DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11668, 2 July 1906, Page 1 (Supplement)

DEATH OF THE PREMIER.

MR. SEDDON DIES SUDDENLY AT SEA. On the Oswestry Grange. National Mourning for New Zealand's Greatest Statesman. Messages from Over Seas. |

£ . (Per United Press Association). Received June 11, 12.4 p.m. Sydney, June 11. The most profound sensation was caused in the city when the news was posted that the Oswestry Grange was returning to port, with her flag half mast, and that Mr Soddon had died suddenly. The water police launch has gone down to the vessel, and no particulars will be available till she returns. Steceived June 11, 2.25 p.m. Sydney, June 11. Details of th© last hours of Mr Seddon'd life ahow that he had not felt very bright during yesterday. At 6.20 last, night he was sitting with Mrg Seddon in his cabin waitmg for the dinner geng. SudrV?r-iy he placed his head on his wife's shoulder, and said, "Oh, mother," and expired. Immediately the vessel, which was 110 miles from Sydney Heads at the time, turned back to port. Dr. Mincbin, the ship's doctor, has given a certificate that doath was due to heart failure. The body will be embalmed, and the vessel will probably resume her voyage to Wellington as soon as the operation is completed. The Manager of the Press Association had a final interview with Mr Seddon on Saturday night. The Premier looked well, but was evidently tired. He said: "It has been one of the hardest month's work I have had, but I think it will be of advantage to New Zealand. 1 wish to thank you tor what you have done for me. You have been very good. ' ' in the evening the family attended the performance of ' ' The Man from Mexico, "and afterwards had supper and theri'Vent aboard the steamer. Everywhere flags were half-masted, and there is a general expression of sorrow. Mr Carruthers, who had an interview with Mr Seddon on Saturday at noon, was much shocked on hearing the news. He noticed that Mr Seddon appeared tired on Saturday. H© asked him what sort of a trip he had through the southern States, and Mr Seddon replied, very good, excepting at Adelaide, where he felt unwell. During the forenoon some members of Mrs Seddon'a staff saw Mr Carruthers, and expressed Mrs Seddon's wish there should bo. no public action taken here. Directly he heard the news, Mr Carruthera communicated it to the Governor-General and the State Governor, expressing the general feeling of sorrow that pervaded the whole community. 2 On being asked if he would say anything regarding Mr Seddon's career, Mr Carruthers replied, the whole thing is such a shock to one, it has pretty well unnerved me. It seems such an awful thing chat only on|Saturday I went to him, shook hands and said good-bye, never thinking it was a life .ing farewell. It is too great a shock to me to speak now. The loss of a man like Mr Seddon at any time would be a public calamity, but when it occurs uader circumstances like the present, it is a public shock. Mr Seddon came here for rest, but it was apparent to us all he worked very hard, and probably that, and the strenuous life he has been living the last sixteen years, has brought about his untimely death. The evening papers here published early editions with appreciative notices of the deceased statesman. Received June 11, 10.9 p.m. Mr Seddon went down into the saloon half an hour after tho steamer's sailing, and retired to his berth immediately. He obviously was very tired, having spent a busy day on Saturday. On Sunday, after his afternoon sleep, he appeared refreshed, but a few minutes afterwards he had a recurrence of tho symptoms that had shown themselves in the morning, but in a more aggravated form. He was treated by Mrs Seddon and Mr Andrews, seemingly with goodfetfeet, for he conversed with them on several public and private matters in which they were interested. He then suddenly, just at twenty-fire minutes past six. gave a short gasp, spoke a few words to Mrs Seddon, and collapsed. It was supposed that he had fainted, and Dr. Minchin was hurriedly summoned, and on arriving in a few moments he saw that the great New Zealander was dead, osving to failure of the heart. He said there had been no struggle and no pain. Mr Seddon laf there in the cabin seemingly asleep, as calmly and peacefully as a child. The blow to Mrs Seddon, and Miss May Seddon and Master Stuart Seddon, who accompanied their parentß, was a terrible one. Their sudden bereavement given added poignancy by taking place while nway from the other members of the family, and out in mid ocean. A little orer three weeks ago they landed with their father at Sydney amidst a great popular ovation, of which they were .-pardonably } proud, to-day they returned on a murky, drizzling day bearing his dead body. Their experience was indeed tragic and pathetic. Received June 11, 10.28 p.m. Mr Deakin has telegraphed to tho Press Association "Greatly shocked ar. the death of the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Have requested the Governor-General to forward a message of sympathy and appreciation to the Governor of New Zealand." Received June 11, 10.28 p.m. Melbourrne, .Tune 11. The news of the death of Mr Seddon created a sensation throughout the State. Flags were halfmasted on public buildings. Mr Bent was greatly shocked on receipt of the news. Adelaide, June, 11. The news was received here with the greatest grief by everybody, and all were appalled by its suddenness. The Town Hall bells were tolled. Sydney, Juno li. The "Daily Telegraph," in its iirst leader, says that the remark of the Premier of New South Wales that the news of Mr Seddon's death came as n public shook in no way overstates the profound impression which the return of the Oswestry Grange with her mournful freight yesterday made, upon the people of Australia. Up till Sunday, when he lefr this country for his own, Mr Seddon had figured during the few busy woeks of his visit hero, as a hale nuin, as robust and vigorous physically, as he had always, been politically. His final day here was spent with characteristic activity, yet the outward signals of Sunday morning sped him on to his last journey, and in a few hours ho was dead, apparently through his sturdy body's inability to continue longer the ceaseless, strenuous struggle which it had waged so long. Death loves a shining mark, a signal blow ; and such a blow it achieved in striking down with dramatic suddenness the most notable Australasian statesman of his time. As the Premier til the longest standing, jincf.pi' the.

most prosperous of theso countries, i and as a leader whose unique experi- • once it had been to see his following enlarged at every appeal to the people, Lis political record was incomparable, in ability as an ad- ! ministrator, and in the management i of men, he probably had no peer '> among his contemporaries. The 1 judgment of futurity will undoubt- ■ edly award Mr Seddon greatness in 1 the history of New Zealand, and ' notice him prominently in that of • the Empire in his time. Locally, 1 his personality that has loomed so ' large* and so long in the colony will ' be poignantly missed. j it was suggested to Mr Carruthers J that the Oswestry Giange should be ' escorted to New Zealand by a war- ' ship, and he communicated with the « Governor, but owing to the Admiral being at sea, and the other vessels < of the squadron scattered, it was im- ' practicable to do anything with such ■ short, notice. ' Brisbane, June 11. J j The "Courier, " in its leading i article, will say Mr Seddon wfts one < of the most conspicuous figures the 1 Empire had ever known, and there • will be the keenest regret at his ' passing away in the fullness of years < of usefulness, not only in the Eng- 1 lish speaking communities, hut in all free countries to whom his name '• was a symbol of enlightened progress. Ho belonged to no particular ( school of political thought, and would have been the last to attempt to define his opinions in scholastic < terms. Like Mirabeau in France, like Bismarck in Germany, he did not allow theories to stand in the way of practical reforms which plain facts showed to be necessary for the welfare of his people, and the de- j velopment of his country. By hisi passing away New Zealand loses the finest statesman she ever had, and the Empire one of her grandest sons. To-morrow morning the "Daily Mail, "in its leading article on Mr Seddon, will say Mr Seddon, like his former revered chief , John Ballance, died in harness. He has been privileged to pass away painlessly and suddenly while his popularity is at its zenith. Despite indications that he had begun to distrust the utility of some of his own legislation — for Mr Seddon was one of those who not only grow mentally, but are not afraid to revise their opinions- during the last seven years' labor legislation had a rest, and Mr Seddon more than once cautioned extremists against pushing rights too far. Mr Seddon's land legislation was important, and, perhaps, more bo than his labor legislation. The article goes on to refer to toe various Acts and amending Acts relating to ]and passed by Mr Seddon ; also to other Acts, including electoral reform, which were not a mere show or half-hearted measures, but were carried boldly in face of bitter opposition. Mr Seddon | cave the workers more political and ■ industrial concessions thufc the Labor! Party has secured in any country, ! despite desperate strikes, and un- j questionably Mr Seddon focussed the j aspirations of a Radical self-govern- j ing people in New Zealand in an j effective way. He always saw that j the measures passed by him were j carried into effect. In conclusion the 1 article says that though we may not I agree with all done by him, we be- j lieve that the universal feeling | throughout Australia is that the ! Empire is poorer through his death. 1 Received June 12, 1.29 a.m. i Sydney. .Tune 11. ! The "Herald," in its first leader, j says a great citizen of the Empire, < and the foremost spokesman of ; Greater Britain has passed away, i The vacant place left by the death j of Mr Seddon will create a notable ! gap in not only the pnblic life of ! New Zealand but in that of Austral- j asia, and far beyond its confines, j That the tragically sudden event J came at the close of what was almost j a triumphal tour of tho mainland States, and at a time wnen the result of the general election had ap- j parontly secured the New Zealand Premier and his colleagues in office j for years to come, but in a sense his j work was done: and howovor much j critics and public opinion may differ as to his politics and methods, there will l>e an unanimous verdict on the man. He was a strenuous, forceful figure in his day and generation. He believed, with an enthusiastic and whole hearted faith, in his own province of tho Empire, and in the life of tho imperial system as a | wholo he rlayed no inconspicuous I part. His opinions on Imperial j questions could not be ignored. He succeeded in making tho influence of his personality felt in the councils of Imperial statesmen. Speaking from the outpost of Australia in the Pacific, his words of warning and pievision have compelled attention, and his last effort on Australian shores was directed to the task of awakening the intelligence of this Commonwealth to the gravity of the situation now and in future as between ourselves and our foreign neighbours in that ocean. 110 was an example of that type of public man developed sometimes by political conditions in self-governing Greater Briain which is about to cultivate broad views of national responsibility as well as talent to regulate and control local affiar.s. Richard Seddon's utterances on matters of Imperial interest affecting our own quarter of tlie globe could not he ignored. He has left the scene of his life's work at the /.enith of his influence and popularity, and for what as a public man j could his friends have desirod more? } Received June VI, ±1 a.m. Sydney. June 11. The s.s. Oswestry Grange quitted her moorings at 11..J0 on her mourn- } ful voyage to Wellington. j Received June 12, 2. 37 a.m. Adelaide June 11. The "Advertiser,"' commenting on this sad death of Mr Seddon, pays a warm tribute to the greatness of the deceased statesman, and ihe value of his services to New Zealand in particular. Reference is made to the sucegs of his democratic policy, and his attachment to Imperial interests. The "Advertiser" says there i% no statesman who has filled a more conspicuous position in Greater Britain, and none will be mourned more sincerely throughout the wide dominions under King Edward r s away. < His personal character endeared him to an ever widening circle of friends, while his public services were recognised, in every laud where English speech is known. It is only lately that President Roosevelt declared thafe he had watched with keen interest the legislation introduced by Mr Seddon in New Zealand, and expressed a strong desire to visit the country that he might be onabled to observe its practical operation. The peisonal history of Mr Seddon during almost the whole of his public life takes part in the annals of New Zealand in every respect. His career as a public man and a statesman has been remarkable. Without any such recommendations to high position aa are almost indispensable in other com; tries, such as wealth or arristocratic connections, or olassic attainments, he rose from the ranks and proved equal to tho elevated sphere ho reached, nis long continuance in power a}on<\ gave him a distin-

guisbed place among Colonial statesmen. For twenty-seven years, his lon# continuance in power was accompanied by ever increasing popularity, it was not by setting -his sails to catoh a popular breeze that Mr Seddon retained and increased this favor of the people, but by high character, his capacity as a statesman, and the practical effect of bis public administration. Tb3 "Advertiser" eulogises Mr Seddon's strong sense of public duty, and quotes almost his last words in his j last, public speech delivered in Adelaide, "I do sincerely believe that God has helped New Zealand Iwcauso we have tried to do our duty." Received June 12, 1.51 a.m. Melbourne, June .1.1. The "Age," referring to the death of Mr Seddon, Bays to write to-day that Mr Seddon is dead is to say that in the midst of the busiest time of his life came his death. The last ! month of his life had perhaps been the pageant of his successes A man of his calibre cannot come and go as other mcD do. The Labor members shouted to him on Friday last: "You are the greatest figure in the British Empire." That perhaps was a daring flight, but he certainly stood out on the Australasian horizon a very much distinguished man amongst his peers. For him there was no rest or cessation from activity. The pace he lived at would have tried a young and vigorous man. There is no doubt, that Mr Seddon was composed of qualities that go to make great men. He wielded the destinies of New Zealand with a facility that showed him to be a born ruler. No other New Zealand Premier stands even a po;>r second to him in breadth of outlook, or capacity of seeing before and after. Had hi 9 lot been cast in the Prime Ministership of the Imperial circle, he would probably have been as distinguished there as he is in Australasian politics. He has earnnd the noblest of tributes for a life's noble work done nobly. Ho has fallen with the shouts of his many avations still in his ears. "After life'B fitful fever he sleeps well." But New Zealand will mourn friend and father who has tenderly watched over her and loved her, as ne was beloved in return. Amongst many farewell telegrams that Mr vSeddon sont ro Melbourne from Sydney before embarking on Sunday evening, one to Mr Bent contained words which proved to be prophetic: "Leaving to-night for God's own country." We navo since, we hope, heard of his arrival there.