FUNERAL OF CONSTABLE MACDONNELL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 154, 1 July 1901, Page 2

FUNERAL OF CONSTABLE MACDONNELL.

The remains of Constable Luke MaeDonnell, whose death was announced in our Saturday's issue, were interred this afternoon in the Symonds-street cemetery. The body was removed to the Church of the Sacred Heart, Ponsonby, this morning, where a solemn requiem mass was celebrated by Dr. Egan. After a brief service, attended by Bishop Lcnihan, the coffin left the church at 2.30 o'clock this afternoon, all the city police off duty, under Inspector Cullen, attending1, as well as members of the Hibernian Society, of which deceased had been a member for 24 years. Deceased was laid to rest in the Symonds-street cemetery, beside the body of his late brother. Constable MacDonnell has been ill for over a year, his complaint having been caused by exposure at the Great Barrier Island after the wreck of the Wairarapa. Deceased was all day searching for and coffining bodies of the drowned, and at night, with Sergeant Gamble, he lay on the ground on a fern bed, consumption and other internal complaints being caused. Constable MacDonnell came to New Zealand in the seventies, and after working on a run at the Chathams came up to Auckland, where he was in the employ of Messrs Winstone. Twenty five years ago he joined the police force, beig employed continuously in Auckland as lockup-keeper, wharf policeman, and later in charge of the Ponsonby station. L> was a universal favourite, being extremely charitable and kind hearted, and sincere regret was expressed on all hands when it became known that his illness was bound to have a fatal termination. For the past, twelve months deceased was never free from pain, but he bore up with wonderful fortitude. His wife and five daughters nursed him throughout since his return from the hospital, where four operations were performed on him. On the day before his death deceased took an affectionate leave of his wife. and daughters, and expressed gratitude to Inspector Cullen, Commissioner Tunbridge, and to his friends fo r kindness shown during his illness. He commenced to sink at midnight on Friday, and passed away on Saturday afternoon. Dr. Egan at high mass yesterday highly eulogised the deceased, and besought the prayers of the congregation for him. The flags of the shipping in port were flown at half mast yesterday, the constable having made himself very popular while on wharf duty.