa then forget to do those things it was our duty to do. In this matter the proper opportunity waa taken, and through being taken we have beeu afforded this further opportunity of meeting here in public. Now that the movement has been formally and publicly started in Wellington I expect you will find the other towns of Now Zealand following Wellington's lead that public meetings similar to this one will be held, and that resolutions like that which Mr Fisher has moved will be passed for the purpose of doing all that is required to perpetuate the memory of John Ballance. (Applause.) Ladies and gentlemen, what was his wish ? His wish was that he should not be forgotten in New Zealand. Let the answer go forth though he may not, and cannot hear it—' You shall net be forgotten in Now Zealand.' (Applauso.) Sir, I was pleased with on Sunday morning before last, whon I saw that very early hous - the numbers of people that were assembled in tho streets all tho way from the late Praaiior'a residence right down to the railway station. There were tha boy aud the girl, the mature man and woman, tho grandfather aud thu grandmother—all there to pay a tribute of respect to Ibe man who had passed away. And as their fahfca were raised, and I saw

many eyes dimmed, I felt at onco that the pop'e were there, and that Wellington was well represented, I Applause ) So lot it be. Let Wellington do, and its people do, their duty. I feel satisfied that will be done. But, sir, before we oonolude our business this evening, I desire now to say a few words, and the few words that I may say will not, I feel sure, do full justice to what I wish. Your assemblage here this evening to pay respect to, and to tike stops to perpetuate the memory of, our late Premier and Liberal chief will be a source of satisfaction to those who were nearest and dearest to him. To the widow who is lafU to mourn his loss it will be a great consolation to know that his wishes are being respected, and that his works have told their tale wish tie poople of this country. (Applauae.) Yes, ladies and gentlemen, and to you men in particular, I would like to say a few words You have all had tender mothers to care for you, wellor ill. Whenever trouble assailed there waa 'Mother.' Then you hive had tho tender care, the solace and the love of a fister or sisters. Well, I have to-night to speak of the devoted care—the lie's devotion 1 would say—of a wife, and a wife in every sense of Hie word. (Loud applause.) Yes, Mrs Ballance is a noble woman. I had opportunities of knowing this. Month after month her place was at the aido of the siok bed, her hopes eomotimas raised to the highest pitch, sometimas cast down and everything in gloom. But thera she was night and day, nursing and tending her suffering husband. Yes, if nursing and tending oould have brought him back restored to health h 9 would to-day be aB robußt as I am this moment. Bat it was not to bo. There 'she 8»t. I shall never forget that death-bed scene. There knelt the devoted wife by the bed upon which lay her dying husband. The fleeting brenth was faafc leaving the feeble body, the pulsation of the heart growing slower and slower, but there she steadfastly remained, and tven when the heart and breath stopped for ever, she would not leave his side. Throughout that long illness Mrs Ballance displayed a courage, and bravery, and resignation which have continued to the present moment. There was the deepest love towards her husband, and her life henceforward must be to a great blank. It must be a dat k cloud and yoir meet' ing hereto-nigkt.ae wallas meetings in other parts of the Colony, will be the silver lining to that dark clourt of sorrow that now enslvouds her. Sir, I will concludo by s.iying —Lot him who has passed away be not forgotten. Carry oat bis wishes. In that respect do jot duty, and if that is done it means this : that your example will be followed, and that for gensrationa to come you will have man who will be prepared to tacrifico themselves in the interest of their country. By recognising the services of its great men as I feel sure New Zealand will recognise tho services of him who has so recently passed away, we shall ensure that 'The fond remembrance of the just Shall flourish when he sleeps in dust.' (Loud and prolonged applause.) Mr J. Duthie, M.H.R., who waa received with applause, expressed his thanks to the committee for having asked him to address the meeting on such an important resolution, and he had much pleasure in his respect for Mr Ballance in appearing there as one of the mombara of the city and as a member of the Opposition. (Applause.) He joined in tha matter most heartily. Now Zealand had besn exceptionally fortunate in the careor of the body of men who had from time to time conducted its public affairs, and the record of tha Governments of New Zealand was a great credit to them as calonists. Tha offices of State had been remarkably well filled for a very lont> period of yeara by a succession of gentlemen who wora disinterested and who had given up tho beet years of thoir lives to the public service. (Applause ) Mr Ballance w» oue of thoso who devoted the bast years of his lifo to the public serviea of Now Zealand a 3 others had done before him, He would have died a much weaHhitr mm if he had attended t.) his own afi'urs, but in liia dovotion and patriotism to tho Colony ho had chosen aa hie horns ha had givsu the best part of his iifo to tho public affairs of

New Zealand. (Loud applause.) Reco;niaing tbe disinterestedness of the services so extended, he thonght the colonists aa A body should join in marking in a permanent manner his memory amongst them. Mrßallance had been bo distinguished in oonnection with land settlement that he (Mr Duthie) would mention a conversation he bad had with him some 20 years ago in Wanganui. At that time the soldiers were abandoning their settlements on the frontiers after their time of occupation had exoired, and Mr Ballanoe was a good deal distressed at thia. Be (Mr Duthie) bad said that it was to be regretted that tbe settlements were being abandoned, bui they must recognise that tbe land, in the interests of mankind, should be held in such large sized blocks as to give the largest quantity of produce with the least amount of labour, but At Ballanoe had replied that they had to consider thatjthe land was to be homes for tbe people. (Applause.) He mentioned this matter because Mr Ballanoe bad been so distinguished In his career in connection with the village settlements and other means to induce the people to oooupy the land of the country, and he also wished to point out that he had taken a deep interest in his fellow men before he took part in politics. He felt that New Zealand had Buffered a great loss by the death of Mr Ballanoe, because politicians were not ready made, and financiers were still less ready made. Mr Ballanoe was oalled to the poaition of Treasurer in the Grey Government, and afterwards he was a member of the Btout-Vogel Government, but it was an historical fact that the finance of these Governments was not good—it was probably the rook upon which they were both wreoked. But they found that Mr Ballanoe bad learned a lesson, and the present Government bad approached the change in the system of taxation with a great amount ot caution. He must admit that prudence and oare had been exercised by Mr Balance's present administration. (Loud ap. plause.) Mr Ballanoe as a politician had a hold upon the hearts of the people, and his death was a great loss to the Colony. He heartily sympathised with the motion. Mr J. Donovan, who had known Mr Ballanoe personally for the last 15 years, Bad the late Premier was a gentleman in every sense of the word. He may have bad poli< tioal opponents, but he never had any real foes. The Bpeaker wanted every working man to rise up as one man, and if it was only a shilling, put it down for this memo< rial, so that it could be said that it was a memorial of the whole people. V) The Mayor then put the resolution, whioh was carried unanimously. Mr A. Ward (Trades and Labour Council) moved—' That this meeting desires to reoord its heartfelt sympathy with Mrs Ballanoe in her bereavement.' Speaking to the motion, he said he felt that it would meet with their hearty approval, expressing as it did the opinion, not only of the people of Wellington, but the people of the Colony as a whole. Of course the private life of husband and wife was not a sabjeot for public discussion, but when they looked at history they found some of the noblest men that ever lived were in some measure indebted to a good-minded woman for their happiness. However, there were only a few cases in which these women had been allowed to share in the triumphs they had done so much to create. On the other hand, their self-sacrifice in times of sicklies?, doubt and despondency were too well known. It was only those who had stood in the presence of death, and had known the loss of loved ones, who could fully understand how deeply Mrs Ballanoe must feel the loss she had sustained, and they oould only hope that time would bring her relief and that she might find some consolation from tbe knowledge that, although ber husband had departed this life, the good work he had done for his oountry lives after him.

Mr VV. Hildreth, on behalf of the Knights of Labour, seconded the motion. After whaS Mr Ward had said he did not think it was neoessary for him to say very much. The Premier had alluded to the dark cloud that had ooma over Mrs Ballaooe's life, and he had also spoken of the silver lining that they were now assisting to give to it. In his opinion the greatest proof the Colony could give of its sympathy with Mrs Ballanoe would be to send men into the House to carry out and finish the noble work her huiband had fought and died for. A lady who had gone through the trouble that she had, aud who had very materially assisted her husband in the good work in whioh he.was eogaged, was worthy of the deep sympathy of the coiony, and he trusted that what the Premier had said about public meetings being held all over the Colony would be fully carried out. He knew there were men at the meeting who had different opinions in regard to politics, but for his part he would like to see the Colony rise to the occasion and carry out in its entirety the noble work Mr Ballanoe had started.

Dr Newman, M.H.R., who was well received, thanked the promoters of the meeting, as a momber of the Opposition, for Asking him to speak to a resolution of this kind. Like Mr Duthie he believed that wa*n a Premier dies the Opposition ought to be represented, and he might say that they wished to be represented on this occasion. (Applause,) From all parts he knew that members of the party to whioh he was allied had felt as deep sorrjw for the loss of tbe Premier as many of hia most ardent supporters. They must be aware that since the Premier had beoome so deeply attaohed to the people that many who bad been his political opponents had been converted to the feeling that he was a capable mm, and that it waa his desire to do what was right and just to New Zealand. (Applause.) He thought that when they had the mourning that was going on throughout the Colony—not the mourning of a party, but of a nation -both parties and all the nation should be represented at a gathering of thia kind. As to the resolution, he had great pleasure In speaking to it, because they all knew—when all the aotions of their public men were made public, and when every deta 1 of their private life was made known—that it was of the utmost importance that the private life of their public men should be pure and above reproach, Thfly all knew-it

would be idle to protend that they did not —that Mr and Mrs Ballauce wore a most devoted oouple, and Mr Ballauc-, he believed, was a man who had often leaned upon his wife for her guidance her judgment. As a member of the House he had seen Mrs Ballanoe, not only last session, but in previous sessions, in the ladles' gallery at 10.30, whan other ladies had gono home, and remain there until 2 or 3 o'clock morning after morning. Long befora the public knew, Mrs Ballance was aware that her husband was in a precarious condition, and she never left the House until Mr Ballance was able to go home, no mattet how late it was. It was refreshing to have such an examole as tbat supplied by Mr and Mrs Ballance, and not only before the late Premier's death, but long ago he (the speaker) had often thought that the relationship of these two people was very much like that of Dißraeli, and the Countess of Beaconsfield, Sir John and Lady Macdonald, and the Hon Mr and Mrs Gladstone. However bitterly the late Premier's widow might feel his loss, it would bo a great consolation to her to know that there was so much mourning and regret expressed throughout the Colony, and to know that he would not be forgotten. Mrs Ballaace, he felt Bure, would have the deep sympathy of the paople of the Colony from one end to the other. The Mayor then put the resolution, whioh was carried.

The Premier proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for presiding. He wished to state that his colleague the Minister for Lands would have been present, but he was sufferirfg from a severe cold, and was for* bidden to go out at night. His other colleagues who were not away from Wellington were present. He expressed his pleasure at the satisfactory -manner in which the business of the meeting had been conducted, and he asked them one and all to tender His Worship a hearty vote of thanks.

The motion was carried by acclamation. Sir Patrick Buckley said he had no intention of saying anything on this occasion for the simple reason that he bad not been asked, but as an old colleague of the late Premier he would indeed be wanting in his duty if he did not endorse every word said In his favour as a man who loved the people, and he would take that opportunity of thanking them on behalf of Mrs Ballanoe for the very honeßt tribute they hod paid ber. A nobler woman or a more devoted wife than that lady did not exist. The Mayor, In acknowledging the vote of thanks, expressed his thanks to tho committee for having asked him to take the chair. The meeting then terminated.