WAIROA MOURNS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 127, 23 February 1938, Page 12

WAIROA MOURNS

Burial Of Kopuawhara

Victims

IMPRESSIVE SCENES Final Tributes To Seven Of The Dead MANY HUNDREDS ATTEND Dominion Special Service. Wairoa, February 22. When dawn broke over Wairoa today it marked the beginning of what was probably the saddest day in the history of a community that has been , through many trials. It was the day set down for the burial of seven of the men who lost their lives in the Kopuawhara disaster, and seldom has there been witnessed such a genuine display of sorrow. -Hardly a person ig the district failed to appear to pay his last respects.

From early morning, settlers from all parts of the country began to pour into the town and the whole route was lined with hundreds of people, the cortege itself being the longest ever seen here. The men, who were buried in the Wairoa ‘Cemetery, which is situated on a hill overlooking the sea, were William Dunn, Christchurch; Robert Johnston, Wairoa; Frank William Fry, Gisborne; Thomas Tracey, Wairoa; Thomas Hall, Gisborne; John Pender, Auckland; and William Auld, Gisborne. Three of the men, Messrs. Johnston, Fry and Tracey, were returned soldiers and they were buried with military honours. The hearse used to carry the coffins to the cemetery was a motor-lorry similar to those in which the men travelled hundreds of times during the course of their duties in Kopuawhara Valley. Two of the coffins, those of Messrs. Dunn and Johnston, were laid upon it at the hospital.mortuary, and from there the hearse proceeded to St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, Queen Street, where the bodies of Messrs. Fry, Tracey, Hall, Pender and Auld had been lying. Unforgettable Scene. The scene outside the church was one which will never be forgotten. Thousands of people stood bareheaded while the coffins were placed alongside one another on the hearse and covered high with floral tributes. As the last wreath was carried from the church and placed with the others, a hush fell over the scene. The bells of the church then began to peal out their final message to the dead, while from the interior of the church came the strains of a funeral march played on the church organ. The bells continued to toll at periods for an interval of five minutes, and then the cortege began its march to the cemetery, a distance of about a mile and a half. Alongside the hearse marched six work-mates of rhe dead men, who acted as pall-bearers. Among them was Mi’. James Dorrell,-one of the survivors of the tragedy. Behind the hearse came two motor-cars carrying relatives of the dead men, and these were followed by the Ministerial party and officials of the Public Works Department. They were the Minister of Health, Hon. P. Fraser, representing the Prime Minister: the Minister of Public Works, Hon. R. Semple; Mr. J. Wood, en<neer-in-chief of the Public Works Department; Mr. E. ,W. McInues, engineer-in-charge at Kopuawhara; Mr. J. W. Parker, overseer at Kopuawhara; Mr. A. G. Harris, as-sistant-engineer, Publie Works Department, Wairoa; Mr. W. L. Newnham, inspecting engineer, who is investigating the disaster: the Hon. F. E. Lark, M.L.C., Mr. R. Eddy, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Union; Mr. Arthur Cook, general secretary of the union, who represented the workers; Mr. E. L. Cullen, M.P., Mr. D. W. Coleman. M.P., Mr. D. M. Gover, secretary to Mr. Semple, and Mr J. Waugh, seexptary to Mr. Fraser. Tribute to Cofnrades. Following the Ministerial party there inarched approximately 500 men who had come from Public Works camps in all parts of the district to pay tribute to their comrades. Approximately' 200 of these men arrived in Wairoa this morning from Kopuawhara by a special train. Included in their number were most of tlie survivors of the tragedy and many returned soldiers carrying wreaths. Following the men were nearly 100 motor-ears. At the request of the mayor of Wairoa. Mr. H. L. Harker, all business premises in Wairoa closed.

As the funeral procession proceeded slowly along many more wreaths, were added to those which already almost completely covered the hearse. At the cemetery large crowds had gathered, and as the hearse approached they parted, forming a long avenue through which the hearse moved to the graves, which lay alongside one another. One by one the coffins were then placed above the graves, and, following a moment of silence, the services at the graveside commenced. The Rev. Father Doherty, parish priest atSt. Peter’s, assisted by the Rev. Father J. Cullinane, Greenmeadows, Napier, conducted the service for five of the victims-, and the Rev. C. E. Hyde, vicar of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, read the burial service at the graves of the other two. The coffins Were then lowered into the graves, while the choir of St. Peter’s Church sang the hymn "Eternal Rest.”

Father Doherty then adressed the crowd. He said that if there was one word the valiant dead could say to those present to-day that word would be thanks —"thanks for your great kindness and sacrifice in finding their bodies and in attending to them so carefully and with such deep respect. I think they would say to you that you honour their memory by your presence here to-day. As the poet said, there is consolation in desolation. The consolation is that these brave men were called to their eternal rest while at their posts and while doing their duty, trying to help the progress and welfare of New Zealand.”

Messages of Sympathy. Messages of sympathy were read by Father Cullinane and Mr. Hyde from the following The Governor General" Lady Galway,and I are most distressed to learn of the heavy loss of life caused by the recent floods in the Public Works camp in Kopuawhara Valley and would be glad if an expression of our heartfelt sympathy could be conveyed to the relatives of those who lost their lives in this overwhelming disaster.” The Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J.

Savage, and Mr. Semple :• “Please express to the relatives and friends of those lost in the Kopuawhara disaster the heartfelt Sympathy of the Government and ourselves on this sad occasion. The tragic loss of those valued lives is a ngtional bereavement. Some of-them perished while trying to save others. They were companions in life and now are companions in death. The thoughts of all our citizens to-day are with the stricken. The whole community has been stirred by the vivid story of the brave men' who made efforts at rescue in terrible circumstances and of those who toiled through heartbreaking days in search of missing friends. It is when fate strikes its hardest blows that men and women demonstrate their finest qualities. The spontaneous acts of heroism and great kindness of willing helpers will long be retold. The country has lost splendid workers. Sympath, etic remembrance is the nation's tribute.”

Messages were also read from the public ' works employment camp at Lake Waikare-moana. the New Zealanil Red Cross, and organisations from Auckland to Invercargill. Father Doherty stated that he wished also to express the sincere sympathy of the Roman Catholic Church and all other churches.

The sounding of the “Last Post" by Trumpeter K. G. L. Smith brought to a close a most impressive ceremony. The whole expense of themnieral is to be borne by the State. It. was announced that the necessary arrangements were made by the police, and Inspector D.' Cameron, Napier, was in charge.

FULL COMPENSATION TO BE PAID

All Victims Of Disaster By Telegraph—Press Association. Gisborne, February 22. Mr. D. W. Coleman. M.P., Gisborne, states that the Minister of Public Works, Hon. 11. Semple. Informed him that the Government, will pay full compensation under the provisions of the Works’ Compensation Act in respect of all victims in the Kopuawhara tragedy similar to what would have been paid if the victims had lost Jheir lives by accident while working.