73

H.—2B,

Wesleyan Ministers and Churches in Auckland Province. Dear Mrs. Seddon, — St. John's Parsonage, Ponsonby, Auckland, 19th June, 1906. In the name of the Wesleyan Ministers and Churches in the Auckland Province permit me to express the deepest sympathy with yourself and family in the irreparable loss which you have sustained by the death of your esteemed husband, truly " a prince and a great man." Our sincere prayer is that He who is the friend of the widow and the Father of the fatherless may sustain and comfort you all in your painful affliction, and prove Himself to be a present help in your time of need. Personally I deplore the death of one whose sterling qualities as a man and whose humane legislation as a statesman placed him in the front rank of New Zealand's benefactors, and whose friendship I valued. I am, &c, Mrs. Seddon, Wellington. George Bond, Primitive Methodist Circuit, Christchurch. Madam, — Christchurch, 18th June, 1906. We beg to enclose the accompanying resolution which was passed by the Christchurch Primitive Methodist Circuit quarterly meeting : " That this meeting of officials of the Primitive Methodist Church, in quarterly meeting assembled, places on record its sense of the great loss which this colony has sustained by the death of our Premier, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, P.C., LL.D., and begs to tender to Mrs. Seddon and family its profound sympathy in their sudden bereavement. The passing of our honoured Premier is a sorrow to the entire community." We pray that the God of strong consolation may abundantly console and sustain both you and yours in your loneliness and sorrow. We remain, &c, J. Guy, President. Mrs. R. Seddon, Wellington. David F. Albert, Secretary. Durham Street Methodist Young Men's Class, Christchurch. Dear Madam, — 53 Durham Street, Christchurch, 17th June, 1906. At the meeting of the Durham Street Methodist Young Men's Class this afternoon it was unanimously decided to tender to you'a hearty vote of condolence on account of your recent sad bereavement. Praying that God will be near you in your sorrow, . remain, &c, Mrs. Seddon, Wellington. Arthur F. Barrell, Hon. Secretary. Methodists of Wairarapa, (Telegram.) Mrs. Seddon, Wellington. Carterton, 18th June, 1906. Wairarapa Methodists send prayerful sympathy. Barton Ginger, Superintendent Minister. Methodist Church of Kumara Dear Madam, — Methodist Parsonage, Kumara, 25th June, 1906 On behalf of the members and congregation of the Methodist Church of Kumara, I am requested to convey to you our very sincere heartfelt sympathy in this your great loss, and great hour of trial. We have all realised the loss to all New Zealand, especially many of your late husband's life-long friends of our church in Kumara. Be assured of our continued prayers. Last evening we held a very impressive memorial service. I am, &c, Mrs. Seddon and family. 'Rev. C. A. Aker. Congregational Union of New Zealand. Dear Madam, — Auckland, 14th June, 1906. I am instructed by the committee of the Congregational Union of New Zealand to forward to you the enclosed resolution, which was passed unanimously at a meeting of that committee on Tuesday evening last. I remain, &c, Mrs. Seddon, Wellington. John Wilkins, Secretary. (Resolution passed by Committee of Congregational Union on Tuesday, 12th June, 1906.) " The executive committee of the Congregational Union of New Zealand desires to convey to Mrs. Seddon and her family its heartfelt sympathy with them in the great loss they and the country have sustained in the sudden death of the late Premier, and to assure them of its high admiration of the courage, self-sacrifice, and unflagging zeal manifested by the late Right Hon. R. J. Seddon for the welfare of our country."

10— H. 28.