Kopuawhara Victims Laid to Rest

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 45, 23 February 1938, Page 4

Kopuawhara Victims Laid to Rest

Memorable Scene At Wairoa Cemetery

THOUSANDS LINE WHOLE OF ‘ ROUTE Per Pr«*» Association. WAIROA, Last Night. To-day was one of the saddest in the history of Wairoa, for it was the occasiou 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 William Dunn (Christchurch), Robert Johnston (Wairoa), Frank William Fry (Gisborne), Thomas Tracey (Wairoa;, Thofiias Hall (Gisborne), John Pender (Auckland) and William Auld (Gisborne). Three of the men, Johnston, Fry and Tracey, were returned solders and were buried with military honours. The hearse used to convey the coffins was a large motor-lorry which was piled high with floral tributes. The scene was one which will never be forgotteu 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 lespects to their gallant comrades. Also present were Hon. P. Fraser, representing the Prime Minister, Hon. R. Semple, Mr. Wood, engineer-in-chief, Mr. E. W. Melnnes, engineer-in-charge at Kopuawhara, Mr. J. W. Parker, overseer at Kopuawhara, Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P. for Gisborne, Mr. E. L. 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 Waiko-' kopu to Wairoa, bringing 200 men from Kopuawhara. Ad business premises in Wairoa were closed. There were 100 cars and several busee following the men and the whole route to the cemetery, about a mile and a-half, was lined with thousands of people. Father Doherty, parish priest at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Wairoa, assisted by Father J. Cullinan, Greenraeadows, 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 GovernorGeneral, Prime Minister and many others were then read by Father Doherty, Father Cullinan and Rev. 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 Hon. P. Fraser returned to Wellington while Hon. R. Semple, accompanied by Air. Wood, Jett for Kopuawhara to inspect the site of the disaster. SILENT TRIBUTE Yesterday afternoon the men engaged by the Public Works Department on tho Palmerston North Government houses, stood in silence lor five minutes in sympathy with their fellow workers who met such an untimely end in the disaster at Kopuawhara. They also wish to extend to the relatives and friends of the deceased their heart-felt sympathy, and to express their great admiration and appreciation of the gallant rescues. Timely aid was spontaneously given by those present, some of whom did so at the cost of their own lives. SEARCH FOR BODHSS Per Press Association. WAIROA, Last Nifcht. The search for the missing bodies continues, the whole course of the Kopunwhara stream from the site of the No. 4 camp to the mouth at Opoutama beach being traversed by parties of Public Works Department employees and others under the direction of the police. One body, that of Mr. R. E. Halford, single, aged 22, formerly of Waipukurau and Woodville, was located yesterday by a party of Maoris near a 6hed on Mr. R. Gower’s property, approximately a mile below the No. 2 camp, or three miles from iLo scene of the tragedy. There are still two men missing. The task of searching is somewhat hampered by rain, and by the tremendous amount of debris and silt that w'as brought down by the torrent.

One of the survivors of the disaster, Mr. James Cronin, is at present a patient in hospital as a result of injuries received. They are not serious, however. He was rescued by the 15-year-old sou of Mr. and Mrs. H. Cameron, who were in charge of tb© cook-house. He states that he was almost unconscious when dragged to safety by the boy, whoso first remark when he had rescued Mr. Cronin, was, “You're the fifth." The lad had made five attempts at rescue.

When it was made known that many of the bodies would be buried at Wairoa, the nurses at the Wairoa Hospital set about making wreaths, and their action is greatly appreciated by the people of the district, for it is wellknown that tho staff is at present exceptionally busy owing to difficulty »a obtaining nurses.

FULL COMPENSATION TO BB PAID GISBORNE, Last Night. Air. D. W. Coleman, M.P. for borne, states that the Minister of Pnfrlae 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 the victims of rne Kopuawhara tragedy, similar to what would hav« been paid if the victims had lost theif lives by accident while working.