PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume IX, Issue 29, 16 July 1892, Page 712

PARLIAMENTARY SILHOUETTES.

(BY

BIRD'S EYE.

IT was intended to have given as a Graphic Parliamentary silhouette the eminent statesman of whom death has so lately robbed ns. Fate, however, has intervened, and we must defer to a later occasion the production of the portrait of the Hon. the Speaker of the Legislative Council. Meantime our readers will, we are sure, gladly welcome thoste of the Speaker of the Lower House and his estimable lady.

Major William Jukes Steward, who, at the opening of the present Parliament was elevated to the Speaker’s chair, is a man universally respected alike for the uprightness of his character and the genuine kindliness of his disposition. The ‘ white flower of a blameless life ’ is his by universal consent, and as to the tenderness of his heart, one who knows him well assures me that he * couldn’t hurt a fly.’ Indeed, this extreme kindliness has more than once come near involving him in difficulties in the House, where, in the wrangle of parties, a tight hold on the rein is indispensable, and strength a greater desideratum than sweetness. But in private life amiability in a man is delightful, wherefore Mrs Steward is a very enviable woman.

I think Mr Speaker Steward possesses the distinction of being the tallest man in the House, though possibly his extreme spareness makes him appear taller than he is, for he is quite phenomenally thin, or slim would perhaps better express it. His features are well marked, but refined, and his hair parted in the middle is, like his beard, rapidly whitening. He is now in his fifty first year, having been born at Reading, Berkshire, in 1841. As a child his principal amusement was playing at soldiers, and as he grew older he developed pronounced poetical proclivities. He was educated at King Edward’s Grammar School, Ludlow, Salop. At the early age of twenty-one he came to New Zealand, moved to carve his way to fortune by the very strongest of incentives. His life in the colony has been chiefly devoted to journalism, though he has given a good deal of his time to the public whom he has served in various capacities. He was a member of the Executive in the last Provincial Council of Otago, represented Waiinate in the House of Representatives in 1875; was defeated at the subsequent election, but again entered the House in 1881, and has been in it ever since. He has always taken a great interest in volunteer matters, and in 1879 was appointed Major of the Oamaru Volunteer Battalion. At one time he edited very ably the North Otago Times, and is now proprietor of the Ashburton Mail and Oamaru Guardian.

Mrs Steward is a lady of retiring and gentle manners, to whom the quiet happiness of domestic life is more attractive than the excitements of the gay world ; nevertheless, she accompanies herhusband to Wellington, where she takes part in the social functions of the season, and, during the session, her pleasing intelligent face becomes very familiar to visitors to the House, as, sitting in the ‘ Peeresses ’ gallery, she atten-

tively observes the proceedings. The history of Major and Mrs Steward’s union is not wanting in elements of romance, and as a story of mutual devotion is always interesting, I take leave to repeat it as told to me by a friend of the family. Many years ago the rector of an English parish had several attractive daughters, one of whom wa- sought

in marriage by a young man of culture and promise ; but for some occult reason the union was objected to, nay, absolutely vetoed by the young lady’s father. Filial reverence secured obedience and the young people parted, not, however, without mutual vows of fidelity. He came to New Zealand, and she watched and waited. In course of time the young man secured a competence, and, having refused all other suitors, the girl he loved crossed the ocean to join him in spite of the renewed protests of her still disapproving friends. Love so constant has had its reward in a happy

married life, for Major Steward is a most devoted husband ; and the trials of early days bid fair to be made up for in the successes and honours of later years. Major and Mrs Steward have three children—two fine handsome lads, and a bonnie lassie, whose bright face gives promise of social successes in the near future. She is, I understand, to be brought out next season.