TRIBUTE TO PIONEER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 14 August 1929, Page 4

TRIBUTE TO PIONEER.

LATE .MR. G. AV. TAYLER’S FUNERAL. The high esteem in which the late Air George- Washington Ta-yler wais held bv all yee-tions of the community of Eptham and a very wide ira-dtius l was manifested yesterday in the extremely airgc and representative cortege wthiioh. i olio wed hig mortal remains to their Lust resting-place in the B-awMitiroa- cemetery. / Prior to the procession setting out on the long jouirney to the cemetery, a short memorial service was conducted in All Saints’ Church, Eitham, by the Rev. C. \\ . Wldtacre. The church was hik'd until mourners and' proved totally inadequate' to accommodate 'the large assemblage' drawn from all pa,i ts of the district, and. adjacent thoroughfares wore* densely packed by those desirous of paying their bust resipects to the dej ceaisod, who had played no small pairb I in tiro kran.s'foimiintioo of the surrounding country from its pifi.mevafi state. 'on leaving the church, the cortege was headed by. the Ei tham Brass Band, playing the ‘Deanl March, in Sami,” followed by the chief mourners’ cars and the Eitham Volunteer .Fire Brigade (in uniform). The pa I’i-bearers were Messrs J. J. BsFdger (Mayor of Eitham), T. B. •Crump, T. Sinliners (ex-Mayor® of Eiihhiwn), If A. Nutt-all (fine supennhendent), AY. ,). Tristram and D. Syme. with all of whom the late Mr Tayler had been closely associated during his long and lionoura.be term in the administration of local public affairs. At the conclusion of the grave,side

service,, conducted bv the Rev. C. W. Whit ■aere. aJI joined in singing ibe I well-known hymn “Rook of Ages,’’ ami members of the M-asonfte Lodge, to which the deceased belonged, filed: past the open grave. Many beautiful wreaths were forwarded by relatives, friends and local bodies from; all parts of Taranaki. • THE VICAR’S EULOGY. At the close of the church service, the Rev. C. W. Wiiitacre (vicar of Aiu Saints) ,solid l the Church did not encourage eulogistic addresses at tunera.l eeiemon.ies, but agreed that tfhere wore exceptions to the rule, and the .present was one of tiho.se exceptions. The speaker drew attention to the fact that all local shops closed and business suspended tor the time being. Did his hearers ask thcmse'ives why this was so, and why there was such a large concourse of .people inside and outside .the church. No, there was no need, for id! knew they had met. to express the- sorrow of the entire population at the passing of one who had earned the respect and esteem of everybody who had known him. On all sides were of respect and tokens of genuine affection for one who wag generous-hearted, possessed of a kindly nature, and never tired of doing a good turn wherever •possible. There wire many .known instances of his generosity, but over and above these. ..in oountiesis cases which will never now come to light, he was 1 always a cheerful helper in time of trouble. As the first Mayor of Kit,ham, George Washington Taylor had seen the growth of the town and taken a man’s part in that development. If, was only right that the whole populace should mourn the loss of a. great townsman. No greater reward could be hoped for by any man than to have earned the whole-hearted rroochvill of ]hs fellowmen, and no greater honour could bo re.id to any mail’s memory than the presence of such an assemblage iiin recognition of his services and characteristic! generous- disposition. Of the lateMr Taylor it could truly lie sjaliid that “Jiis failings leaned to virtue’s side.” Tn conclusion. Ihe speaker said lie wished: to convey to- the deceased’s widow, reln.s.vcs; and friends- the deepest .Hvmn-nt liy in his own name and on j behalf of the congregation of All Saints’ i Church.