The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1909. THE LATE LORD RIPON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13954, 14 July 1909, Page 4

The Timaru Herald WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 1909. THE LATE LORD RIPON.

" A hue old English gentleman, out; ill' tJio olden time," juissetl away last week, tliu Marquis «!.' Kipon, at the advanced age ol : 82. The biography of the Into Marquis should he well north, writing, and well worth reading, for throughout a long and vigorous maturity Jio took an active part, in various way.s, ill the govern incut of the British Empire, beginning as coadjutor of men so long since dead as to he iil the way of being forgotten. He became ;i State oflicer in a minor capacity twelve years alter Queen Victoria began to reign, was a Member of the House of Commons during the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny. Shortly after the latter lie was appointed successively Under-Secretary for War and for India, Minister of War (peace reigned during his term of ol'lice\ and Chief Secretary for India, the position later named the Vice-royalty. His rule in India was marked by endeavours to improve the condition of the natives, materially and politically, and his efforts made him as unpopular with the JLuropeans as popular with the Indians. As a

young msi 11 lid Mils a colleague of Ivingslcy and .Maurice in their propaganda of Christian Socialism, which had much to do with tho inspiration of humanitarian labour laws of later years. Obviously the Socialism they taught was not that which is heard of in New Zealand. The heir to a peerage, to which was attached the ownership of 21,000 acres of land, would bo looked askance at as a recruit hy tho Socialists of tm-day. Lord Ilipou was a member of the first international Arbitration Commission, that which sat to settle - too claims of the "United States against Uritain for the destruction wrought ov the Confederate privateer Alabama. Altogether the lato Marquis had a most varied experience of responsible Imperial duties, and withal found time'to take m.iiitorsw in tho improvement of agriculture, and generally in the duties of a large landcwucr. ' .