LATE SIR CHARLES SKERRETT.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19622, 18 May 1929, Page 12

LATE SIR CHARLES SKERRETT.

FUNERAL IN LONDON. (from ove own correspondent.) LONDON, April 5. On Tuesday night the casket containing the body of the late Sir Charles Skerrett was taken to the Chapel of St. Gregory at the Westminster Catholic Cathedral. There it remained throughout the night covered with a New Zealand flag. When the . late Chief Justice died at sea on February 13th, the captain, officers, and' engineering staff of the Port Denison had this flag made, and it covered the casket during the remainder of the voyage. At 11.20 yesterday morning the coffin was removed to a position in front of the High Altar, and there followed that most impressive of services, the Mass for the Dead. About a hundred people attended the Mass. Many of these were New Zealanders; many of them tv ere official representatives. The chief mourners were: Mrs Compton, Miss Mary Skerrett, Miss Julia Skerrett (sisters), Sir James Conchife (brother-in-law), and Master Peter Compton (-nephew). The pallbearers were: —Sir James Parr, Lord Strathspey, Mr Cecil J. Wray, Mi Ja,nics Conchie, Master Peter Compton, and the Hon. H. C. Butler. The Rev. Father T. de Lusignon celebrated the Mass. Among the congregation were:—Col H. V. de Satg6 (representing the Secre tary of State for the Dominions) Major L. P. Havilland (representing the Governor-General af New Zealand)

Mr Harold Kitching Ellison (representing the High Commissioner for Australia), Viscount Falkland, Lord Trevor, Mrs L. S. Amery, Sir James and Lady Leigh-Wood, Lady Augusta Inskip, the Hon. H. C. Butler, Lieut.Col. N. FitzHerbert (representing the New Zealand Association) and Mrs FitzHerbert, the Master and the Chief Officer of the Port Denison, Mr W. Lvsnar, M.P., Mrs Cecil Wray, Mrs R. L D Kidston, Sir Charles Holdswortli, Mr Charles W. Clifford, Captain Sinclair Ross, Mr K. B. Kenny, Mr F. T. Sanford, Mr . A. Crabb, Mrs W fe. Ferguson, Mr E. Toms, Mr H. T. B. Drew Dr. and Mrs J. A. Mackinnon, Mr M. Laing, Mr F. W. Haybittle, Mrs Mortimer "Williams, Miss Nathan, Mr t Rogers, Mr A« Michie, Mrs Knox'' Gilmer, Mrs T. C. Williamson, Miss Kennedy, Mr J H. Rooper, Mr A. Richie, Mr C. H. Tripp, Mr J. F. PHtts Mills, Lieut.-Commander and Mrs H C. Graham Watson, Mr Robert Mill, Mr Robert Milligan, Mrs Hunt, Mr J- Wyndham Hopkins, Mr A. W. Wheeler. After the service the casket was carried down the great length of the Cathedral to the waiting cars a d the chief mourners and a few intima friends went on to the bum at St. Mary's Cemetery, Kensal GTee "' , ! the Rev. Father Williams officiated ! Kensal Green Cemetery is a largP tract | of country on the low lulls North-West of London. It is beautilull J situated, and, cut off from the spread- • ing Metropolis by a 15ft "wa , i . tains the peaceful rural aspect it J possessed when it was first chosen as J place for burial. i " The late Sir Charles Skerrett wis « buried near to. other members of 18 . ! family. - I I Beautiful wreaths —about thirty in II umber—were *fterwaj&s placed on tM

grave. These came from:—The Government and High Commissioner of New Zealand, the Law . Society of England, t£e New Zealand Law Society, the Wellington Law Society, the Taranaki Law Society, the Directors "of the Union Steam Ship Company of New Zealand, Mrs It. j. .Seddon and Mr® Knox Gilmer and family, "King" and Madge" (relatives of deceased),. Lady Leigh-Wood, Mr Leo M. Myers, Mr Chubbs Johnson, liieut. : Comdr. and Mrs Claude Graham Watson, Mr Howard ! Tripp, Mrs Edward Riddiford, Mr James C. Hanna, Mrs H. Mortimer Williams, Mr and Mrs T. C. Williamson, Mrs. P. H. Compton, Mr and Mrs Arthur Cooper, Mr and Mrs Michael Myers, the Misses Kennedy, Miss IL L. Blair, Lady Augusta Inskip and Miss Barbara Orr Ewing, the Hon. H. C. Butler and Lady Butler, Miss Hilda Goring, Messrs Chapman, Tripp, Cook, and Watson, Mr and Mrs C. J. Wray, Mr and Mrs H. Digges-Smith, and Brigadier-General and Mrs W. B. N. Madocks. The wreath- sent by the High .Com.nrissioner was of parma violets with, a spray of pink carnations and lily of the valley. The inscription read: '' With deepest sympathy from the Government and High Commissioner, Dominion of New Zealand.