SIR ROBERT STOUT'S RETIREMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6134, 22 March 1898, Page 2

SIR ROBERT STOUT'S RETIREMENT.

The following is the text of the address to be presented to Sir Robert Stout by his Wellington friends:—"To Sir Robert Stout, K.C.M.G. We, the undersigned, electors and residents of the city of Wellington, on your retirement from political life, desire to express our admiration for your personal character and political career. You have for many years occupied a leading position in politics in this country, and we regret very much that you are unable from personal considerations to continue to give the colony thd benefit of your great ability, mature judgment and ripened, experience. We recognise that all through your career you have set before yourself a high ideal, and while some of us who subscribe this document may net have always been in accord with your views, we appreciate the fact that your efforts have uniformly been devoted to the promotion of such measures as would tend to elevate your fellow-colo-nists and further their welfare. Whether or not you will again see your way to devote your great talents to the service of your adopted country, your name will forever be associated with the history of New Zealand as one who has sought at all times—whether as a worker in the ranks or as Premier of the colony, or in the many other positions which you have held —to advance the material and moral wellbeing of the inhabitants of New Zealand.