GENERAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2727, 20 June 1906, Page 28

GENERAL.

The local Rugby matches fixed for Satur* day were postponed as a mark of respect to the memory of tli« late Mr Seddon. All the officers of the defence forces am New Zealand will wear mourning while fa uniform until the 11th of July. The Dunedin telegraph and telephone staff sent to Wellington on Saturday morning a floral wreath to be placed on the Coffin of the late Premier.

The committee of the Gore Hospital scheme, the success of which is assured, has decided to constitute the institution as a Seddon memorial.

The Auckland Trades and Labour Council, as the executive of the trades organisations of the colony, intend sending a wreath to the Premier's funeral on behalf of the workers of the colony. Two hundred "and fifty hands employed at the Hillside Railway Workshops subscribed 6d each for a wreath.

The Masonic Lodges under the New Zealand Constitution, totalling 146, will go into mourning for a period of three months-

The Auckland District Grand Lodge of Freemasons telegraphed on Thursday to tbo .Grand Secretary as follows: — " Brethren desire to hold church memoriam service at the time fixed for the funeral of Past Grand Master R. J. SedAon. Do you see any objection?" The Grand Serretary replied that the Grand Lodge of New Zealand would grant permission for the service.

In connection with the proposal of the general secretary of the Liberal and Labour Federation that a movement for a. national monument should be instituted at the big memorial service to be held in Wellington Town Hall on the 22nd inst., th* Hon. Leg; Smith. .has advised that he will contribute 50 guineas towards the object. As showing how strong was the tie binding the late Mr Seddon to his family, it might be mentioned that when on any of hi 1 ? many W<^t Coast trips ho was in the vicinity of Stafford hn> would .always make timp. be it lafe at ni^ht or early in the morning, to slip away by himself and visit the little c**meterv on the hill where a'e the graves of two of his children. This tou^hins trait in tbs rlwarter o* the Prime Minister was known to but a f»w of, *bos« most intimately associated with' T >im. nvA thi* fp\v rpsn^ct^d the feelings fni! promoted visjils of quiet in a life of st"fnuous activity.