THE ELTHAM TRAGEDY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 27 March 1926, Page 5

THE ELTHAM TRAGEDY.

FUNERAL OF THE VICTIMS. AN IMPRESSIVE CEREMONY. Never before in the history of Eltham has there been such a gathering of people from town and countryside, and from many other parts of Taranaki, all inspired with one thought—that of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of the unfortunate people who had perished in the tragic fire of Tuesday—as was present in the Town Hall, lining the streets as the funeral cortege made its way, and at the cemetery four miles from town. A solemn service was arranged for two o’clock at the Eltham Town Hall, and before that hour the big hall was nearly filled, while hundreds stood outside. The service was simple and brief. Two familiar and beautiful hymns, “Abide with me” and “Rock of Ages,” were sung, led by the Salvation Army Bands from Eltham and_Hawera; part of the wonderful fifteentn chapter from St. Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians, with its note of sadness leading to one of triumph and of consolation, was most impressively read by Rev. C. H. Isaacson; an eloquent prayer was offered, by Rev. W. W. Avery. The hymns were read out by Captain Norman, of the Salvation Army. With him also was Major Armstrong, of the Army Home. Then an impressive silence of one minute was observed. THE FUNERAL PROCESSION. Then at the behest of the Rev. C. H. Isaacson those present arranged themselves in due order —the Army Band, the hearse and lorry—with the four coffins all completely covered with beautiful wreaths —cars, seventeen in' number, containing relatives and friends of the deceased ; a hundred or more people on foot; and then a long line of cars and motor buses, all heavily laden, nearly fifty in number —the whole making a cortege practically a mile long, and probably the largest ever seen in the history of Eltham. At the cemetery gates the procession parted in two sections, and interment services according- to the rites of the various Churches and denominations were performed, the officiating clergymen being Rev. C. H. Isaacson, Rev. W. W. Avery, Captain Norman and Major Armstrong.