THE CLOSING DAYS.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 43

THE CLOSING DAYS.

In the splendid victory of his party' at the polls last December, Mr. Seddon’s active political life in this colony may be said to close. His refusal to regard the verdict of the last election as a mandate to reconstruct his Cabinet, indicates that his characteristic ■independence gave no sign of failing with the accumulating work and the course of, years. His prompt communciation with the Colonial Office when the native difficulty arose in Natal showed him solicitous as ever for the interests of the Empire, and the rights and privileges of the self-governing colonics. On the other hand, his speech when he laid the foundation-stone of the Christchurch Exhibition in November last revealed the same enthusiasm as of yore for all local matters which commanded any large share of public attention. The Christchurch “ Press,” which has not usually' exaggerated the Premier’s merits, has offered a frank and generous recognition of his services to this great national enterprise.

“ There is, perhaps, no public undertaking in connection with which the loss of the virile energy of the Premier will be more felt than the New Zealand International Exhibition. From its inception, Mr. Seddon, though Sir Joseph Ward was the Minister in charge of the Exhibition, displayed a keen interest in every detail. As president of the Exhibition, he was by no means a mere figurehead, for he took A very real share in the work. It was he who suggested a good many of the projects connected with the Exhibition, and he was looking forward with the keenest anticipation to the gathering together of the representatives of tlie various nations at the opening. On his very last personal visit to the Exhibition, lie the great satisfaction he felt at the progress which was being made. In b. variety of ways Ute late Premier manifested his personal interest in the Exhibition, and a good .many tangles and difficulties were straightened out by his personal •xertions.”

During the recess, Mr. Seddon nuidc hm -our >f- lie -Soi.U. Island, an 4 4t Rangiora, in April last, he had the pleasure of aiiuoiuicing bis record surplus oC £77.">,o<K). He visited Christchurch again, to be- present ut the installation of Lor4 Plunket as Grand Master of the Masonic fraternity of New Zealand; and towards the eud of May he set forth on his now historical journey to Australia. That professed object of this trip on the Premier's part was to get a little relief front the toils of office, and thus to recuperate his health, which, us we have already see it, had frequently given his friends cause for anxiety of recent years. But, as thn sequel unhappily proved, the enthusiastic temperament and the publicspiritelf ardour of the Premier were too niueh for his discretion -n < ‘he ''"“sure trip* became n hurried whirl of excitement and exertion, culminating iu< > itably in th« tragedy thr.t, Australia and New Zealand now alike deplore.