FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR WM. CROWTHER.

Auckland Star, Issue 66, 19 March 1900, Page 3

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR WM. CROWTHER.

The remains of the late Mr Wm. Crowther, M.H.8., were interred on the grassy slopes of Purewa Cemetery on Saturday afternoon. There was a

large and representative attendance of citizens and settlers present to pay their last mark of respect to a good citizen, also many of deceased's oldest

employees. In all over 40 carriages and traps followed the hearse. The chief mourners, in the first carriage, were Albert, William, Harold and Clifford Crowther, four sons of deceased; the second carriage was occupied by Mr C. B. Plummer (son-in-law), Mr J. Sykes (cousin), and Mr David Stafford

(brother-in-law). The Rev. Wm. Beatty (Vicar of St. Mark's), Rev. A. F. Smith, Mr D. Goldie (the Mayor), Mr H- W. Wilson (Town Clerk), and Councillors Alfred Kidd, Chas. Grey, F. E. Baume, 11. Salmon, Chas. Hesketh, .'I. Patterson, J. Jamieson, J. Stichbury, R. Parrel], .1. Courtney, Y. Warren and Mr J. Lovell were also present. Sir Geo. Maurice O'Rorke represented the University College, and among many other mourners present were the Hon. A. J. Cadman, Hon. W. Swauson, Hon. W. T. Jennings, Hon. T. Thompson, Mr Geo. Fowlds, M.H.R., Mr J. Bollard. M.H.R., Mr Frank Lawry, M.H.R., Mr W. F. Massey, M.H.R., Archdeacon Dudley, Canon Nelson, Messrs Thos. Cotter, A. E. Devore. S. Hesketh, J. T. Julian, R. Udy, J. H. Upton, Arthur M. Myers, L. D. Nathan, R. Cameron, W. H. Smith, R, Warnock, R. T. Warnock (Mayor of Grey Lynn), R. Hobbs (Chairman Board of Education), J. J. Craig, Thos. Peacock, A. Atkin, E. Atkin (Cousins and Atkin), Henry Johnston, J. Howden, Thos. Ching, B. Armitage, Wm. McLaughlin, A. li. Grainger, W. J. Cousins (Cousins and Cousins). C. J. Stone, Robt. Hall, J. Chambers, A. Clements, Oliver Mays, A. Bell, Robt Scott, J. A. Pond, R. Hellaby, J. M. Shera, J. L. Holland, J. Mason, W. Lynch, Belcher Brothers, S. Tylden, W J. Speight, W. 11. Martin. J. R. Martin,' J. Wigmore, Geo. McCaul, J. R. Walters. Rev. J. M. Devenish.

Among those present were also a number of old employees who had worked for many years and were much attached to deceased, including Messrs W. Bowden, Thos. Talbot, S. Cammick Oreenan, S. Cormick, W. Boe-g-s D* Duff, O. McGinn and Louie You '

A large number of employees of Messrs Cousins and Atkin were also present in a brake.

The coffin, whicli was covered in beautiful wreaths, sent by sorrowing friends, bore the following words on the inscription plate: "Wm. Crowther. Died March 15, 1900. Aged, 69 years." One lovely wreath was in the shape of a horseshoe, sent by Messrs Pullan and Armitage. The City Council, Mr r C\°, ldA e' 11 tbe Fire BrlS^e, Sargood's, \\ MeCullough, Atkin Bros., Arthur M. Myers, Chas. Hesketh. Geo. Fowlds Mesdames Pond, Moore-Jones, Miss Dmgwall and a host of others too numerous to mention sent lovely w_-eaths. J

.The coffin was borne'from the house to the hearse, and from the hearse to the mortuary chapel and the grave, by five of Mr Crowtehr's oldest employees (30 years' service), namely, Messrs D. Duff, W. Dryland, Thomas Greenan, W. Bogg and S. Cammick. The cortege moved away from the house soon after the appointed time On arrival at the mortuary at Purewa the burial service was conducted by the Rev. W. Beatty in an impressive manner. At the close he delivered the following address:—'All men who have pondered deeply and earnestly on death have associated with it the thought of rest. All through our mortal life we have a task to fulfil, a burden to bear, a journey to travel, and often the task seems beyond our powers, the burden too great for our strength, the journey too sore for our feet. It is only at a heavy cost to brain and nerve and muscle, that the work of the world goes on. And so, as we grow older, and the cares and responsibilities and sorrows of life increase, most of us at times long for rest. If the Bible and the deepest conviction of mankind are true, that longing is not a vain and idle wish, but is fulfilled when the spirit returns to God who gave it, and is delivered from the burden of the flesh. And it is not too much to say that if this hope of eternal, perfect rest, were quenched in the human heart, the strength' and savour of human life would be lost.

Rest in and with God, from Whom we came, in Whom we live, and to Whom we return, is the reward which can inspire and sustain all our earthly travail. Wot extinction, not oblivion, not sloth and idleness, but rest. Such thoughts may well occupy our minds as we stand near the remains of one who lived an active, strenuous, useful life, who was essentially a worker, whose chiefest aim was to do his duty as a man and a citizen in all the relations of life. Honesty, integrity, singleness of purpose, simplicity, practical wisdom, kindness, unselfishness, were the mtoin feature of his character. And that by these qualities he won and kept IJje respect, esteem, and confidence of his fellow citizens, in an age when outward show and pretence often count for so much, sterling worth for so little, is honourable alike to him and them."

Telegrams and letters of sympathy were received by Mrs Crowther and family from His Excellency the Governor, Lord Ranfurly, Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Rev. Lyttelton Fitzgerald (Christchurch), Rev. W. E. Gillam, Mr and Mrs Masefield,. Mr and Mrs Thos, Cottle and many others.

The following letter was sent from Bishop's Court by the Rev. E. M. Cowie:—"Dear Mrs Crowther: I am writing on behalf of the Primate and my mother, as well as of my wife and myself, to express our deep sympathy with you in jour sorrow. If anything can make your trouble less hard to boar it must be the thought of the respect everywhere felt for Mr Crowther. The Primate is away in Taranaki, otherwise he would have written himself. There is little one can say under such circumstances as yours; but it may help you a little to know that you have our sympathy and prayers." Archdeacon B. T. Dudley wrote to Mrs Crowther that his profound sympathy was with her and children. He had always respected and honoured Mr Crowther as a man who consistently strove to do righteousness, and was glad to support him in political matters.

His Excellency's private secretary, Captain Alexander, telegraphed to.Mrs Crowther:—"His Excellency and Lady Ranfurly are very sorry to hear of Mr Crowthe'r's death, and wish to express their sincere condolence to you in your sad loss." From the Premier: "Be--gret exceedingly to learn from the Press this morning that your dear husband h^s passed away. You have

lost a good husband, your children a kind parent, and New Zealand a sterling colonist. Kindly accept the heartfelt sympathy of Mrs Seddon and myself in your sad and irreparable loss of a devoted husband and my old and respected friend."

Telegrams were also received from Mr Charles Lewis (of Christchurch), Mr Joyce (Lyttelton), Bishop Cowie, the eommitee of the Hibernian sports. His Worship the Mayor (Mr David Goldie) received the following telegram from Sir Robert Stout: —"Would you kindly convey to relatives late Mr Crcwther my heartfelt sympathy in their bereavement. His sagacitjr, sterling character, and kindness, of heart were keenly appreciated by me."