Thousands Attend Funeral

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31275, 23 January 1967, Page 1

Thousands Attend Funeral

Many streets in Greymouth and its suburbs were packed with cars on either side. It was impossible to estimate closely the size of the crowds which stood in pouring rain throughout the service at the graveside at Karoro Cemetery, or waited outside the two churches at which services were held, or lined the route to the cemetery.

Before the funeral procession left for the cemetery, several thousand persons were already waiting near the mass grave. Many had waited for hours.

The funeral procession was more than two miles long. The combined Protestant service was held in St. John’s Presbyterian Church for 10 of the victims, but with limited seating accommodation only relatives and the official party could enter. Thousands outside listened to the service over loud-speakers. The Requiem Mass at St. Patrick’s Church was attended by a congregation of more than 1000, and again more gathered in Chapel street listening to the service on loud-speakers. Soldiers, policemen and Transport Department officers controlled the traffic, and several streets were blocked off. Youngest Victim The procession was headed by a hearse bearing Noel James Prescott, aged 18, the youngest killed, who was buried in a family plot.

After the hearse came a fire engine carrying Mr J. W. T. oster-Lynam, a mine deputy and a member of the Runanga Fire Brigade. His was the first coffin to be placed in the mass grave. Pall bearers, six

to each coffin, carried the 14 coffins down a clay ramp and into the grave. At the head of each coffin as it was carried to the grave walked a funeral director and a clergyman.

As they did so, Captain J. Brown, corps officer of the Salvation Army in Greymouth, commencing reading the burial service, and the chief mourners, many almost prostrate with grief and comforted by friends, took up their positions at the edge of the grave. Captain Brown and Greymouth’s Baptist minister (the Rev. 6. Smith) shared the service. The prayers of committal were said jointly by the Anglican ministers and Roman Catholic priests present and by Mr George Hunt, assistant Presbyterian minister for Cobden-Runanga. Joint Blessing The Roman Catholic Bishop of Christchurch (the Most Rev. B. P. Ashby) recited a prayer and sprinkled the grave with holy water, and gave the final blessing jointly with the Anglican vicar of Greymouth (Canon K. G. Aubrey).

The president of the Greymouth R.S.A. (Mr G. Gillespie) read the soldiers’ burial service, and Mr F. Barltrop sounded “Last Post.” and “Reveille.” As the procession of veh-

icles entered the cemetery gates, they were led to the graveside by Pipe Sergeant J. F. Knapp, of the Greymouth Highland Pipe Band, playing a lament..

Apart from the hearse and fire engine, three trucks were used to carry the other victims, and eight trucks heavily burdened with wreaths followed. Then came the cars of the chief mourners, followed by the official party headed by the Minister of Mines (Mr Shand), representing the Government. Unable .To Attend The weather closed Hokitika Airport and prevented a plane bringing seven Labour members of Parliament, led by the Deputy-Leader of the Opposition (Mr H. Watt) and the former Leader of the Opposition (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer) from leaving Wellington. The Labour Party was represented by Mr P. Blanchfield, member of Parliament for Westland, and Mr W. E. Rowling, member of Parliament for Buller. Miners’ union leaders from various parts of the country were led by the national president of the United Mineworkers (Mr A. V. Prendeville, of Southland) and the secretary (Mr J. White, of Dobson). Departmental officials and mine managers from all parts made up the official party, together with the Mayor of Runanga (Mr C. R. Wylde), the Mayor of Greymouth (Dr. B. M. Dallas), and the Mayor of Brunner (Mr S. W. Gillman). “It is my duty on behalf of the Government to extend

this day our love and sympathy to those who have suffered through this disaster,” said the Minister of Mines at the combined church service in St. John’s Presbyterian Church. “His Excellency the Governor-General, Lady Fergusson, Mr Holyoake, members of the Cabinet, and mem-

bers of Parliament all join with us.”

Mr Shand spoke of the remarkable efforts of those volunteers who went into the mine to recover the bodies of their comrades, and said it was really wonderful to see how they rallied to comfort bereaved wives and families. The Rev. G. Spargo, who was the main speaker at the service, said that the magnificent spirit shown by those who took part in the rescue attempt and the sympathy shown on all sides had revealed what a great understanding there was in the West Coast community. Never before had the West Coast people had the opportunity of showing in what high esteem the miners and their families were held, said Mr Spargo. Bishop Ashby preached the panegyric in St. Patrick’s Church, in which he said that the waves of charity and love displayed throughout the country could triumph over strife. There had been a display of basic solidarity that showed that men cared for one another. Requiem Mass was offered by Bishop Ashby, assisted by the Rev. J. Consedine. The parish priest of Greymouth (the Very Rev. T. N. McKeon) and the Rev. G. O’Dowd, of Reefton, also assisted.