The Danger was Imminent.

Up to this time Mr. Ballance had been perfectly sanguine, and confident of his ultimate recovery, and any suggestion to the contrary produced upon him a most serious effect.

I had been fully cognisant of every stage in his illness, and of all the hopes and fears of his colleagues; but knowing this, and knowing that the Premier always insisted on reading the papers, and acting also at the express request of his colleagues, refrained from publishing anything of an unpleasant or alarmist character, or any comment which would cause the sufferer concern. An instance of his intense feeling regarding any suggestion as to the hopelessness of his case was supplied a week before his death, when he got possession of a Westland paper containing a telegram from Wellington suggesting that he could not recover, and speculating as to his successor. The telegram gave him intense annoyance, and he insisted upon a contradiction being sent. Again, when he came on his last journey from Wanganui, he was lying in pain in a carriage, when some pressmen appeared at Palmerston North and entered the compartment. Ho at once got up, assumed an appearance page 12 of ease, and remained standing while he spoke to them; but as they thoughtlessly continued asking him questions, and he felt unable longer to combat the pain and weakness under which he laboured, he placed his hand upon his side, excused himself, said he felt tired with the journey, and lying down, concluded the interview in that position, his questioners little thinking the agony they were causing him. Up to this time the feeling here described, and a fear as to its effects, had prevented his colleagues from suggesting to him the necessity which was always present to themselves of appointing his successor. When, however, the result of the consultation was told to him, and Mr. Ballance was made aware that he was