FUNERAL OF COLONEL AUSTEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 41, 31 December 1863, Page 3

FUNERAL OF COLONEL AUSTEN.

Yesterday morning w'e had the satisfaction ';fl announce that fcleneral Cameron wn* in possession of the head quarters of rebellion, and i.hat the Queen' 3 flag hod replaced that of the Maori king at Ngaruawahia. Yesterday, fit noon, the ships of war and the buttery at Fort Britomart thundered forth their royal salutes in honor of the event; and yesterday afternoon the wail of funereal music, again resounded tlirough our streets, lor the remains of tho much lamented Col. Austen, late commanding the 2hd battalion of the 1-ith regiment—a victim of the attaclc at. Rangiriri—were conveyed to their final bourne. Unhappily we have recently hcen so frequently »ucc!s£ilA-Ud to chroidde thi» march of death, that tho form and conduct of such piocessions may almost bo said to have become stereotyped. That of yesterday differed in no particular from (hose that preceded it, aiders that there was a less general attendance of the citizens, v.'liicli was to be attributed tb an eroncous idea which had got abroad that the funeral was not to take place until this afternoon. So allprevalent was this mistake that we ourselves had to acquaint more than one officer residing at a distance of the r.etual fact. From the number of men on duty ui the Front, the cortege was also less numerous than it otherwise woidd have been; still, ail tho honours that, possibly cov.'.d 1.0 rci.JercJ to lliu remains of the noble spirit that has departed from amongst us, were regretfully performed. Shortly utter 4 o'clock, all being in readiness, tho procession moved from the Albert Barrack Square in the following order Firing Party Of the 12th, 11th, 18th, 50th, and 6.lth Regiments; j In command of Major Turner; Goth Hegt., j And Lieut. Harrington, 14th Regt. I Band 14th Hegimeht | Flavins; the Dead March in Saiil. ! Tin: jioDVCovered with the "Union Jack; \ On a Gun Carnage ! Drawn by six horses and drivers, i I'ali Bearers, ! Capt. Minister, 60th, Capt. Whitbread, 66th, I A.C. General Movie, Capt. Yereker, 12th, j Staff Surgeon Major Gibb, Major Paul. : Chief Mourners, . | Capt. Strange. Capt. .Snimder's. I Captain Minnett, Lieutenant Armstrong, j Col. Austen's led Charger, I With Pall, boots aud spurs reversed: lloyal Artillery. Royal Engineers. Seamen of lI.M. ship l Esk.' Officers of the Auckland Militia and Volunteers. ; Officers of the Ordnance, and Military j Purveyors' Departments i Civilians. j Members of General Assembly. I Member' of the Executive. JJin Excellency the Governor, j ' Majcr-Genl. Galloway: On arrival at the Cemetery the body was met by ! the Rev. Mr. Kinder, who read the impressive service ! of the Church with much feeling. { A grave had been prepared in immediate eon- ! iiguity to that of Captain Phelps. Earth was con" | signed to kindred earth. Three parting vollies wero I given. The melancholy ceremony was over, and the i valiant dead was left tj his last repose by the side of ! those with whom, when in life, he had fearlessly I battled with his country's foes. Pray God that, this may be the last of Raugiriri's sacrifics. But we fear—we fear it.—]!i:fl'.u>, December 10,