TRIBUTE TO DOG

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 19994, 20 July 1939, Page 16

TRIBUTE TO DOG

WANDERING TERRIER DEATH IX WELLINGTON One of the strangest funerals held in Wellington took place on Monday. It was held for a clog well known as "Paddy the Wanderer” or "The Irish Flying Dutchman,” who frequented the Wellington wharves and travelled In New Zealand and overseas in any ship which took his fancy. This brown Irish terrier had thousands of friends among seamen, waterside workers and taxi-drivers, and the funeral was no mock affair, but a touching tribute to a good comrade.

Paddy died early on Monday morning. His body was wrapped in a shroud at the Harbour Board shed No. 1, where he died, placed in a coflln, and put on the back of one of the 1L taxis which look part. On the coffin were the words "Paddy the Wanderer —At Rest.” Fifty or CO watersiders and seamen watched the cortege start on its short journey from Queen’s wharf to the incinerator. A traffic officer led the way. Fondness for Travel Ever since people can remember him, the wanderlust was strong in Paddy. By air, land and sea in the past 10 or 12 years, he travelled ail around the New Zealand coast, and to many inland towns, and even further afield. He was one stowaway Who was greeted cheerfully whenever ho came aboard. He always went back tc Wellington as his headquarters. He acknowledged no owner, and he was the friend of all who work about ships or the waterfront, and fraternised with them as ah equal. It was after the dog catchers had caught Paddy in an unguarded moment that the taxi drivers proved their friendship .by clubbing together and paying his license fee and guaranteeing it for the future. He showed scant gratitude to his rescuers, how-