IN NEW ZEALAND.

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

IN NEW ZEALAND.

Wellington, June 11. i The following extraordinary "Gazette" was published to-day:— "It is with deep regret that f have to announce the death of the Kight Hon. Richard John Seddon, P. 0., Prime Minister of New Zealand, on board the s.s. Oswestry Grange, at sea, on the evening of Sunday, the 10th day of .June, at '23 minutes past ( 6 o : clock, fifteen hours after leaving Sydney for New Zealand. The offices of the Government and Civil Service throughout the Colony are relieved from duty for to-day and to-morrow. Only urgent public business will be tranpacted until tbe day of the funeral, when the whole of the public offices throughout the Colony will be closed. (Signed) Wm. HallJones." From every pa-rfc cf the Colony telegraph messages aro being re ceive.d expressing the profound grief at the sudden death of the Eight Hon. R. J- Seddon. When the iirst intimation was received by tho Press Association the news caused a shock, and a little later the information was confirmed by a, cypher jhcasago to tho Government, received about^ twenty minutes to 1 p.m. stating that Mr Seddon had died at 23 minutes past G o'clock last night, just about fifteen hour's afier the boat had sailed away from Sydney umidst tho handshakes, farewells and good ivi.sbos of :m admiring crowd. The information to hand is that for some hours prior to the departure of tho vessel Mr Seddon was beginning io feel the strain of thelast t'vo weeks, and wa3 not in the best of health. Wnen the and news was definitely announced to be true most profound regret and surprise, was everywhere in'evidnce. As soon "ns the Acting Premier, Hon. Hall Jones, wns made aware of the nmva, a meeting of the Cabinet vas hastily suminoiifid for two o'clock. Captain Seddon was in the- Labor Oflice !when tho first cablegram wns received. He was summoned to the ! Hon. Mr Hall Jones' office, and! there made aware of what had h;vp- j nened. ,