THE EARL OF SEAFIELD'S FUNERAL.

Evening Star, Issue 7787, 7 December 1888, Page 2

THE EARL OF SEAFIELD'S FUNERAL.

The burial of the late Earl of Seafield took place at the Oamaru Cemetery yesterday afternoon, and nothing that has ever before happened in Oamaru created a greater amount of respectful public interest and sympathy. At half-past two the funeral procession was formed at the deceased's residence, under the direction of the Masonic Marshal. The hearse having driven along Thames and down Usk street into Slumber street thus approached the residence from the north, and as it approached, the Masonic bodies, volunteers, and Friendly Societies divided, forming a single file column on each side, and through these lines passed the hearse, drawn by four horses in mourning coverings, and stood immediately opposite the entrance gates of the late Earl s residence. The coffin was carried to the hearseby the eldest son of the late Earl, James OgUvie Grant, Lord Reidhaven, and the Hon. Trevor Ogilvie Grant, the second son, Major George Thomas Evans, and Mr Eyre Evans, fathes-in-law and brother-in-law respectively of the deceased. The coffin was literally covered with wreaths of laurels and roses, and of heather and roses, garlands and crosses —all tokens of .the esteem and affection which all who knew him entertained for the deceased; and the presence of so vast an assemblage testified to the respect in which the late Earl was held by the people of Oamaru and district. The coffin having been safely placed in the hearse, the carriages for the relatives and household servants moved up. In these there were, independently of the relatives already mentioned, the late nobleman's eldest daughter Lady Caroline Louisa Grant, his niece* Miss Evans, and three nephews, the Masters Evans, and five servants. The procession was a long one, and comprised the Masonic lodges, which mustered in great force, and the Druids (to both of which bodies the deceased Earl belonged) the members of the clan Grant, relatives of deceased, members of Parliament, the

Mayor and Corporation of Oarnaru, tne volunteers, the Oimaru Athletic Football Club (of which deceased was president), and the general public. The Garrison and City Bands combined, and played the ' Dead March' along the lino of route. It is estimated that over 5,000 persona witnessed the funeral, and a more impressive spectacle has never before been witnessed iii Oarnaru. The service at the grave wus read by the lluv. Algernon Gitford, P.M. Bro." 14'Neil, 8.A., afterwards reading the Masonic burial service, as did A.D. Bro. Quarrie that of the Druids. Nothing further need be added here save to remark that there prevails a heartfelt sense ■of the loss the community has sustained, and that the good deeds and kindly offices which the deceased had been in the habit of wnostentatiously performing will Jong live in the memories of the people of Oarnaru. — Abridged from the 'North Ofcago Times.'