THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1107, 19 May 1893, Page 21

THE BALLANCE MEMORIAL.

Nearly everything on Friday evening was worthy of the occasion. The resolutions, the speeches, the demeanour of the audience, all these were everything that could be desired. Had the attendance been better there would have been no flaw in the proceedings. That, however, matters little, for the speeches were addressed to a far wider audience than could be got into the Theatre Royal or any other building in any city of the Colony. That larger audience will be charmed at -the spectacle of men of all shades of political opinion shaking hands in such cordial sympathy and reverential honour over the still open grave of one who died in the harness of a parly leader. Among the speakers and others present were men who met Mr Ballance often in the press of political battle, who had exchanged blows with him in the full current of many a 'heady fight,' who, had he lived, would in all probability have been often again at cut and thrust with him in tho field political. Nevertheless, they were among the sincerest of the mourners at his funeral obsequies, and they yielded to no man in their desire to do honour, practical honour, to his memory. In a word, they accepted the invitation, which it would have been churlish not to extend to them, in the liberal high-minded spirit in which it was meant. Thus, there was over the proceedings an especial air of the fitness of things. Everything, in fact, corresponded with, and contributed to that most appropriate effect. The Premier, whose first appearance in public it was since his accession to the highest office in the State, could not well have made his first public "appearance on any less grave occasion; and having appeared, he said just the right things, the things of tenderness, of loyalty to the dead, of sympathy to the living, and he said them in the right way, the way of sincerity and truth, so becoming on these occasions. Mr Duthie, who followed, spoke in the manly way one expects from one who respects the qualities and character of a great opponent. So did Dr Newman who, in his citation of the three leading parallel instances in modern politics of the marriage of true minds, found something to enlarge upon which had escaped tho attention of the many writers and speakers who have dealt with

the same subject at such length during the past few weeks. Mr Donovan, who came forward in a spirit of spontaneous independence, supplied apopular element,, which should never be wanting from such gatherings, and supplied it with thejeffective dignity worthy of that very admirable classof minds whoare nevercontented with silent votes. Lastly, the men who originated the work, and have done and are doing so much to secure its success, very generously placed the largest possible share of the meeting's time at the disposal of those whose oo operation they had invited. A work begun in this happy way is endowed with the superior vigour of co operative forces responsive to a motive power which is inexhaustible. The combination is a solid guarantee of success. It is for the other ceutres of New Zealand to help on that success by giving exhibitions of the guaranteeing combination.