THE GRAND HOTEL FIRE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 130, 3 June 1901, Page 2

THE GRAND HOTEL FIRE.

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. The funeral of the victims' of the ; Grand Hotel fire took place yesterday j afternoon at Purewa Cemetery. The funeral cortege left Mr Little's, Hob-: eon-street, at 2.15 p.m.. the remains j of the. Three little children being placed i In one hearse, the coffin* of the two J elder girls resting on the floor, and ; that of the yonnges! being placed on a ' platform suspended from the roof, j ■while in a second hearse the body of j Miss Wallace was carried, her funeral ; "being held with that of the others, at j J,Jr JohnstonV request. The coffins j of the children were covered with white j embossed velvet, mounted with silver. | Miss Wallace's coffin being covered j with black cloth, the mountings being | Of silver. X^xnbers of floral emblem- j WC re placed around the coffins, while *he tops of the hearses were complete^ I covered. Twelve boys belonging oHt ana 0. Carter, former friends o iilSe££ all being beau £dy S T?l^ oSVSrnorte^; Lotn'Campbell, and Mrs CanjpJHi SndMrn Stuart StephensonjPrinc SXs of St. Andrew's Sunda School, Sisters and oh> Idren of St. Vary's High School. "Inres Little Kharland, Miss Alice Morse, Mr Fb. gilly (Wellington). Dr. and Mrs Williais,Mr S.Ho,keth, "Uncle *on Mr ■Duncan Simpson. Mr and Mrs Charles Grey, Mr A. Ridding (Government Mouse), Orphans' Club, Mr J. n. Jamieim (Gisborne), Grand \«c boardinghouse, Mr and Mrs W j. Kalph, Mrs and Miss Maedonald, M Percy Denton, Mr P, 11. Dix, Messrs Campbell d Ehrenfried. Great, Noithem Brewery, Mr and Mrs A. Kidd, the Endean family, Mr and Mrc' End^n, Air and Mrs Charles Lindsay, Mr Edwua Pyrke, Mr and Mrs R. Scott, and Mr J. Kolleston. Special wreaths were laid upon Misa Wallace's coffin by Mr and Mrs Alex. Johnston, Mr Duncan Simpson, Mr U Donald, the staff of the Imperial Hotel, and Miss Alice Morse. The crowd at Hobsomstre.et was so dense that preliminaries were somewhat delayed. The footpaths on the ■way to the church were lined with people. On arrival at St. Andrew's the four coffins, led by the minister (Rev. Henry B. Gray) were carried into the church through a double row of Sunday School scholars, who fell in at the rear and followed up the aisle. The congregation stood up as the mournful procession entered the church, men, •women and children weeping unrestrainedly. The coffins were deposited in front of the pulpit. Mr J. H. Philpott playing meanwhile "Blest are the Departed," from Spohr's "Last Judgment Dirge." The minister then pronounced the opening pfayer. after which the hymn "Thy Will Be Done" was sung, St Andrew's and St. Paul's church choirs leading. Appropriate scriptural passages were then read, after which a second prayer was offered up, "There is a Better Land" concluding the service. The cortege left for Purewa shortly before three o'clock, the hearses being followed by about 70 vehicles. Mr Johnston and his little son were the chief mourners, the Rev. Gray accompanying them. In the remaining carriages were the managers and churchwardens of St. Andrew's, the Sunday School BuperLntendents and pall-bearers, the staff of the Grand Hotel, Miss Wallace's pall-bearers, four representatives of the Great Northern Brewery, the Eev. Father Patterson, Messrs F. Tomlinson and A. Stewart (Parnell hotelkeepers), Mr E. Granditon and family, Miss Gurney (a shipmate of Miss Wallace's from Home), and Mr Priestley, Mr Moss Davis, and three sons, boarders at Grand Vue (two carriages), Messrs R. Scott and A. Kohn, Mr Quinn and family, Messrs liideling, Barwell and Lloyd (Government House), and all the leading hotelkeepers and members of the brewing interest, besides representatives of. other trades and professions, and private citizens. The service at the grave was conducted by the Eev. Gray, the three children being placed in one grave, and Miss Wallace in a grave adjoining.

MEMORIAL SERVICE.

A memorial service was conducted at St. Andrew's last evening. The service was very impressive, and at the conclusion the organist (Mr W. Culpan) played the "Dead March" in "Saul," the congregation standing. The hymns were: "When Our Heads are Bowed With Woe," "I'm But a Stranger Here," "There is No Night in Heaven," and "Now the Day is Over." The preacher chose his text from Hebrews vii. 25, "Able to save,'* and in concluding his address said: I have chosen these words as my text because for the last three days they have been ringing in my ears, "Able to save." They are indeed among the most gladsome words that have ever fallen from human lips. But, alas! these are not the words that have been upon our lips during the past two days. As we have looked upon that scene of desolation, the terrible tragedy of Friday morningl has overwhelmed us. We have thought of the little children perishing in the flames, and of the strong men down below anguished and horror-stricken, and the -words of tragic import have risen unbidden to our lips, "Unable to cave." Love enough was there. Passionate desire to bur&t through the flames and rescue the perishing. But the power was lacking. We are etiil too bewildered by the awful calamity which has fallen upon us to be able to think and speak of it calmly. But certain things are dear, and ought to be said. For one thing, I am sure this community desires to fepeak with ao uncertain sound to those who gnide our affaire. I am BUre we wish them to understand that, dost what it may, such a calamity as this must be made for ever impossible in the City of Auokland. We demand of those we have put into power th*t now there shall be an end to all delay, and pr.o-

orastination in this connection. We do not wish our money squandered, but L am sure not oiip in this city but will gladly contribute his .share in order that such calamities may occur no more. What is money when it i, thn lives of our little children thai are at stake? What man in all the crowd that on Friday morning watched those erne! greedy flames would not have -riven .'ill he had ro read. those little children and carry iht-.n into safety? I'.uf the past is irreparable. Our concern now is with the future, anrl ! am sun- all here agree thai tlii- community—thrilling with pain and pity because of what has occurred—demands, as with one voice that provision— -complete and adequate so far an men can make itshall be made for such emergencies in this town. As a Christian congiedition it become.- us to express uiir deepest sympathy with the mourning and -nfrcrine-. Very farnwtly pray that the injured may be restored to health; we pray th.it Cod wilt comfort all afflicted relatives, bur n'Ost of all do our sympathy and prayers go forth on behalf of the parents who this day have laid the remains of three beloved children in the grave. For theirs is a sorrr.v thnt cannot be assuaged by heln of man. In the presence of siich rrrief wn:>t can we do but point them to Cod? May Cod help them to believe that their dear children have pone to n happier home and a fonder love than any they could ever know on earth.