THE DEATH OF MR. SEDDON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 25, 21 June 1906, Page 19

THE DEATH OF MR. SEDDON

The Oswcstry Grange,' with the remains of our late Premier arrived at the Wellington wharf at midnight on Saturday. Fifteen minutes after midnight (writes the Wellington correspondent of the • Otaco Daily Times') Mrs. Seddon and her family came ashore, leaning on Mr. 'Hall-Jones and supporting one another The scene was at this stage a most affecting one, but I pr.f^r not to attempt any description of' it. The sympathy of everyione present went out to the bereavod family as they d'ro\,e off in two ca.bs to the Ministerial residence. Soon afterwards .Ministers and a few Members o* Parliament went on board, and took a last look at the face of their dead chief, now alas sadly changed. Th- body was in a lead coffin in the saloon, where it had been all the \oyage, and as it had to be carried up and put in'-o the shell-coffin, which was on deck, there was some delay before it could be landed. Eventually it was borne down the broad gangway on the shoulders of several stai'wart members of' the Garrison Artillery and a few other men. It was placed in the hearse, and shortly after 1 a.m. a mournful procession, consisting of the late Premier's two Fons (Captain Sodden and Mr. T. Seddon), some of Mr. Seddon's relatives, and Ministers and Members of Parliament, started for the Ministeriil residence in Molesworth street, the crowd following. The moment the hearse had left Hie wharf the first of the 20 minute-guns from the warship ' Pioneer ' thundered forth, setting the wooden houses a-treirvble, rattling the window-ppnes, and waking lihou sands of sleepers in the city. It was only one gi;n less ,than the salute for lining ' Royalty, and fired at such an hour it was, I believe, unique. The interment takes place this (Thursday) afternoon on the site of the Observatory, which adjoins the Sydney street Cemetery, Well'nsrtrn.