204

H.—2B

Tuapeka Mouth Railway League. Honoured Sir,— Tuapeka Mouth, 20th July, 1906. At a meeting of the Tuapeka Mouth Railway League, held on the 9th instant, a resolution was passed instructing me to convey to you and the House its sympathy and sincere regret at the loss you and the country have sustained through the death of your late chief, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, a man of broad principle, utterly unselfish, and devoted to the Empire and the country of his adoption. This league yvishes to express to the Government, through the Hon. the Premier, its sincere sympathy and regret at the loss the colony and Empire have sustained through the death of such a noble and good man as the late lamented Premier. With deepest sympathy and sincere respect, I have, &c, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. John E. Keenan, Secretary. Geraldine Taxation League. Dear Sir,— Geraldine, 22nd June, 1906. I am instructed to write to you requesting that you will bring under Mrs. Seddon's notice the following resolution, passed at a meeting of the Geraldine Taxation League held on Wednesday last :" We desire to express our deep regret at the death of the Right Hon. Mr. Seddon. We look upon his loss as a very serious one both to the colony and the Empire, and would express our heartfelt sympathy and condolence with Mrs. Sfiddon and family in their great trouble." I am, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. John Kennedy, Secretary. Ashburton County Rugby Union. Sir,— 14th June, 1906. I have the honour, by direction of above Rugby Union, to forward you the following resolution passed at its meeting on the 11th instant : " That this union desires to place on record its high sense of the faithful and distinguished services rendered to New Zealand by the late Premier, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, and of the serious loss sustained by his death; and respectfully tenders to his family the assurance of its sincere sympathy in their bereavement." I have, &c, The Hon. the Acting-Premier, Wellington. F. Pritchard, Secretary. New Zealand Rugby Football Union. Sir,— 15th June, 1906. I am directed to convey, through you, to the widow and family of the late Prime Minister the following resolution passed by the management committee of the above union last evening : " That the New Zealand Rugby Union desires to express its sincere regret at the death of the late Prime Minister, and also to convey its sympathy to Mrs. Seddon and members of her family in the bereavement which they have sustained." I have, &c, The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Wellington. Edgar Wylie, Hon. Secretary. Wellington Rugby Football Union. Sir,— Wellington, 17th June, 1906. The Wellington Rugby Union wishes to express to Mrs. Seddon its deep sorrow for the loss she and the colony have sustained in the sad death of her husband. Trusting that you will be kind enough to convey our sympathy to Mrs. Seddon. I have, &c. The Hon. W. Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier, Wellington. J. D. Avery, Secretary. j Auckland Rugby Union. (Telegram.) The Hon. Hall-Jones, Acting-Premier, Wellington. Auckland, 14th June, 1906. The management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union has heard with profound regret of the death of the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Premier of New Zealand. His loss is widely felt, not only in this colony, over which he has so long wielded power, but throughout the British Empire. His kindly assistance in our manly pastimes 'will not soon be forgotten. To his sorrowing wife and family we tender our deepest sympathy, and fervently hope that they will be enabled to bear with fortitude the irreparable loss of a devoted husband and father. . Kindly convey message to Mrs. Seddon and family. G. Langsford, Secretary.