SIR FREDERICK YOUNG

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13941, 28 June 1907, Page 5

SIR FREDERICK YOUNG

A PRESENTATION'. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, June 26. At the Colonial Institute convereazione at South Kensington 2000 persons were present. In tlio absence of Lord Elgin, the Duke of Marlborough, on behalf of the subscribers, presented Sir Frederick Young with an illuminated address and a cheque for 1000 guineas, in recognition of his .ninetieth birthday and 37 years' services to the institute. With referenco to the approach of the ninetieth birthday of Sir Frederick Young, who is known alt over the world as "the father of the Royal Colonial Institute," of which, indeed, ho was mainly the founder, a London paper recently published a very interesting column about his career, making epccial note of the fact that 68 years ago Sir Frederick Young was eloselv associated with Edward Ribbon Wakefield, the real founder of New Zealand." The article stated that, "in all London, with its teeming millions, there .-ire probably few more interesting personalities at this moment than Sir Frederick Young. K.0.M.0.. one of the founders of the Royal Colonial Institute, niid a British patriot in Ihe highest and truest sense of the word. Picture a man, who is yet as erect in his bearing and as alert in bis movement as a Guardsman—a man who. when he speaks, talks one of two thinos— or patriotism—and you have Sir Frederick Young. Fancy a man who in spite of his years can glibly quote you dates that run away back into flip fir.-f quarter of last century; who was present in Westminster Abbey at the coronation of William IV and Queen Adelaide, in March. 1831; who perfectly remembers file fire which destroyed the old House of Commons on October 16. 1834, ami who watched 'the very fino bta' until 2 o'clock on the following morning; who retains the mast vivid recollections of seeing Edmund ICean as Othello nt Drury Lane in 1827; who lias heard Lord Brougham in the House of Lords, ;, n ,| O'Ccnnell and Sliiel in the House of Commons: who recalls the time when some of the most rlensoly-nopulattyl parf6 of ihe East. End of London were green fields, with cows grazing on them: who has seen the Strand widened two or three times—bear such things in mind, and you have some idea, of how intensely intcrcstine must lie the conversation of such a man. Born in 1817, he has lived under fivo Sovereigns, and has literally witnessed the birth and growth of our great selfgoverning colonies. An Imperialist of the Imperialists is Sir Frederick Young. He was ono of the original members of the old Imperial Federation League, which, by the way, hud not a little to do with the calling together of the first. Colonial Conference in 1887, through the then chairman of the league, Mr Stanhope, who was Colonial Secretary nt (he time. It goes without saying that Sir Frederick is an active members of the existing British Empiro League."