THE FUNERAL

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 171, 8 July 1909, Page 2

THE FUNERAL

An Impressive Scene. The funeral of the late Mr Jeremiah Ormsby, which took place at Te Kuiti on Wednesday was a solemn and impressive ceremony. All sections of the community were represented. Back country settlers, in spite of the bad roads attended in numbers, while the whole of the townspeople were present to pay their last respects to a man who had earned their highest esteem. All the business places were closed, the windows and doors being clothed in black. On the previous day the members of the Oddfellows' Lodge had assembled in the town and formed procession to the Maori House to pay their last tribute to their deceased brother. A wreath from the Lodge was laid on the coffin, and the impressive burial ceremony of the Order was read over the body by the Chaplain, the Rev. R. Mitchell. On Wednesday morning at the Meeting House a service was conducted by the Rev. J. M. Harris, and the Rev. R. Mitchell,when a large gathering assembled. Upon the arrival of the train from Taumarunui the funeral cortege, headed by the local school cadets, formed in procession to the railway station. The coffin was borne by a'number of friends, including both Europeans and Maoris, and was followed immediately by the relatives of deceased. The large crowd following filled the street, and extended from the railway station to the Meeting House, the saddened mien of the people bearing eloquent tribute to the feelings with which the late Mr Ormsby was regarded. The body wa; conveyed to Otorohanga by train, and is to be interred today at Kopua.