ELTHAM.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 22 September 1924, Page 5

ELTHAM.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) FUNERAL OF THE LATE FIREMAN HART. One of the most representative and impressive funeral services ever witnessed in Eltham took place yesterday afternoon, when the remains of the late Fireman W. Hart, whose tragic death occurred on Friday at the Eltham Box Factory, were laid to rest in Jiie Eltham cemetery. The late Mr. Hart was an old fire brigade man of years standing, and this fact prompted the whole of the fire brigades in Taranaki to send representatives to pay their last respects to a comrade. The brigades represented were Gonville (Wanganui), Pfttea, Hawera, Manaia, Kaponga, Stratford, Inglewood, Waitara, New Plymouth and Eltham. The Stratford, Inglewood, and New Plymouth brigades also sent their fire engines to take part in the procession. There were altogether some eighty fire brigadesmen present. The late Mr. Hart was also a returned soldier and a member of the Druids’ Lodge. Both >of these bodies were very well represented, while the senior cadets acted as a firing, party at the graveside. The Boy Scouts and Girl Guides also were included in the procession. A short but impressive ser_ vice was conducted by Adjutant J. Hawkins, of the Salvation Army, at the residence of the parents of the deceased. The body was placed on one of the fire engines, and representatives of the lodges, fire brigades, and returned soldiers acted as pall-bearers. The large cortege then slowdy moved off, headed by the town and Salvation Army brass bands (under Conductor Beesley), playing 'the “Dead March in Saul.” The procession, which was a very long one, was marshalled and controlled by Captain Nuttall (superintendent of the fire brigade), who had attended well to all details necessary under the circumstances. As the cortege wended its way through the main street, hundreds of people stood silent and bareheaded, and thus paid their last respects to one who had done his duty as a citizen. The service at the graveside was conducted by Adjutant J. Hawkins, of the Salvation Army, and after a hymn (“Abide with M.e”) had been sung and prayer, a short address and Scripture reading, Bro. J, Kenny, on behalf of the local Druids’ Lodge, read the burial service, and Captain Melville, of the Kaponga Brigade, on behalf of the brigades represented, read the last rites of a brigadesman. The firing party of senior cadets then took up their positions near the open grave and performed the last rites to a soldier by firing three volleys over the grave, after which the “Last Post” was sounded by Bugler Libeau. Great sympathy is felt for the bereaved wife and children, the mother and father and relatives, by the townspeople, as evidenced by the large number of beautiful wreaths sent.

A memorial service was held last night in the Salvation Army hall, conducted by Adjutant Hawkins. There was a large attendance, including the members of the Eltham Fire Brigade.