THE LAST RESTING PLACE.

Evening Star, Issue 19779, 1 February 1928, Page 6

THE LAST RESTING PLACE.

The late Earl Haig will bo buried at Bemersyde. It was earlier reported that arrangements were being made for the burial to take place in St. Paul’s alongside other great soldiers of the past. The whole nation would have regarded that as fitting. Under the cross of gold That shines over city and river, There should he rest tor ever Among the wise and the bold.

Those w! j rest there now form a noble company, including Nelson, Wellington, Wolseley, and Roberts, and one much earlier model of- chivalry and unselfishness, Sir Philip STdney. The list cannot be rashly added to in the years to come, because St. Paul’s, like Westminster Abbey, is becoming overcrowded. The dean and chapter were forced to announce before the war that no further memorials of the dead could be placed on the main floor of the cathedral without, in their opinion, encroaching upon the space which should be reserved for worshippers or impairing the architectural beauty of the interior. It was also decided that no applications for monuments in the crypt other than small tablets or slabs would be considered by the chapter till three years had passed from the death of the deceased. Burials in the crypt, it was added, had been limited for some time on account of the danger of disturbing the foundations, and those that had been admitted had been after cremation. It is not these considerations, however, which have caused a more simple place of sepulture to be preferred for the great Field-Marshal. It was his wish, expressed in his will, that his remains should rest at Bemersyde, the ancient stronghold of the Haigs,

near .Melrose. Ana it is aumontativeiy st:,‘ed that that wish will be observed, although a similar one was not, or was only partially regarded, in the case of Thomas Hardy. The nation has its traditional ways of showing honor to Him who cares not to be great, But as he saves or serves the State. It would have been fitting, as we have said, if Earl Haig’s last resting place had been in the same precincts with one who stood at bay before him against tho enemies of his country till his time came to strike.

Where shall we lay the man whom we deplore? Here, in streaming London’s central

roar; Let ,tbe sound of those he wrought for, And the feet of those ho fought for, Echo round his bones for ever more.

For Field-Marshal Haig, in accordance with his own desire, in accordance aEo with the complete modesty of his character, there will bo a quieter resting place. But Bemersydc lias its own claim distinction. Of the hundreds of forts ami castles which once existed on the Scottish side of the Bordej', and whose ruins still cxeitc the wonder and curiosity of the antiquary, it is the only one that is still inhabited as a manorial residence, and inhabited by the family that were its original founders. Their possession of it goes right back to tho twelfth century. OF its family the. prediction was made by Thomas the Rhymer: T.vde what may betyde, Haig shall be Haig of Bemersydc. And “ Tyde what may ” has been the family motto to this time. Now a now fulfilment is to be given to the prophecy.

A four-rdbi’iod house in Coote road, owned and occupied by Mr Boardinan, was gutted by fire this morning. The insurances totalled £550 on the house and contents in the Standard Office. The fire main burst immediately after the outbreak was subdued.—-Napier Press Association.

The prize for the most brilliant game played at the recent chess congress Ims been awarded to the late A. W. O. Davies for his game against the Rev. N. Friberg. The adjudicator (Mr W. S. King) states that “ the game was of a high order, with admirable finesse.”-—Christchurch Press Association telegram. Mr R. B. Miller, travelling representative for the Jubilee Institute lor the Blind, Auckland, is at present in Dunedin. Ll© will be pleased to meet any blind people whom the institute may benefit, or to give information to anyone particularly interested in tho work. He will be found at the Y.M.C.A.

Milford Track lias been in great order this season, and, according to reports received by the local Tourist Department, tourists who have journeyed to Milford Sound during the past month or two have had a wonderful time. They state that conditions could hardly have been bettered, and a large party which recently visited the track signed an appreciative letter in respect to tho courtesy of tourist officers and others concerned, who had done their utmost to make tho trip across the track an anjoyable and instructive one. The letter was forwarded to the Head Tourist Office.

With the attractions that it has to offer tourists, it is a wonder that Dunedin does not bother to advertise itself more fully to strangers within the gate. Rut, no! Visitors to the city are expected to look out the beauty spots ior themselves, and this led to a complaint being voiced to a ‘ Star ’ reporter by a northern visitor recently. He stated that in Wellington, for instance, visitors who called at the local Tourist Office were able to obtain a ‘ Guide to Wellington ’ which drew attention to the various attractive spots that might be visited and to the cost of trips and so forth. This was issued by the Wellington City Council, and. the northerner expressed his own view' and that of other visitors wdien he said that ho could not understand why the Dunedin City Council did not adopt some similar method of advertising tho city to visitors.

At 1 o’clock this morning Luna Park, at the rear of the railway station, Auckland, burst into flames. The fire was extinguished without tho railway buildings being damaged after the brigade bad .supplemented the use of local appliances. Damage was done to tho extent of £2,000, which is-covered by a general policy of £23,000.

Mr J. G. Mackenzie, director of reserves at Wellington, expressed the opinion that no one centre in New Zealand is suitable for a national botanic garden, and he says that such is practically the decision of the New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. The position, it is understood, is that the institute is still deliberating _as to its report, and that no conclusion is likely to be arrived at until it is known what Dr Hill, the New director, has to say on the subject.

A Dunedin business firm bas received a trade letter from Oregon, inviting a, reply, and carrying tho footnote “ Please communicate with us in English.” Is this a sly way of expressing “ Big Bill Thompson's ” declaration that the British are foreigners, or is Uncle Sam’s geography honestly at sea?

No rain was I'tvordod in*-Nelson during January. The only other similar occasions in the past forty-five years are February, 1908, and March, 1911. —Press Association telegram.

A meeting of the executive of the Dairy Cattle Breeders’ Federation at Feilding last evening discussed the question of the importation into the dominion of Australian* dairy cattle consequent upon a letter forwarded by the Minister of Agriculture from the secretary of the Council of Advice, New South Wales, and circulated by the New Zealand Department of Agriculture amongst the cattle breeders’ associations. The letter asked for the lifting of the ban against the importations of cattle from the parts of Australia which were free of diseases. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the Department of Agriculture. —Palmerston North Press Association telegram.

Two of our Dunedin bands, Kaikorai and St. Kilda, are assiduously practising for the A grade tests at the annual brass bands festival contest to be held in Christchurch, commencing on the 18th inst, and Dunedin may rest assured that they will do their best to uphold the honor of the city. Our band Work always reaches a high standard. The music for the A grade tests is an arrangement by J. Ord Hume of the symphonic suite ‘ Scheherazade ’ (Op. 35), by the Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakoff, based on the 1 Tales of the Arabian Nights.’ The music is of a highly dramatic character, calling for skilful treatment and first-class executive ability from every player in the band. During the last few years the class of music played by the grade brass bands throughout tlie English-speaking world has risen by leaps and bounds, and arrangers now delve deeply into the classics in their search for suitable music. No longer will English audiences put up with the old-fashioned operatic selection with its round of solos and accompaniment. They ask for something higher and nobler, ancl, although the brass band may lack the tone color of an orchestra or military band, it is really wonderful what effects can be produced from the instruments. J. Ord Hume’s arrangement just about represents the high-water mark of brass hand music

From Jaffa, which is the Joppa of the Old Testament, whither Jonah fled, Dunedin has this week received a shipment of Palestine-grown oranges, one of our fruit importers having decided on making the trial. This fruit somewhat resembles the Californian orange, very juicy and sweet. As Jaffa is a British possession this consignment came in duty free

After a delay of about eighteen hours the Makura left Wellington this morning for San Francisco at 8.40. The men agreed to sail yesterday if the chief steward remained behind, but an additional delay was caused by the necessity of finding the men who had strolled away.—Press Association telegram.

The Auckland Education Board discussed the amended form of the bond to be signed by parents and guardians of students entering training colleges, which requires: “A student shall immediately thereafter serve as a teacher for five years in the case of a male, three years in the case of a female in the education servicct of the dominion.” ft was resolved to recommend the department to amend the bond to provide that in the event of a permanent position not being available for a student within twelve months of leaving the training college the bond should lapse. A suggestion was made that instead of insisting that a teacher should serve for a given number of years, the requirement should ho that tin: teacher should be available for service of that period.—Press Association telegram. Evidently affairs are not as settled as they might be in the Borough of St. Kilda. At the council meeting on Monday evening a deputation, claiming to represent the residents of Council street, waited on the council and urged that the width of the street be reduced to allow for the provision of a grass strip in front of the houses. The matter was decided in committee, and it was agreed to leave about two chains of the street near the main road at the present width, and to reduce the width of the remainder to 26ft. A protest has been lodged, however, it being alleged that the deputation was formed without the knowledge of a largo proportion of the residents of the street, who are, moreover, not in favor of the reduction in width. In the Police Court this morning a middle-aged man named John IVillis, for whom Mr B. S. Irwin appeared, was charged ith having indecently assaulted a hoy. The magistrate (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) made an order clearing the court and prohibiting publication of the details 'of the evidence. There were ten witnesses to be examined, and the case was proceeding when we went to press.

Tlie Farmers’ Union Executive is discussing the arbitration system. Mr Poison* set the ball rolling* by stating that it was hoped to reach some finality in regard to the question. He added that it was essential that the union should set up a committee to prepare evidence for submission to the proposed conference.— Wellington Press Association telegram.

For spectacles that soothe the eyes consult W. V. Sturmer, D. 5.0.1., G.A.0.C., 2 Octagon. Our business exclusively optical. —[Advt-1 The Port Chalmers waterside workers hold their annual picnic at Waikouaiti on Saturday. The train leaves at 7.55 a.m. The tickets are 2s 6d; children, Is. - Tea, milk, sugar, and hot water will be supplied free.

Euchre orders to the value of £lO will be awarded to-night at the Waratah 7.ea Rooms.