MR CONNOLLY’S FUNERAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 302, 4 October 1935, Page 6

MR CONNOLLY’S FUNERAL.

LARGEST IN COUNTY’S HISTORY.

ALL CLASSES REPRESENTED'. Evidence of the high esteem in which Mr Jeremiah Connolly, M.P., was held, not only in Mid-Canterbury, hut also in other parts of the Dominion, was afforded at his funeral, which took place at Rakaia this morning. The funeral was attended by people from practically every walk in life, and the cortege was the largest ever seen in the Ashburton County. The floral tributes were very numerous and beautiful, and special conveyances had to be provided for their transport. Immediately on arrival of the casket from Christchurch, Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Ita’s (Catholic) Church, where there was a very large . congregation, many people being unable to gain admission. Bishop Brodie, of Christchurch, presided!, and Mass . was celebrated by Father Brown, of Methven. Others assisting at the service were Dr. Kennedy (Christchurch), Dean O’Donnell (Ashburton), Fathers Fogarty (Geraldine), Outrim (Temuka), Andersen (Christchurch), M’Guire (Christchurch), Deyoy (Christchurch), Vibart (Christchurch), Creed .(Leeston), Kelly (Ashburton), Hanrahau (Riccarton), Halby (Hawarden), Madden (Leeston), McKay (Rangiora), Lorden (Sumner), Kilgour (Riccarton) and Daly and Joyce (Addington). After the service the long cortege made its way to the cemetery, where a very large gathering had assembled - to pay their last respects. The service at the graveside was conducted by Bishop Brodie, who eulogised Mr Connolly’s service to the district. He made special reference to the .assistance Mi Connolly had given in many directions. All appeals made to him met with a generous mind. - As the funeral passed from the church, the children of St. Ita’s School were lined up as a tribute to Mr Connolly. The chief mourners were Messrs J. S. Connolly, -J. L. Connolly and T. Connolly, of Rakaia, Miss T. Connolly, of Christchurch, Mrs J. T. Connolly, of Christchurch, and Mrs W. Moore, ol Waitohi. -.ram The hearers were Messrs M. b. iurton (Ashburton), J. Maling (Christchurch), O. M. Bruce (Christchurch), M. D. Cunneen (Ashburton), J- Lysaght (Geraldine) and W. Connolly (Oamaru). The Government was represented by the Hon. R. Masters (Minister of Industries and .Commerce), who was _■ accompanied by his private secretary (Mr Sleight), and the following Members of Parliament were also present: Messrs H. S. S. Kyle (Riccarton), RW. Hawke (Kaiappi), E. F. Healey (Wairau), P. C. Webb (Bulter), O. Carr (Timaru), D. McDougall' (Mataura), and H. T. Armstrong (Christchurch East). Mr H. G. Livingstone, of Christchurch, represented the National Political Federation. Amongst the large number of people representing all parts of Canterbury were: Mr A. E. Langdale Hunt (Paparua County Council), Mr R. T. McMillan (Lyttelton Harbour Board, Leeston A. and P. Association, and United Wheat Growers’ Association), Mr B. Grant (Stock Inspector, Agricultural Department), Sir W. Nosworthy, Messrs W. C. Brydon (Christchurch manager), W. Williamson (Ashburton manager), D. Lawson and J. Cuneen (of the National Mortgage and Agency Company), W. Machin (general manager) and E. W. M. Cole (Ashburton manager), of New Zealand Farmers’ iCo.-op.; W. A. Fleming (Timaru manager) and H. E.~ Parsons (Ashburton manager), of Pyne, Gould, Guinness; John McGibbon (Christchurch), iP. L. Porter (manager Bank of New Zealand, Christchurch); L. Cotterill, A. F. Wright (Christchurch), A. A. McDonald (manager of Wright, Stephenson and Co., Ashburton), J. Trevor Thomas, E. F. Nieoll (chairman) and H. G. Kemp secretary), Ashburton Electric Power Board : W. H. Woods (Mayor) and W. Patterson (Town Clerk), Ashburton Borough Council; D. J. Morrow (chairman),- R. Houston, F. Frampton, James Carr, J. Moore, H. J. Crothers (members), G. Kelly (Clerk) and E. N. Johnson (Inspector), of the Ashburton County Council; W. B. W. Bell (secretary) and A. Mitchell, of “Ashburton Guardian” ; W. G. Gallagher (chairman) and Alex. Prentice (secretary), of Ashburton Hospital Board; J. W. Bowden (High School Board), T. Stringer (manager of Dalgety and Co., Ashburton) ; A. F. Marr, W. E. Hampton, R. J. S. Wilson, J. J. Ruddenklau (members), A. G. Foreman (clerk), of Mount Hutt Road Board; A. P. Bruce (Ashburton A. and P. Association and Mid-Canterbury Executive of Farmers’ Union)'; A. L. Jones (chairman), Ashburton Technical High School Board, and representatives of every business house, public institution and sports body in Rakaia; M. Turton, James Bruce, George Hardy (Rakaia), J. F. . Stone i(Methven), J. P., James and Jas. McQuilkin, jun., and John McQuilkin, A. Biishell, Rev. D. B. Ashford, Messrs R. W. Wightman |(Mount Hutt), W. R. Hammond, R. Kennedy, R. J. Tucker, E. H. Orr, T. ID. Cochrane, A. Brown, W. Rankin, W. R. Lane, Nl L. Mcßeth, J. W. Smith. • W. Samuels, Dl Jones, R. M. Dunlop, Steve Madden and Frank Madden, fi. Morris, J. Shaw, E. B. Newton, D. A. Moi’gan, P. Brown, W. Giddings (Ealing); R. D. Robinson, J. Cocks, F. W. Seldon, Sid. Osborne, J. W. Halliday, W. H. Wilkinson, J. Murdoch (Mayfield), W. Bruce, A. Shaw, T. Parish, G. L. Nell (Cheviot Hills), R. Nell Staveley), P. J. Mowat (Fairton), Rudd (Ashburton Labour Party).

The Floral Tributes. The following; floral tributes were received:—Methven Trotting Club, executive and members of Ashburton Returned Soldiers’ Association, Methr ven Football Club, Ellesmere A. and P.

Association, Mr and Mrs C. Carrigan, J. Christie (Wellington)/ manager and

directors Canterbury Frozen Meat Co., stewards of Methven Trotting Club, chairman and members of Mount Hutt Road Board, Ashburton Choral Society, Mr and Mrs R. Kennedy and family (Ashburton), Mr and Mrs. A. A. McDonald (Ashburton), staff of Dalgety and Co., Doreen Cordner, Mr and Mrs E. B. Newton (Ashburton), Rakaia. Motor Transport Service, chairman and members of the Ashburton County Council, Mr H. S. Lawrence,

Ashburton Hospital Board, L. R. Taylor and family (Fairton), D. J. Shea and Peter, Mr P. C. Webb, Tatterson family (Rakaia), members of Parliamentary Press Gallery, Rakaia Ladies’. Hockey Club, Rakaia Bowling Club, Southbridge unemployed, Ellesmere ■Gun Club, Rakaia Athletic and Cycling Club, Jim and N. Langley, Ashburton Fanciers’ Society, Rakaia Tennis Club, Rakaia Ploughing Match Association, Mr and Mrs E. Smith and family (Papanui), Mr and Mrs McKechnie, Ashburton District Women’s Institute, manager and staff of N.Z. Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., J. and M. Langley, pupils of St. Ita’s School, R. Baker and family, J. P. McKendry, Mr and Mrs S. G. Holmes, Fred, Katie and family, private secretaries of Ministers of the Crown, Wee John and Mary, Mrs Cordner (Christchurch), John and Maud Marshall (England), Mr and Mrs W. J. Owers and family, manager and staff of the National Mortgage and Agencyl Co., Mr and Mrs and Hector Reid, Ashburton Borough Council, Mr and Mrs W. Kidd, Dunsandel Sports Club, John and Mary, Tom, J. Shaw, North Rakaia Road Board, Shirley Thomson and family, Ashburton Trotting Club, J. A. Hart, Steve and Ella, Mr and Mrs L. Derrett (Hororata), Mrs Connolly, Bill and Eileen, Mr and Mrs W. Moore and family, Teresa and Gerald, manager and staff of the National Mortgage and Agency Co. (Christchurch), directors of the “Ashburton Guardian,” Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), Cheviot Hills employees, Rakaia Plunket Society, Rakaia, Post and Telegraph, Mr and Mrs B. McNamara, J. W. Earl and family, Sir Francis Bell and family, Rakaia Guides and Brownies, Lauriston cricket and tennis clubs, school and hall committees, H. Matson and Co., Kereone Tlbckey Club (Rakaia), Mr and Mrs W. T. Langley and Olive, Murchison Bros., Mr and Mrs M. C. Morrison and family, members of the Government party, directors of Pyne, Gould, Guinness, Ltd. (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs J. Park (Gisborne), Ashburton Electric Power Board, staff of Ashburton Farmers’ Coop. Association, Mr and Mrs H. C. Thompson (Dunedin), Midland Hotel staff, Jean and Ede, chairman and members of the Ashburton County Coucnil, Mr and Mrs J. Turton, Le Olerc Latter (Kaikoura), Mr and Mrs G. Furby and family, Advance Ashburton Association, manager and staff of Dalgety’.s, Ltd,. (Ashburton), Mr and Mrs H. C. Nelson, Convent Olcl Girls’ Basketball Club (Rakaia), Mr and Mrs Melville Turton (Ashburton), Ashburton Racing Club, Mr and Mrs Nell and family, Nieoll Bros. (Ashburton), J. T. Thomas (Ashburton), Ashburton Boxing Association, South Rakaia Road Board, Mr and Mrs P. Hanrahan, Rakaia Golf Club, Lees Valley friends, Rakaia Football Club, Mr and Mrs A. Fox and Miss Fox, Rakaia Horticultux'al Society, W. T. Carruthers, Hilton School Committee, pupils and staff, Chertsey, Pendarves, Rakaia, Dorie and Lauriston group Women’s Institute, Arthur Bushell, Canterbury Farmers’ Co-op, Association (Geraldine), Mr and Mrs C. C. Holmes, Chertsey Tennis Club, Mr and Mrs H. E. Parsons, Mr and Mrs T. Stringer, Kathlyn and Eleanor.

THE GOVERNOR’S SYMPATHY.

MESSAGES FROM LEADERS. Mr J. S. Connolly received the following telegram from his Excellency the Governor-General (Loi’d Galway) yesterday:—

“Lady Galway and: I were very much grieved to learn of the sudden death last evening of your father, Mr J. Connolly, and we desire to convey to you and all the members of your family our most sincere sympathy.”

Among hundreds of telegrams received from all parts of New Zealand were one from the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes), Minister of Finance (Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates) and the leader of the Labour Party (Mr M. J. Savage).