SIR JOHN HALL'S ELOQUENT TESTIMONY.

New Zealand Graphic, 27 June 1906, Page 56

SIR JOHN HALL'S ELOQUENT TESTIMONY.

At a meeting of the City Council, Sir John Hail, Mayor of Christchurch, and ex-Premier. made touching reference to his associations with Mr. Seldon in the past. “Fellow Councillors,” he said, “I imagine that under the peculiar circumstances in which we meet it will not be your wish that we should transact any business whatever in consequence of the death of the Prime Minister of the colony. I am sure that you will wish to mark your sorrow at the event, and your respect for him by adjourning after passing a resolution. I will move a motion in a few words. We meet under the shadow of what for the colony is a great calamity. There is not time for lengthened eulogy, nor is there any necessity. The character and great services of Mr. Seddon are known from end to end of the' colony, and are part of its history. It is familiar to everyone how, by his own energy, character, talent, and unflagging 1 industry, he raised himself to the highest position which any colonist can occupy. and how long he has occupied that position. It was my fortune to know Mr. Seddon before he entered the general public life of the colony. We sat together in the first County Council of Westland, and he at once distinguished' himself by his practical ability and his perfect information with regard to all! goldfield questions. We met again in: 1879, when he entered the New Zealand. Parliament. We were in decided op-: position, but I never had to complain of anything unfair from him. Subsequently, by his own great energy, industry, and talents, he has occupied a position which we may truly say has been attained by no other man in the Australasian colonies. It has been my lot to see much of the public men of New Zealand, but I have never known one who had a more extraordinary grasp of almost every publie question affecting the colony. He had intense faith in the capabilities and great destiny of New Zealand, and was very determined by every means in his power to give it a great position. A distinguishing feature in Mr. Seddon’s character was his intense Imperialism; his pride in our membership of a great Empire; and a belief in our duty to share, in its! duties and responsibilities as well as its power. Christchurch cannot forget that' it is owing to Mr. Seddon’s initiative that the International Exhibition, which promises to be of so much importance to the city, has been organised, with every promise of success. It is a pleasant reflection to me now that on many occasions he bore testimony to the fact, as I do now, that, though politically in opposition, this never interfered with our private friendship. However some of us may differ, we shall all agree that New Zealand is greatly and irreparably the poorer for the heavy blow which has fallen upon us. I now move: ’That this Council desires to express its profound sorrow at the death of the. Rt. Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier of the colony, as well as its sincere appreciation of tHa great and valuable sei-viees he has rendered to the colony during his long and distinguished career.’ ” Or. Payling seconded the motion, which was carried, the members standing in silence. The Mayor then further moved: “That the Council also desires to convey to family of the late Mr. Seddon its profound and heartfelt sympathy in tha great and irreparable loss which ha* fallen upon them.* Cr. Orchard seconded the which was carried as before, and th* Council then adjourned until Wednesday] evening. -— —w* *