PRESENTATION TO SIR W. RUSSELL

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 14

PRESENTATION TO SIR W. RUSSELL

NAPIER, June 23,

Sir William Russell, kad-eT of the Opposition, wax this afternoon the guest at a complimentary tea held in tho Princess Thoabro, Hastings, and tendered t-o him by a large number of his oonstituonls, who deaired to show their appreciation of the services ho has rendered to the colony and tlie district aa a member of Parliament, Colonial Secretary, and leader of the Opposition. Fhere a.re> few public men who have had so Ion? and continuous a political career a, .Sir Willipm Russell, and nono who a;o more honoured throughout the length and bread* h of tho colony by pr-ople of all bliadts of political opinion. It is upwards of a quarter of a century siu-.-o Sir William (then Captain W. R ) Rtirsoll first entered tlio fit Id" of politic-, being ©'cctcd in 1875 to a Paiha.ment which included 6uch m/an as Vogel, WakefieJd. Whitaker, Grey, Frtzherbcrt, Rollebton, Stout, Donald M'Lc«m, and Ballance— all names hiffh up in tho oalonial roll of honour. In 1876 Sir William Rubse-11, with Sn Donald M'Lea.n, £at as nvember for Napaer, which cou9tituency he represented until the rearrangement of seats when he contested Hawke's Bay. To trace (ho political career of Sir William Russell from his election aa representative for Hawke's Bay would ba to record thoj>rogress and development of tho colony for almost the last quarter of a oentury. S.r Wdliam Russell was Pcotmaster-general and Oonunisßioner of Telegraphs 111 tlie fourth Atkinson Administration (1884), and Colonial Secreitai-y and Minister for Defence and Justice in 1889-91. He represented New Zoailand at tho Australasian Federal Conference, held at Melbourne in 1890, and at the Australasian National Convention in Sydney a, year later. In every sense he has been a publio servant, for his name is en the records of the Hav/ke's Bay Education Board. Land Board, Hospital Board, High School Board, and County Council. Politically speaking it it perhaps more as leader of the Opposition in tho New Zealand Parliament that his name has been kept prominently before the people of this colony and his constituents of recent years, aid ia that capacity Sir William Russell has ever fought for purity of administration. " Not by the machinations of any Co'onia! Treasurer," lie taid onca in. the hall ia which.

he -was entertained to-day. " but b}' th^ thrift and industry and productive energy of the people alone is due theii' prosperity." There haa probably been no 1 more consistent politician in New Zealand -»ian Sir William Russell. In an age when the tendency is to pander to faoiolea of the hour, Sir William has ever remained true to the principles for -which he has beeia noted throughout his career. Imperialist^ Freetrader, Conservative, pastoralist — he haa never diverged from the path he set out td follow when first entering political lifer. Strict adherence t-o that path may havel lost him chances in a land of great opporV tunitios. Othieira have, perhaps, climbed over his shoulders, politically speaking, bufl if the "path of duty" was not the direcfi " way to glory " in his case it muefc certainly be admitted that he has earned the 1 fullest esteem of the people of New Zealand as a worthy colonist and consistent politician. It was but fitting, therefore, thafi the constituency wbioh he has so long and &o faithfully represented should recognise his servicaG in a suitable manner, and thig they did by presenting him with an illuminaitod addiressr and a ©olid silver epergne, which forms probably the ha.nd.3Cimost piece of plaba ever given to a public man iinj New Zealand. The epergno is entirely of sterling silver, awd weighs about 400oz. The interiors of ttoo bowls are heavily inlaid with gold. The base, or platform, is 30in! long by about 18in wide. Forming part of the feet are carved images of a Maori" god, and an exact copy of a Maori scroll pattern, runs around tfoa plinth. The full height to the top of the cenbre bowl on tho plateau is 20Ln. The epergte can be detached and used as three centre-pieces, or it may ba still further debached, if so desired, so that; the bowls cam be used as fruit and flower dishes. Tl.ere is a>n excelkait representation of the New Zealand Parliamentary Build* ings, standing out in very bold relief, as the main scene depicbed. while an th© other side incidents of quiet pastoral life are fhown. The epergne throughout is emboesoJ with New Zealand flora On the front and back panels of the plateau aire shown tho 1 pohutukawa (Maoriland's Christmas tre«). and on the base of th© centre-piece a/nd around the panek the flows* of the ake-ake (" forever and forever ") are very artistically represented. The New Zealand clematis and karokara are embossed in two panels of the side dixies. On the front shield of the plateau the following inscription ia en,gra\ed: — "Presented to WilKam Russell Ruaseil, X.8., as a token of his comt-iti-tuents' appreciation of bis long, faithful, and honourable representation of the con-* stitueney of Hawke's Bay in Parliament.Hastings, New Zea/lamd, 1903." On tit 9 opposite shield is the family crest of S:tt William Russell.

In acknowledging the pres?nta.tkxn Sitf William Russell made a brief but happy speech.