DUNEDIN'S LAST RESPECTS

Evening Star, Issue 22248, 28 January 1936, Page 7

DUNEDIN'S LAST RESPECTS

IMPRESSIVE COMMEMORATIVE SERVICE DEMONSTRATIONS OF LOYALTY AND AFFECTION Simply yet reverently, Dunedin citizens united this morning in paying their last marks of respect and homage to the late King George V., more than 10,000 persons assembling at ' the Queen’s Gardens for the commemorative service held at the Cenotaph. In their lovalty and affection towards the Empire’s' Sovereign. Dunedin yields place to none, and so large was to-day’s gathering that it overflowed into the nearby streets. Yet the service was marked by a hushed and impressive dignity, the hallowed nature of the proceedings indicating still further the place occupied in the hearts of his people by the late beloved King. The action of so many employers in allowing their employees leave to attend assisted to swell the large assembly, and long before the service commenced thousands of people had assumed their places on all sides of the Cenotaph, and throughout there was the same air of quiet and simplicity. SERVICEMEN ON PARADE. The first sign of military activity was the arrival of a party of bluejackets from the R.N.Y.R., under Sub-lieu-tenant Allen, who marched in slow time and with arms reversed to the base of the Cenotaph, where they took their positions at each corner, resting on their arms reversed. The other units on parade were then marched to their allotted positions, a guard of R.N.V.R. men lining the pathway. The parade was then handed over to Colonel S. G. Secular, A.D.C., who had Major K. L. Stewart, 0.8. E., N.Z.S.C., as his staff officer. S.S.M. (W.0.T.) !A. T. S’ M'Kenzic, NiZ.P.S., was parade sergeant-major. Like the one to be held in London, the parade in Dunedin was of a more naval character than military, and not the least impressive feature of the cere- ■' mony was the attendance of returned soldiers, some 400 in number, which showed the esteem and regard in which his late Majesty was held by the men who fought for their country in the Great War. OFFICIAL PARTY. The official party included the mayor (Rev. E. T. Cox), the town clerk (Mr G. A. Lewin), Bishop Fitchett, Rev. Principal Dickie, Sir James Allen, Mr \V. 11. Brugh, Mrs Denton Leech, and Rev. J. Douglas Smith (representing the League of Nations Union, Mr Brugh also representing the Navy League and Overseas League), Mr A. Thomas (president of the Dunedin Returned Soldiers’ Association), mem-

bers of the Dunedin City Council, and other local bodies. Shortly before 10.50 the official party took up its position in front of the Cenotaph. REVERENT HUSH. On its arrival the parade was called to attention, and the Band of the Otago Regiment then played the hymn ‘ Abide With Me.’ A short prayer was offered by the Rev. Allen Stevely, and the muffled drums of the 'Bugle and Trumpet Band of the Otago Regiment then rolled out, and the sad notes of the ‘ Last Post ’ drew the vast crowd to a reverent hush. Heads were bowed in quiet prayer, and the last notes had scarcely died away when the gun, manned by the 12th Battery, N.Z.A., boomed out, marking the commencement of the silence. Gradually the silence spread over the dity* broken only by the rustling of leaves in the wind. It was a pdignant hush, which was broken by the second gun marking the conclusion of the period. As the echoes died away amongst the buildings the first notes of the cavalry ‘ Reveille ' rang out with their message of cheer and optimism. The brief but impressive ceremony was then brought to a close with the playing of the National Anthem, after which the military units were dismissed. The crowd, however, seemed reluctant to disperse, and for a considerable time afterwards groups of people stood about the grounds. MILITARY AND NAVAL REPRESENTATION. A total of 897 officers and men was on parade, made up as follows;

SALUTE TO BE FIRED. ' This evening a salute of 70 guns will be fired on the Oval, commencing at 6.26. The guns will be fired at intervals of one minute, the last round to be fired at 7.37. The firing of the last round will mark the period of mourning, and on its being fired all flags should at once be hauled down and stay down till to-morrow morning, when

they should be mast-headed in honour of the new King. IN OTHER CENTRES OAMARU. In accordance with the expressed wish of His Majesty King Edward VIII.. Oamaru observed two minutes’ silence to-day as the last tribute to the memory of our late illustrious monarch King George V. Just prior to 11

o’clock a bell was tolled and business premises were closed, employers and employees assembling on the sidewalks, when a profound silence was observed for over five minutes. WANGANUI. An impressive two minutes’ silence marked the Wanganui observance for the King’s funeral. A large muster of returned men paraded in front of the Post Office. The ‘ Last Post ’ and Reveille ” were sounded, and the fire bell was tolled.

r| K Officer! t* 2 O N.Z. Staff Corps 2 — N.Z. Permanent Staff — . 2 Eoyal N.Z. Artillery 1 2 ll.N.V.ll. 11 83 Otago Mounted llifles 1 2 12th Battery, N.Z.A. 6 45 14th Battery, N.Z.A. : ... 4 38 Otago llegiriient ... 19 4.5 llegxmental Band ... ... 1 30 Trumpet and Bugle Band 1 45 Otago. University Medical Corps ... / ... 4 — Legion of Frontiersmen 1 17 B“turned. Soldiers ... ... — 400 Boy Scouts . ... 7 52 Girl Guides ... ... 16 72 i 74 823.