Memorial Service To Queen Salote

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30941, 23 December 1965, Page 14

Memorial Service To Queen Salote

(New Zealand Press Association >

AUCKLAND, Dec. 22

The Pitt street Methodist church was filled with more than 500 people this morning for the memorial service to Queen Salote of Tonga. Many were Tongans wearing their traditional mourning mats.

The mourners included the Governor-General (Sir Bernard Fergusson), who read the first lesson. Lady Fergusson, the Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake). accompanied by two of his daughters, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk). The president of the Methodist Church of New Zealand, the Rev. A. R. Whitheford. presided. Prayers were offered in Tongan by a lay preacher. Mr David Kautau Lavulo. A Tongan choir led the hymns and the congregation sang “Abide with Me" in Tongan.

The real and effective power a good monarch could wield was illustrated strongly in Queen Salote, said the Rev. Athol Penn, minister of the Epsom Methodist Church, which she attended.

“In all the many tributes paid to her during the last few days, certain words have kept recurring dignity, charm, serenity, graciousness, friendliness,” he said. “These terms are not being used patronisingly but very genuinely, because Her Majesty had won a large and honoured place in the affections of the people of New Zealand and further afield.”

Throughout her reign she had been a devout and worthy upholder of the Christian faith, and a witness to its value.

She was a woman of culture fed by wide reading, and she took an interest in world

affairs and world leaders. Within Tonga, during her reign, education, medical and health services, infant and womi a’s welfare made much progress, and the church owed much to the example of her personal life, and her helpful counsel. Later today. Sir Bernard Fergusson. Lady Fergusson. Mr Holyoake and his daughters. Mr Kirk and several other members of the congregation flew to Tonga for the funeral tomorrow. Sir Bernard Fergusson tonight handed to King Taufa’ahau Tupou IV in Nukualofa the insignia of Dame Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George which Queen Elizabeth granted to Queen Salote early this year.

It will be borne with the other honours of the Queen by her grandchildren in the funeral procession tomorrow

Three aircraft from New Zealand, Samoa and Fiji landed within minutes of each other at Fua’amotu airport this evening bearing representatives of the governments of these countries.

They were met by the Prime Minister (Prince Tu'i Pelehake). This evening Sir Bernard Fergusson. the New Zealand Prime Minister (Mr Holyoake), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Kirk), service leaders and heads of other governments laid wreaths in the Royal chapel beside the coffin bearing Queen Salote’s body.