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Wanganui Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15192, 12 April 1917, Page 6

Three officers—a Canadian, an Australian, and a New Zealander —were asked to dine with the Duke and Duchess of Connaught on Christmas Day. The New Zealander chosen was Lieutenant Tom Seddon. "It was a very proud moment for me when the Duke asked which of the trio was Seddon. He stated that he remembered my father quite well, and later on showed us a Maori mere, a souvenir he had given the Duke when in England." In the afternon Lieutenant Seddon sang, and the Duchess played his accompaniment. In acceding to a wish that he would again stand &>r the Mayoralty of NeW Plymouth, Mr C. H. Burgess said that if he was re-elected for another term he was not going in with any big progressive ideas in hie mind. If that waa what the ratepayers wanted, then he said don't put him in. He was not seeking the position, and was not going to acept the Mayoralty with his hands tied. As had been said, this was a time for caution. This was not a time to go on the market for loans, and. further, apart altogether from the conditions which had arisen on account of the war, the total loans of the borough amounted to .£325,000, whilst the population was 8000. In 1912 they had to refloat loans amounting to ,£134.000, so that they did not want to go in for any big tramway extension until they could see clearly just what was going to happen. He was not saying anything in favour of or against tramway extensions, but merely emphasising the point that, in his opinion, in view of the unsettled state of things generally, the present was not an opportune time to undertake such work. If they were willing to accept him on these terms then he was willing to stand for the time being. After the war circumstances would dictate his course of action.