Page:The life and letters of Sir John Henniker Heaton bt. (IA lifelettersofsi00port).pdf/278

 occasion, and it seems to me that a Biography of Sir Henniker Heaton could not end on a more appropriate or inspiring note than the quotation of his own words, uttered at the close of his public career.

The Banquet of the Plumbers' Company was, I believe, the last occasion on which he spoke in the City of London. I use the word "the City" in its strict sense, for, as you will probably know, the City is that portion of London governed by the Lord Mayor and Corporation, having as its centre the Guildhall and the Mansion House, and as its Western Boundary the place where Temple Bar formerly stood, now marked by the Griffin opposite to the Law Courts in the Strand. The guests included the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, representatives of State Departments, the Colonies and oversea Dominions, Mayors and principal officers of Metropolitan and Provincial Boroughs, the Presidents and Members of Scientific and learned Societies, Guilds, and other bodies.

it was an occasion so important and so significant that its full significance was perhaps hardly realized at the time. ft is only in looking back upon such moments that they come into their proper perspective.

"I shall not regard my work as completed," said your father, "until time and space have been annihilated, and the scattered coasts of the Empire have been so united that we can speak to the people of New Zealand as easily as I am speaking to this company."

It was his farewell message to the Empire which he so greatly loved, spoken from the very centre of that Empire; and he was at that moment surrounded by men who can powerfully help to the fulfilment of his dream. The High Commissioner for New Zealand was sitting by his side.

It was your father’s inspiration to "Carry On!"

Those who were present on that occasion will read again in your book the words which they heard from