FUNERAL TRIBUTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 73, 23 February 1938, Page 2

FUNERAL TRIBUTES

VICTIMS OF DISASTER. BURIAL AT WAIROA. Per Press Association. WAIROA, Feb. 22. To-day was one of the saddest in the history of Wairoa, for it was the occasion of the burial of seven of the victims of the Kopuawhara tragedy, whose last resting-place in the Wairoa cemetery is situated on a hill overlooking the sea. Those buried here were Messrs William Dunn (Christchurch), Robert Johnston (Wairoa), Frank William Fry (Gisborne), Thomas Tracey (Wairoa), Thomas Hall (Gisborne), John Pender (Auckland), and William Auld (Gisborne). Three of the men, Messrs Johnston, Fry and Tracey, were returned soldiers and were buried with military honours. The hearse used to convey the coffins ivas a large motor-lorry, which was piled high with floral tributes. The scene was one which will never be forgotten in Wairoa, those taking part in the funeral including approximately 500 men who had come from Public Works camps all over the district to pay last respects to their gallant comrades. Also present were Hon. P. Fraser, representing the Prime Minister, Hon. R. Semple, Mr J. Wood, engineer-in-charge at Kopuawhara, Mr J. W. Parker, overseer at Kopuawhara, Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P. for Gisborne, Mr E. t. Cullen, M.P. for Hawke’s Bay, Hon. F. E. Lark M.L.C., Mr R. Eddy, president of the New Zealand Workers’ Union, and Mr A. Cook, secretary (representing the workers). A special train was run from AVaikokopu tc Wairoa, bringing 200 men from Kopuawhara. All business premises in Wairoa were closed. There were 100 cars and several buses following the men, and the whole route to the cemetery, about a mile and a-lialf, was lined with thousands of people. Father Doherty, parish priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Wairoa, assisted by Father J. Oullinan, Greenmeadows, conducted the service for five of the victims and Rev, C. E. Hyde, vicar of St. Paul’s Anglican Church, read the burial service at the graves of the others. As the coffins were lowered into the graves the choir of St. Peter’s sang the hymn “Eternal Rest.” Messages from the Governor-General, Prime Minister and many others were then read by Father Doherty, Father Oullinan and Mr Hyde. The sounding of the “Last Post” brought the ceremony, which could not fail to move the great crowd present, to a close. The pall-bearers were all comrades of the victims.

It was announced afterwards that the expense of the funeral was borne by the State. Arrangements for the funeral were made by the police, and inspector D. Cameron, of Napier, was in charge. After the funeral Mr Fraser returned to Wellington, while Mr Semple, accompanied by Mr Wood, left for Kopuawhara to inspect the site of the disaster. FULL COMPENSATION. MINISTER’S PROMISE. Per Press Association. GISBORNE, Feb. 22. Mr D. W. Coleman, M.P., for Gisborne, states that the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple) informed him that the Government will pay full compensation under the provisions of the Workers’ Compensation Act in respect of all victims in the Kopuawhara tragedy similar to what would have been paid if the victims had lost their lives by accident while working. i PALMERSTON NORTH TRIBUTE. As a mark of respect to the memory of the men who lost their lives in the Kopuawhara disaster, yesterday afternoon the men engaged by the Public Works Department on the Government houses in Palmerston North stood in silence for five minutes. They extended to the relatives and friends of the men their heartfelt sympathy, and expressed their great admiration and appreciation of the gallant rescues. LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. The men employed by the Public Works Department on No. 60 main highway at Fitzherbert West to-day observed five minutes’ silence as a mark of respect for the victims in the No. 4 railway camp disaster at Kopuawhara, on the East Coast.