"We, the labouring class of Wellington, on behalf of ourselves and fellow workers in other parts of New Zealand, esteem it a great privilege to have you living in our midst, and being present with us on this occasion. We recognised in you a gentleman who, by God's providence and having a heartfelt sympathy for your fellow-men, was, at the early settlement of the colony (in the year 1840), instrumental in initiating the system of eight hours constituting a day page 7 work. By so doing, you are truly entitled to be designated the father of the eight hours movement, a boon now beginning to be appreciated in all civilized parts of the known world, but in none more so than the community in which we live. This being the first annual celebration in New Zealand commemorating the union of labour for the purpose of ultimately securing, by the help of God, and fair, lawful, and energetic means, a more equal distribution of wealth, and consequent enjoyment by the world by bonâ fide producers, we believe this to be a most fitting opportunity to present you with this address as a mark of our appreciation of your noble efforts, and the success which ere long will be duly recognised, and appreciated, as one of the greatest boons conferred upon the labouring classes.

"We trust that, although now in the winter of your life, you may yet be spared to witness the fruitful bearing of that great tree of philanthropy planted by you for our benefit, and that in the near future an united effort will be made to secure and establish a more lasting tribute to your respected memory.

"Signed on behalf of the Wellington section of the labouring classes by John Plimmer, D. P. Fisher, C. F. Worth, W. McGill, E. Player, and H. W. Potter."

Mr. Potter handed the address to Mr. Parnell amidst prolonged cheering, and concluded—In begging your acceptance of this token of our esteem, I would ask you to remember that its mere intrinsic value is immeasurably outweighed in the gratitude towards you, which shall live as long as the memory of the benefits you have conferred upon us shall last. I have much pleasure in handing you the address, and may you live long to look at it. (Cheers.)

Mr. W. McGill replied on behalf of Mr. Parnell, who was deeply moved, as follows:—Mr. Parnell not feeling equal to the task of replying to your kind words, Mr. Potter has asked me to read his reply, as follows:—"Mr. Potter, Gentlemen, and Fellow Townsmen,—I thank you for the address you have presented me with this day. I feel happy to-day because the seed sown so many years ago is bearing such abundant fruit—(cheers)—and the chord struck at Petone fifty years ago is vibrating round the world, and I hope I shall live to see eight hours a day as a day's work universally acknowledged and become the law of every nation of the world. (Cheers.) It is the outcome of my early convictions on entering on the battle of life. I was convinced that the working hours were too long, and the time for recreation too short. (Cheers.) I spoke to my shopmates in London about the long hours we had to work, but; they saw no hope of getting things altered, but on coming out to this colony I determined to do what I could to alter things, and on the first opportunity I got I made a stand for eight hours a day, with the result as you know. Again I thank you for the recognition you have shown me of the part I took to benefit my fellow-men."

Mr. Millar—"Now, boys, three rousing cheers for Mr. Parnell!" This was responded to with great enthusiasm.

Messrs. Millar, Fisher, Worth, and W. W. Collins then addressed those assembled, and cheers were given for Mr. Winter (who was introduced to them), the Committee, Mr. Potter, Mr. E. Gell (a member of the Wellington Carpenters' Union of 1843), Mr. Fisher, and more for Mr. Parnell, and the playing of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," by the band, terminated this portion of the proceedings.

The Committee who had carried out the necessary arrangements in connection with the address, did not now lay down their arms, but instead went to work to formulate some scheme for a more lasting commemoration of the Eight Hours System, and several meetings were held by them discussing the matter, which, as it grew older and took a more and more tangible and substantial shape, was on all sides receiving a willing and growing support. At a meeting of the Committee, held on 12th November, 1890, the dire news was announced that the "grand old man" had been suddenly struck down with a serious illness. This illness eventually mastered the remaining vitality in the aged form, and on the 17th of December, 1890, Mr. Samuel Duncan Parnell, the founder and champion of the Eight Hours System, the admired and reverenced of men, was page 8 by the inscrutable ways of Providence, snatched from his earthly career just at the moment of his triumph. During his illness, lasting over five weeks, the workingmen of Wellington anxiously kept their eyes upon the humble cottage in Cambridge Terrace, where lay the dying man, whom they regarded and recognised as the originator of their much-prized Eight Hours System, and it is no figure of speech to say that the news of his death was received with bated breath by all, and cast a deep gloom over all classes of the community of not only Wellington, but the whole of the Colony of New Zealand. Then came the last sad duties of the living to the dead. A public meeting was held under the presidency of the Mayor of Wellington (A. W. Brown, Esq.), when it was unanimously decided that the "grand old man" should be accorded a public funeral At the meeting in question, the Mayor, in speaking of the life of Mr. Parody sketched in a few words his own career—how he had himself risen to the proud position of the Chief Magistrate of the city; how he had been benefited by the Eight Hours System of labour, and gave an assurance of his warmest sympathy with that movement. He spoke in the most feeling terms of their departed co-worker. Besides this expression of sympathy, the public of Wellington also showed their regret, and from the date of the death of Mr. Parnell to the home he was laid in his last narrow resting place, bunting was displayed at half-mag in all the principal thoroughfares. The funeral was held on the 20th December, and was as well an enthusiastic as it was a mournful event in Wellington. Long before the hour of starting for the cemetery, notwithstanding the fast that rain was falling heavily, an immense concourse of people collected near the late residence of Mr. Parnell, and as the cortege moved off and wended its way towards God's Acre, it numbered quite three thousand people, and was headed by the Garrison Band playing the Dead March in Saul. The body was borne along the full length of the way by relays of workingmen, who were glad, indeed, to do this last act as a tribute of the profound respect they hid had for the old man. At last the sad duty was over, and after a most impressive Socialistic ceremony, performed by Mr. John Chantrey Harris, the body was consigned to the grave, and the mournful assemblage turned away to again meet the world and resume their every-day avocations.