BURIAL AT POINT HALSWELL

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 112, 14 May 1925, Page 8

BURIAL AT POINT HALSWELL

A RAINY MORNING. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Heavy rain set in at 10 a.m., but ceased by 11 o'clock. The weather bureau reports that there is a very slight prospect of the weather clearing during the afternoon.

Throughout the morning messengers carving floral tributes wended their way to Parliament House. There is nn enormous number of wreaths, the flornl testimony to the memory of the dead Prime Minister being magnificent.

Despite the rain, many hundreds passed by the catafalque this morning to pay their last respect to the dead. AH shops and business places are closed, only necessary work being carried on. It is estimated that 20.000 persons visited Parliament House yesterday.

Among the appreciations published arc two by the 'Speakers of both Houses. Sir Wm. Cnrncross lays stress on Mr. Mnssev's fairness and the fact that he was the only Prime Minister who had ever called to the Council men opposed to him in politics. He did much to Taise the prestige of the Council. Hon. C. E. Stntham speaks of Mr. Massey's capacity for work and unswerving loyalty to King and country.

: THE LAST SAD JOURNEY. (By Telegraph.-Special to "Star.") WELLINGTON, this day. The written tributes to the late Prime Minister demonstrated his hold on the affections of the people. All day yesterday the public showed in its thousands a desire to pay its respectful token of sympathy and esteem by visiting Parliament Buildings, to pass around the bier on which reposed the body of the dead statesman. At one period of the afternoon a long line of silent people, three deep, extended from the main steps of Parliament, across the spacious drive, down the carriage way, and several hundred yards along Lambton Quay. The funeral arrangements were carefully planned by a committee of Ministers, whose active executive has been Mr. James Hislop (UnderSecretary of Internal Affairs), assisted by the police, military, and city traffic foroe. Order of the Procession. The order of the procession shows a strict regard for precedence, and indicates that the cortege must contain nt lea-st six hundred cars. It will be as follows: — Hearse and coffin. Cars containing wreaths. Family car. The King's car, containing the King's representative and representative from Government House. Ministers' Cars, ex-Prime Ministers, leader of the opposition, leader of the Labour party. Naval commodore and military commandant. Judges and ex-judges of the Supreme Court. The Speaker and members of the Legislative Council. The Speaker and members of the House of Representatives. Ex-meml ers of Parliament. Freemasons. Foreign Consuls. The Mayor of Wellington. Naval and military officers. Representatives of the Franklin electorate. Magistrates. Heuds of departments of the Public Service. Private secretaries of Ministers. Representatives of Maori chiefs. Justices of the Peace Association. Mayors, chairmen, and representatives of counties, municipalities, hospitals, and Harbour Boards and local authorities. Representatives of the clergy of the various denominations. Salvation Army. L ~ ___

Representatives of the Reform Party. Executive of the veterans. Returned soldiers. Trades and industrial unions. The Navy T eague. Representatives of the Press. Graduates and professors of L'nivcr-

Boards of education. Tho Educational Institute. The Law Society. The medical profession. Chambers of Commerce. Representatives of banks. Friendly societies. Sailors' Friend Society. Rotary and kindred clubs. Young Men's Christian Association. Representatives of the racing and trotting conferences, and racing representatives, etc. Veterans' Guard of Honour. A Post of Honour. Tho Returned Soldiers' Association made representations to the authorities that it wished to pay its respects to "one who had always shown his active sympathy and care for our soldiers." They were joined by South African veterans, nnd will be given the post of honour by being placed in line from Parliament Building steps, through the grounds, and into l.ambton Quay. Then the line will be continued by the Boy Scouts. When the hearse passes the veterans they will leave the line, fall into parallel with the cortege, and thus provide an escort through the city. At Courtney Place the veterans will "leave the procession, standing lo attention while the long cortege passes on its way to Point llalswell.

The Funeral Service. The la-it journey will commence at 1 p.m. It will be preceded by the funeral service, which, if the weather is fine, will he held on the steps of Parliament Buildings. It will be conducted by the Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly, the Rev. George Miller, and the Rev. J. Gibson Smith. Space will be provided for many hundreds of the general public in the grounds of Parliament.

Eight bands will be stationed at various points along the route. The Eirs. Battalion Band, at Point Halswell, as the solemn cortege approaches the gun pit, where the casket is to be deposited, will render the late Prime Minister's favourite hymn, "Nearer, my God, to Thee." The two clergymen named will read the remaining portion of the burial service at the graveside, and a Wellington College cadet will sound the La-st Post.

The plateau on which the old fort stands will accommodate several thousand people, but direct access by car will be impossible, as there i-s no turning place, and the grade is steep. It is intended that the hearse shall deviate from the procession, in order to take a hill road, whic.i will bring it to a point overlooking the plateau. The casket will then he placed on the gun carriage, and hauled by military officers to near the site of the interment, wher a naval detachment from H.M.s. Dunedin will take over that sad duty.

The Resting Placq. Point Halswell is backed by a long ridge running at a high elevation a mile inland. The hill drops to a plateau 120 feet above sea level, where the old fort was constructed. The old gun pit, which once housed a disappearing gun, i-s the grave. The casket will be deposited there, and taken by the tunnel into the hillside, where, in the centre of a scries of magazines built strongly of concrete, it will lie in a ready prepared vault.

An immense amount of work has been done hurriedly to prepare the site for its sad purpose, and to make provision for the safety of the thousands who will attend the funeral. It was necessary to make a road from Hill Road, leading down to the plateau, and securely fence the level ground to prevent spectators falling over the surrounding cliffs. Public works men were employed, and a lar"e gang of prisoners from the neighbouring Borstal Institute also gave a willing hand. It can be taken as a fine tribute for these men to the dead leader of Parliament that they voluntarily gave up the regulation hours, started willingly at 6.30 a.m., and worked till dark °o"n Wednesday, -so that the fencing and paths should be adequately made.

A MASONIC SERVICE

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. Mrs. Massey and family having expressed their deßire that there should be a Masonic service at the grave, arrangements have therefore been made to enable Masonic brethren to conduct a service. The brethren at the grave will be confined to Grand Lodge officers, and Rev. Brother Shirer will officiate.