THE FUNERAL.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18380, 13 May 1925, Page 8

THE FUNERAL.

ROUTE OF CORTEGE.

WELLINGTON P. AND T. OFFICES

CLOSING.

(PSKSS ASSOCIATION TBUSOIUM.)

WELLINGTON, May 12.

The funeral procession will loave Parliament Buildings at 1 p.m. on Thursday. " A motor hearse will be used. The use of a gun-carriage was suggested, but the idea was abandoned owing to the extra time required by such a vehicle to cover the seven-mile route to Point HalsweU.

The funeral will go by way of Newtown and Constable street over the hill into Kilbirnio, thenco following the shores of Evans Bay round to Shelly Bay, whence the cortege will make a detour up the hillside.

Tho hoarse will not bo ablo to approach nearer than 500 yards to the grave. Bands will be stationed at intervals along the route, and the "Last Post" will bo sounded by a trumpeter at the graveside. The control of traffic during tho progress of the cortege is likely to prove a troublesome matter owing to the narrow roadway alongside the water's edge after passing the Miramar Wharf. To obviate congestion it is being arranged that motor-cars will continue on from the point at which passengers will get out to go up the hillside and will travel round through Seatoun back to the Evans Bay road and so proceed a second time past the original stopping point to pick up passengers after the graveßide ceremony is completed. Some relief of congestion on tho road Will be afforded by the ferry steamers making special runs to Point HalsweU. / There will be no Masonic ceremony at the graveside, but a Court of Mourning will bo held at the Town Hall on Thursday forenoon in memory of Mr Massey, who was Grand Master of the Now Zealand Constitution. In order to allow as many officers as possible to attend the funeral, it has been decided to close the telephone exchange in Wellington, and all post and telegraph offices in the city and suburbß, from 1 p.m. to 5 pan. on Thursday. The guhpit at Point HalsweU, which is being converted into a tomb for tho late' Prime Minister, is about 100 feet above the water, and was constructed in 1886. It occupies the most commanding point in the harbour, and was suggested as the site for tho soldiers' memorial. An eight-inch gun occupied the pit, but it has been dismounted and rolled down the hillside. The Rev. G. Miller, Moderator of the Presbyterian General Assembly of New Zealand, was a passenger by the second express last evening oh bis way to "Wellington to officiate at the funeral of tie late Prime Minister.

(JHRISTCHURCH REPRESENTATIVES.

WREATHS FROM CANTERBURY.

Mr'E. X'Howard, MJP., one of : the Parliamentary Labour Party's whips, left for Wellington last night to assist in the arrangements for the' attendance of members of the party at the funeral. Amongst prominent business men who will attend the funeral of the Prime Minister are:— . ' ' *■

Mr W. Machin, president, will .represent the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce.

Mr J. H. Blaekwell> president, and Mr P. B. Glimie, organiser, will represent the Canterbury Progress League. Mr H. Pbarce, chairman, and ,Mr Prank Thompson; general manager, will represent the Christchurch Tramway Board.

Mr Arnaud MoKellar will represent the Canterbury Employers' Association. Mr David Joneß, chairman of the Meat Export Control Board, will attend the funeral. !

There is every indication that a Tery large number of wreaths will bo sent from Canterbury for Mr Massey's funeral. Christchurch florists report a busy time during the past day or two in preparing' wreaths that have been ordered for the funeral. Tho wreath from the citizens of Christchurch was on view yesterday. ..It is a large Wreath,-consisting of superb whito chrysanthemums, with a magnificent spray of arum lilies and erica willmoreanna, and fronds of fern. The inscription reads: "A token' of respect, appreciation, and sorrow from tho Mayor, councillors, and citizens of Christehu^eh. ,, Another beautiful wreath has been designed for the Summer Borough Council, and bears the inscription:— "An expression of our sorrow, from the Mayor, councillors, and residents of Sumner." A wreath from the Cust School Committee bears the inscription: "In respectful memory and sympathy, from tho Cust School Committee (North Canterbury)."

The Plunket Society wreath bears a ribbon with the following inscription: "With the sympathy of the Central Council of the Plunket Soeiety, on behalf of all the branches." Wreaths have been made for both the Heathcoto and the Waimairi County Councils, and also for the' Industrial Association of Canterbury. Mr James Young, Curator of the Christchurch Domain, has made a wreath for the Domains Board, and forwarded it to Wellington last night.

CLOSING OF BUSINESS PLACES. ATTITUDE OP CHAMBER OP COMMERCE SHOPS TO CLOSE ALL DAT.

Concerning the closing of business premises for the whole day to-morrow the attitude of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce was explained to a reporter yesterday by the secretary, Mr P. B. Climie.

As a token of respect to the Prime Minifltor, Mr Climie said, the Chamber thought that if business premises wero closed... for half a day enable busfueas t>«ople and their employees to at-

tend the memorial Nnu/SI have been preferable to SJ—whole day, whieh PMa|»SEHH to look upon in the Iu view of the unanimoai Mayor and City C*mtiT3!W£m citizens to observe the *hri3a3llil the wish of the Chamber decision and to ask likewise. ; * 'vsw To-morrow will be ob«mtf3§ffll day by the offices of thejKlfillliil solicitors, the North GutS&SSiilf ber Merchants' terbury Retail Mercers' and Boot iShSfcJffWWl tion. the chants' Association. tfcTsZS'SB sellers' Association, tfc«,'sSLi™» chore' Association, the <sr«S? ; 2w ention, the lers' Association, and the HkS-JiWI and Tobacconists' !"* nsec ? are requestedTbTttTsSi Victuallers' Association hotols from 1 p.nu till 3 A WREATH FROM CABINET. ' 381 (spsou. to "va nam?oM fH WELLINGTON; lfc|| H The city continues to of the Prime Minister, aaiwflSl ment Houso preparation ia for the lying in State. Among the first wreaths t* snteili 1 one from the Governor-Ge&etsltliiS 1 Alice Fergusson, and anotter»fil|fli Prime Minister of EngUaj aMttmS 1 of his Cabinet. /SSHI FREEMASONS* PAK§||| SERVICE FOUND IMPOSSIjS (übcui. to "ng nm^"!t^B WELLINGTON, tttjfjß It has been found that stances connected with Mr4*tji§jfij| obsequies are such that it'''wiHmi possible to hold, a Masonk around the grave. The BatterljiSl cussed in Wellington htilwftjfjyi Masonic authorities and nfmbenflra Government, and though AnTtiihlfjß desirous of giving the facility- for paying their last fawHw affection to their dtwemd flM|M| was agreed on both sides tWtgsga crowding that will be fing a State funeral in the. fw§si spaoo available on the hM *lPßffl| Masonic service could not out with the necessary degrWjnra pressiveness, and that it *o4tvn| fore be omitted. S &3£9 H

The Graft will, howeTer, ImjuhH represented among the """ify'TOfflß Grand Lodge itself will Jut'dßSjaßH presented by the Deputy''6r|igil£|fiß (Mr E. H. Richmond} ■»*■ TfijjM Dougall, of Chriatehnrah," M qH|l|W| Grand Master of New Z*4lßti§NHM been allotted prominent ■lbSb§Bb|| the graveside. Further, it tlßfiffiffi cided that Lodges of held in all the Procip&l "eiesmi|rafi Dominion on dates to W'^S^wß ALL HOTELS TO > HOUFB. ". * } ji (fuss Assocxitnw huhh^B W£LLINGTON,jH| Mr Percy Coylo, prwridqmMl||JM New Zealand Licensed iflH

Association, states that it hwBHHIB aided to close the hotels tfct<K|{Ml| Dominion, on Thursday 3 pan., out of respect to the"|pff||H the late Prime Minister. 9H AUCKLAND, All places of busmem .tri^gnHH will be closed at 1p Jn. on TftipfprnM the rest of the day. » '.JSBBIII MAORI SENTIMB?pffI FAREWELL, GIANT °? fjßi FOREST. ?IBH

truss Assocnnox TaOTttjjpsl NAPD3R.36||g JLurupo Tareha has sent the fISH message to the Native Mmtt*e||H| half' of tho Ngatikahunguno tJBBI Kindly convoy to Mrs MmmH family our deepest and sympathy and sorrow in bereavement. We mourn the fafjgfi great man, a loss to the fimdnH New Zealand, and to Pakeh* a»||H| Farewell, thou giant of the In whose enfolding £l||l|j Wo, thy children, in tbe patfmßlj|j Sure shield from the win^a||iiH And the stormy blast. fiiffl Farewell, O noble spirit! * JaH Depart thou hence from «*rtfc&P§lßJ To eternal shades oar aiioestOi*jMH| And find surcease from tofl'wlnH Farewoll, our friend in And friend indeed! .jJhH Depart thou hence with wegtJtdJUa Our woeful dirge andd^W^^H Lift ye up to Heaven in voice cttMM Farowell, O noble chief, faiw^ra

"A GREAT ENGLISHM43iJ|| (■raexu. to "n ma-*) iSm The Arawa Trust Board »*'"l|lH has sent the following mes«agfts|§|ffl Minister for Native Affair*, J. 6. Coates: "New Zealand VjgnH and grandest Rangatira hat *Wjflß and to his Government he leweyjjH loved land and all his ideals u*M| trust. Therefore be strong, as *JBM strong, in our country's hoar The Arawas share with the GorisgH their sorrow and grief at JSHj away of a great patriot, a great MMm man, and a true friend of ttf^jHj WEST COAST OBSERVA!^ isfbcui. to "tmx zasaa-l &8H GREYMOX7TH, MJjJll The heads of West Coast frai|jj|g are leaving by the special morrow to attend the funeral *"§J|B| memorial service in TOBNHHIh Thursday. . v ?lllll Shone! and hotels are <*gglM Thursday. Expressions of hare been forwarded ea fc*Ns¥lßßP the local bodies of the Grey "§|@|[