Upper Hutt Disaster.

Mt Benger Mail, 8 April 1914, Page 4

Upper Hutt Disaster.

BURIAL OF THE VICTIMS

TRIBUTES OF RESPECT

Wellington, March 31

Six ot the victims of Sunday's lira tragedy at the Upper Lluti were Luried to-day, and the occasion I rougkt out a very large number of tho local residents, and people irom Wellington desirous of paying a last tribute oi respect to the men who had died while wording for the good of their aeighbours. Four of tho mem James Coniesky (postmaster], Constable Ma" honey, William Flynn (railway guard;, and Michael Toohey—were interred in the I ppcr llutt Cemetery with tLo full riles oi the Catholic Church. The service was conducted by Archbishop Redwood, the Very Rev. Dean Reguault, 1" a Tier Daly (parish priest), and others of the clergy. There was a large muster of police under Superin tendeat Ellison and Inspector Il< ndry, as well as a contingent oi railwaymen, and the Hibernian Society, with a lug gathering of the general public. Also among those present were the Hons. 11. U. liell, A. L. Herdman, and 1- laser, Mr T. L. Wilford (member for iluttj, .Mr J. i'. Luke (Mayor of Wellington) Mr R. iletcher (chairman of the Wellington Harbour lioard),and other representatives of public bodies. In the course of the service Father Italy paid a tribute t.o the characters ot the men and the tho manner in which they lost their lives, wording for the good of others though they knew tho risks they ran, there was no shrinking back. Jl< ather Daly also referred to the other three deceased—Vivian, 'l'aylbr, and i'ellinj, —saaing that he had known them all as young men of great promise. At the graveside Archbishop Redwood assured the relatives and friends oi the dead that they would have the sympathy of their countrymen generally. The men had met their death while woing a work ot neighbourly charity, honourable, useful careers being thus cut short. Their actions had l)©en au example to all. In the afternoon, John Wesley Vivian was interred at the Taita Cemetery. The Rev. .J. MeCaw (Presbyterian; conducted the service in the presence of a large gathering of mourners.

The last sad event of tho day was enacted at tho \\ allacoville Cemetery, where George Taylor, as a member oi the North lslan.i ityi.ilway Battalion of the New Zealand Engineers, was accorded a military funeral. The Rev. Air I slier (Presbyterian) olliciated at the graveside.