LATE SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 25 September 1913, Page 5

LATE SIR WILLIAM RUSSELL.

HIB LIFE WORK EULOGISED. PARLIAMENTARY- TRIBUTES. BOTH HOUSES ADJOURN. (By Tdegraphr—Frm Auociation.) WELLINGTON, Last Night. Immediately after formal business had been transacted in the Legislative Council this -afternoon, the Hon. H. D. Bell rose to move a motion, conveying the Council's high sense of the respect held for the memory ol' the late Sir William Russell, and of sympathy with his widow and family in their sad bereavement. Speaking . with considerable emotion, the Hon. Mr Bell said that .only the other day the late Sir William began what all had lioped would be a fitting end to a. long Parliamentary career. He felt that under the circumstances he must ask pardon if he failed to adequately express the appreciation lion, members had of that lon<r and honourable public life, because he was spdaking under a" sense of pergonal loss that was overwhelming. He had known '-th# late ">fr William all his life, and hind been honoured with his * '.more years ; thaii he cared t6 count, _it Wae upon ; . fcfae iiiaii he me- : i ttvory hdw : dwelt, rather than upon J. j the* faithful public servant. Those "who had served with him in public knew that his career was unique, inasmuch as hi« friends had no higher opinion of him than had his opponents. He had always conducted himself as an honourable and chivalrous man, and those left to mourn liim had --in his case that proud po&spssioH of a long-and active life spent in the service of the .public and the State. He moved the motion which he vm about to submit "to the Council in a full knowledge that no words , spoken in eulogy of a dead man were more deserved, for he was a man who made ho enemies but so conducted himself towards his fellow-men as to make all who knew him feel that lie was their friend. When to this they added his long public career, they' were sometimes apt to forget that he had been a gallant' soldier, proud of his profession, or that he was an early colonist, and if one of the old echooj.

they should always remember how gently\and with what dignity "Be had ever-preserved his honour and the conduct of his life.

. Tiie motion .was. seconded. bv-4&e Hon. J. D. Ormond, who spoke of thd late Sir WilUam- Russell's Dublic life, ; of hip association'with Sawke's Bay, ; and of their personal relations; which /extended overs long course of years. J To thftfife tributes were added those ' of the flons. Captain Baillie, Kelly, i arid Mills, and the motion being carried in silence, the Council adjourned till Friday. IN THE MOUSE. . In the House of Representatives,, the Prime Minister, moved, ''That: thi-s House places on record its liigh | sense of the faithful services rendered to the country by the late Sir William itusspllj ' knight, member of the Legislative Council, and, respectfully tenders to his wife and family its assurance of sympathy- in their bereavement." One could hardly, realise, said Mr Massey, that Sir William Russell had passed through the Parliamentary portals for the last time. Closely associated .as lie was with the deceased gentleman, he knew that, the country had never known a more honourable gentleman than Sir William. He; had known him in prosperity. He had known him in adversity, and he could say there never was a more unassuming, unaffected gentleman. He was one of the very best types ,pf the British race and British colonists. His personality would never be forgotten. He (Mr Massey) had lost one of the best and closest of his friends, and New. Zealand had lost one of its best and truest gentlemen. J Mr U. W. Russell expressed regret that Sir Joseph Ward was unavoidably absent, and that the duty of adding the Opposition's tribute devolved upon him. To know Sir William Russell was to love him, respect him, amd admire him. There were many "in the House that day who remembered wheo he took hie place in the House and took his disappointments with those graces so pronounced in him, and which, are characteristics of our race. In those days Captain 'Russell (as he was then) bore himself nobly as a Leader of the Opposition, to the kdmiration -of his friGndß andjpolitical opponents, and no orid could "study"' his character without realising his gentleness, amiability, and natural chivalry and courtesy. He was one of nature's gentlemen. He had left an impress on. the politics of this country of which New Zealand might be justly proud, and which would be a priceless heritage to the youth of the country in the days to come. On behalf of the members on that side of the House he tendered to his wife and family their sincere sympathy. "Sir William has passed away from our midst," said Mr Russell, "a great statesman, and true sportsman. God rest hi.s soul!'' Messrs G. Hunter, J. V. Brown, and Campbell referred in sympathetic terms to the deceased. The 'House then adjourned until 2.30 to-morrow as a mark of respect.