FUNERAL OF MR O’BRIEN

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25304, 2 October 1947, Page 8

FUNERAL OF MR O’BRIEN

SPECIAL TRAIN TO GREYMOUTH LARGE CROWD AT STATION From Our Own Reporter GREYMOUTH, October 1. More than 1500 persons gathered at the Greymouth railway station this afternoon, when the special train carrying the body of Mr James O’Brien arrived. After the dispersal of train passengers by taxi and bus, the coffin was taken privately to St Patrick’s Church, where it will remain overnight. The pall-bearers at the station were the Mayor (Mr F. A. Kitchingham), the Deputy-Mayor (Mr P. Blanchfield), and borough councillors. At the church members of the Labour Party and Labour organisations were pall-bearers. Soon after the arrival of the train at Greymouth, Arahura Maoris gathered and sang a lament. Several lorries were needed to carry the many hundreds of wreaths which came on the train to supplement the large? number already in Grey mouth. 'Hie public will not be admitted to St. Patrick’s Church until 9.40 a.m. tomorrow. Bearers of official cards are to be seated by 9.45. The Solemn Requiem Mass will be broadcast. From Otira onwards the train made frequent stops at intermediate stations and* large numbers of sawmillers, miners, ano other residents gathered to pay their last respects to the late member for Westland on the last of his many trips through the Southern Alps. The largest assemblage was at Wallsend. where more than 500 people, mostly miners going off shift, gathered in working attire. There was also a large number -t Dobson.

STOP AT CHRISTCHURCH In spite of steady rain several hundred persons waited at the Christchurch railway station yesterday to pay their last respects to Mr J. O’Brien, whose body was brought to Christchurch on its way to Greymouth by special train. The van with the coffin stopped in front Of a roped-off enclosure, and the crowd, which contained a fair percentage of «omen, filed past in silence. The coffin was draped with the New Zealand flag and placed on it were a Maori cloak and wreaths. A van was filled with wreaths from the North Isis nd and more were loaded at Christchurch. The Mayor (Mr E. 11. Andrews) and the Town Clerk (Mr H. S. Feast) represented the City Council at the station. Trade unions and branches of the Labour Party were well represented. Ministers of the Crown who travelled on the train were the Prime Minister (Mr P. Fraser), the Minister of Finance (Mr W. N?sh). the Minister of Justice <Mr H. G. R. Mason) the Minister of Defence (Mr F. Jones), the Native member of the Executive Council (Mr E. T. Tirikatene), the Minister of Rehabilitation (Mr C. F. Skinner), the Minister of Industries and Commerce (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer). the Postmaster-General (Mr F. Hackett), the* Minister of Agriculture (Mr E. L. Cullen), and the Minister of Health (Miss M. B. Howard). Members of Parliament included Messrs M. Moohan. A. G. Osborne, W. A. Hudson, J. Mathison. J. B. F. Cotterill, A. E. Armstrong, R. M. Mscfarlane, T. H. McCombs, and P. G. Connolly. Among the Legislative Councillors were Messrs D. Wilson (Leader of the . Council). Mark Briggs. M. Connelly. J. Ryall, J. Cumming. W. Black, and T. O’Byrne. The National Party was represented by the Leader of the Opposition (Mr S. G. Holland) and Messrs J. A. Roy and J. J. Maher, members of Parliament. • A special carriage was provided for members of Mr O’Brien’s family. MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY Reference to the death of Mr J. O’Brien was made at a special meeting of the Runanga Borough Council, of which he was a ormer member. The sympathy of the council with his widow was carried. A motion of sympathy was carried by the West Coast Rugby. League, of which Mr O’Brien was patron. Regret at the death of Mr O’Brien, the late Minister of Marine, was expressed at a meeting yesterday of the Lyttelton Harbour Board. In Mr O’Brien, the Government had lost one of its most popular and high-ly-esteemed members, said the president of the Canterbury Progress League (Mr D. W. Westenra), when proposing a motion, of sympathy with the Government and Mrs O’Brien at • meeting of the league last evening.