MEETING OF HARBOR BOARD.

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

MEETING OF HARBOR BOARD.

RESOLUTION OF SYMPATHY.. ("Colonist," June 13tb." Yesterday morning, before the business for which tbe members of the Harbor Board were called together to Tconsider was taken, the Chairman (Mr Graham, M.H.R M ) asked the members to adopt a resolu* tion of sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr Seddon. He said that when the members parted on the previous day they received news of the Premier's death, which came upon them as a shock. All they could do was to leave their business, and postpone it. Even if the} T had thought of it, the time would have been inappropriate for hurriedly moviDg a resolution expressing tbe feelings of the Hoard, but now they had again met together he thought, it only the right thing to do. The deceased Premier had assisted Mr MeKenzie and himself very greatly in taking steps which resulted in the formation of the Harbor Board, and he had always taken a keen interest in the welfare of the Board. Mr Graham then moved the following resolution : — "The Nelson Harbor Board records its profound sorrow because of the death of Mr Seddon, the Right Hon, Premier of New Zealand, and expresses its high appreciation of his untiring work as a legislator on behalf of the Colony during an unbroken period of over a quarter ot a century, during more than half of which time the late statesman has occupied the premier position in the gift of the people, in the direction of its affairs, with the result that he has been largely instrumental in' producing and maintaining an uninterrupted period of general prosperity, greater than has ever bol'orb been experienced by the Colony, and realises that his place will indeed lie 'hard to fill. The Hoard also respect- , tenders its sincere condolence and' sympathy to the Premier* family, and especially to Mrs Seddon, who has long been the worthy and efficient helpmate to a great man, in her irreparable bereavement." Mr Graham then feelmely referred to the fact that Mr McKen/io and himself had been fellow members of too House since immediately after Mr Seddon became* Premier of the ' Colony. Dunn" that time they had : had opportunities of knowing Mr Zp :ld on, and had learned to respect : h'l'ii. as a private friend as well as a I>! itician. M r Trask, as a member J nr" tbe Legislative Council. also knew ittio Premier, while as a private j friend he had known Mr Seddon, longer than either Mr MeKenzie or himself. As the late Premier* J oldest friend, he asked Mr Trask td second tbe motion. Mr Trask. in seconding the motion, said that in his opinion Mr Seddon was, at the time of his death, the greatest statesman in the British. Empire, and as an administrator could be compared with any man in the Empire. He was a kind and good husband, an affectionate father, a true friend, and a man who had shoitened his life for his country. Mr MeKenzie, M.H.R., in speaking to the motion, said that 31 yenrs' ago hejtook the chair at the"n"rat public meeting ever addressed by Mr Seddon. and in public life ever since they had esteemed each other. Ho fully endorsed the remarks niado by the Chairman and Mr Trask, and sincerely hoped that Mrs Seddon would bear up in her great trouble, and he was sure she had the sympathy of the members of the Board. Mr Talbot said there could be no two opinions as to tbe great loss the Colony had sustained by the death of the Premier, and tbe news would*** be received with profound feelings of regret throughout the Empire. Mr Hanby endorsed all that had I been said. " Both by the Premiet'e own political supporters, and his equally consistent political opponents, there would be one expression of deep regret at the death of a grea'l. man, and New Zealand had lost an honord son. The motion was then put, and carried unanimously. It was also decided to ask the Acting-Premier to .'forward the resolution to Mrs Seddon.