Ihe Late Premier.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXVII, Issue 101, 1 May 1893, Page 2

Ihe Late Premier.

The Funeral. Wellington, April 30» Never in the history of Wellington was ,here such an assemblage as met this morn* Dg to piy the last respect to the memory of ;he late Premier. Notwithstanding that the iuneral was announced for 630 a.m , tha streets bnre a busy aspect loDg before that hour. Shortly after daybreak eager speotabors assembled in front of the Ministerial residence, Tinakori rcai, in which Mr Ballance died, and about 630 a.m. the Volunteers began to muster in force, followed shortly afterwards by the friends of the deceased. A strong posse of police under Inspector Pender, kept the Ministerial ground free, except to those who had the right of entry. A detachment of the Permanent Artillery, who were to form the firing party, were first to invest the ground?, and were drawn in line in front of the main entrance. The friends of Mr Ballanoe arriving early had an opportunity of viewing the body, but short y before seven o'clook tha coffin was screwed down and preparations made for the funeral, Innumerable wreaths were delivered at tin residence, sent from all parts of the Colony, and by persons and associations of all political opinions. By seven o'olock Captain Biok« ford, of H.M.S. Katoombs, with several officers and 25 seamen, arrived, and from this out the assemblage increased, and oar< riages containing members of the Govern* mint, Mayor, Councillors, and prominent citizens arrived. They drove in to the grounds and formed line in front of the residenoe, About 715 the ooffia wai oarried from the drawing-roorr, and placed on a gun oarriaga in oharge of a detachment of the D Battery, and a second or two later the mournful sound of the Dead March, played by the Garrison Baud, announced that the remains of Mr Ballanoe were proceeding to their last resting place. The Volunteers and Katoomba men, the latter wearing crape bands, headed the cortege, and after them came the firing party, gun carriage with coffin, covered by the Union Jick, followed by Mr M'Koight, of Palmeraton North, who was ohief mourner, with the Messrs Anderson, brothers of Mrs Billanoe, the Ministers acting as pall bearers. The procession, whioh extended the entire length of Hill street, comprised all the leading citizens in Wellington, besides numerous friends of the deceased who had arrived from all parts of the colony, including the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Beveial Southern members. The streets were thronged throughout the line of procession, and at the lUilwiy Station an immense crowd had gathered. It was quite 8 a.m. before the station was reaohed, but little time was lost in placing the coffin on board, and at B*ls the train, oonveying about 200 invited by Ministers, left for Wanganui, followed a few minutes later by tbe public train, whioh was not largely patronised. Flags were flying half-mast all day. Wanganui, April 30. The remains of the late Premier were interred to-day in fine weather, and in the presence of a great ooncourae of people. Visitors and reporters commenced to arrive by Saturday's train, and by the time the last train got in to»day the town was thronge !. The fact of the funeral being with Masoaio honours attraoted an immense number of Masons from all over the oolony, as many as forty Lodges being represented. The Governor, the Ministry, both Houses of Parliament, Volunteer corps, Fire Brigades, aid other public men and bodies sent numerous representatives. Early in the afternoon the big firebell began to toll for the dead, and people began to fill the thoroughfares, all winding their way towards the railway station to witness the arrival of the special train. This was timed to get in soon after two, but it was three before it arrived, and by that hour it was with difficulty that standing room was obtained on Taup? Q my near the Railway St\tion. The Napier train arrived just before two p.m., bringing a full compliment of mourners from Napier, Waipawa, Danevirke, Wcndville.Palmerston, Fielding, and Marton, including the Manawatu Mounted Rifles. The Govornment train carrying the remains brought up a large complement of Wellington and Ssuthern people. The Governor's represabtitivea were Captain Hunter Blair and fltfr Clayton, and the whole of the Ministers, Sir Robert Stout, the Speakers of both House?, and a large number of M.H.R's and M.L.C's, representing districts from Auckland to Dunedin, were present. Mrs Ballanco was accompanied by Mrs Anderson and Miss Griffiths. The Wellington and Auckland Masonio Lodges regrettsd they did not know it was to be a Masonio funeral, or they would have been officially represented. By the time the remains arrived a procession was drawn up, and the following is the order of the largest oortege Wanganui has ever seen : — Firing party (inoluding the Permanent Artillery), Wanganui Garrison Band, Wanganui Town Band, Otaki Native Band, Freemasons, gun carriage with coffin, pill bearers walking on either side, Tylers, chief mouroers, the Governor's representative?, foreign Consuls, M.L Cs, M.H R's, Mayor and Councillors of Wanganui, members of tho Harbour and River Trust Boards, 'Wanganui Herald' Btaff, Bank of New Zealand officers, Civil Sarvants, Alexandra Cavalry, Volunteer Officers, old members of the Wanganui Cavalry, Wanganui Fire Brigade, Foresters, Railway employees, and the general public The whole formed a gigantic procession, which, including the whole of the publio following on both eides, must have numbered something like 4000 or 5000 people. This great concourse moved slowly to the Cemetery, taking the route up Victoria Avenue, along Guyton street, and Cemetery road. In the Cemetery a large equare was reserved for the mourners, the police, representatives of whom were present, from almost every station between this and New Plymouth (under Inspector ThonnoD), and the Alexandra Cavalry keeping back the large crowds anxLus to get a3 near a view as possible of the ceremony at the grave side. The chief mourners assembled olose to the grave, accompanied by prominent Masons, and the ceremony waß performed by the Rev A. O. Williams, PCS., of the Tongariro Lodge, assisted by Bros J, H. Keeling, P.M., aud J. Stevens, W.R.M. Tha Masonic odes ' Solemn Strikes the Funeral Chimes ' and " Days and Moments Quickly Flying" were suDg, and the usual service was read. The words "We oherish his memory here below ; we commend his spirit to God, who gave it ; we commit his body to the grave" were repeated three times by the Masons with appropriate signs. The Masonic apron, the emblem of puvity, vjas deposited in the grave ; after which Bro. Keesing pronounced the benediction, ''Merciful aud Almighty, may the virtues of our departed brother be ever green in Thy memory as they will be in ours." The brethren then deposited green acacia twigs in the grave, accompanied by the words " Alas, my brother," and the ceremony was brought to a conclusion by the firing of three volleys by the party of 230 men. A great number of wreaths were sent, a lire brigade ladder carriage being covered with them. All the Ministers were at the Premier's funeral to-day, as well as the Hons. Shrimski. Jennings, McCullough, Richardson, Jenkinson, Kigg, Walker, and Kelly, of the Legislative Council, and the followM H.Rs. :— Speaker Steward, T. Thompson, W L. Rees, E. M. Smith, W. C. Smith, J. G. Wilson, Buick, Buchanan, G. Hntchison K Moore, Joyce, Wi Parata. Taipua, Hall, Macguire, G. lusher, Mills, 'Earnshaw, Dawson, Sandford, Tanner, and Richardson.