FUNERAL OF THE LATE COLONEL NIXON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume I, Issue 177, 7 June 1864, Page 6

FUNERAL OF THE LATE COLONEL NIXON.

Yesterdat, the latest funeral honours were rendered to the remains of'this much esteemed and decpl}' lamented settler-soldier. Auckland pouring forth her thousands to follow him to his final resting place. When the late Commodore Burnett was carried to the spot which has since unhappily. become a United Service Grave Corner, the beauty and brilliancy of summer weather might easily account for the large concourse that was attracted by the sad and solemn specfade. Yesterday, however, with roads ankledeep in mud, and with rain falling in down-pour squalls, it must; have been a far more powerful sentiment than that of mere curiosity to draw our inhabitants forth. It was so. —It was a genuine tribute of mournful respect to the ashes of one who, whether as a colonist or a soldier, had " won golden opinions from all sorts of people." Of his merits as a colonist —let our Farmers' Clubs and Agricultural Societies bear , record. Ofhis preeminent finalities as a soldier —without adverting to his long and distinguished services in her Majesty's line— suffice it that such was the estimation of his capacity—such the high consideration of his energy and enterprise that be held the four-fold colonial appointments as Colonel of the Auckland 1 Militia, Colonel of the Auckland Cavalry, Colonel of the Cavalry Defence Force, and Commandant of the Mounted Flying Column, in which last capacity the settlers of the Papa- ; kura district—in which h:s lot may, to a certain ( extent, be said to have been cast —have grateful cause of remembrance. ' In recording the decease of Colonel Nixon, when we said that he leased the Mangarie property of the late brigade Major Greenwood, we ' omitted to state that he had, likewise, a fine 1 freehold of his own in the immediate neighbourhood. The remains of our departed friend and j fellow colonist, have been consigned to earth with all possible military and colonial solemnity. The corpse was conveyed from his late residence 1 Mangarie on Saturday last, and 011 its arrival at ■ the Albert Larrack S piare. shortly after dark, it was deposited in a marquee previously erec- , ted. where it lay, under guard of dismounted troopers of the h'oyal Cavalry Volunteers, in command of Captain 1 lardington, throughout Saturday night, Sunday, and Monday lorenoon —numbers ot our citizens paying tlieir last farewell visit. Yesterday, bv :i p.m., the Albert Barrack square became densely crowded, notwithstanding the bitterness of the day. and the wet and wintry inclemency of the weather. All being in readiness, the procession was formed ami moved off in the following order : Filing l'arty. Numbering about Five Hundred of the Naval Volunteers, Auckland '-Volunteer Rifles, and Aue].-'and Militia 111 command 0 f laeut.-Colonel Nation. Rand of H.M. fiOth regt. Flaying the Head March in Saul. Land of the Auckland R.illes. JtOllV Covered with the TJition Jack On a Cixin Carriage Drawn by Six Horses, and Driven by Three of the Military Train, Two Koyal Artillerymen on.Tumbil. VAI.I. r.KAKKIiS. Lieut.-Col. lie Quineey, Lieut.-Col. Lyon, Lieut.-Col. Kenny, Col. Sillery, Col. Gamble, C.1!., Col.O'Brien,Mil.Train. CHIRK MOCUNIiUS. Captain Hutton, Captain \V;iiiiK-lcy, — Haultain, Esq. C<>l. Nixon's led charger. Loots and Spurs reversed. Auckland Militia. Auckland Rifle Volunteers. Volunteer Cavalry. Dismounted. J lefi ne,. l''n r er, XlismounU'd. Military Train. Royal Kngineeis. Royal Artillery. Royal Navy. Tin; Brethren of the several Jlasonie Lodges in Full Costume. ' llis Honor the Attorney-General. Sir George. A. Arney, Chief Justice. The M min is ..f the General Assembly and_ Provincial Council, with the several Civilian, Government Ollieers and Citizens. ''Hirers of the Colonial Corps. Captain Roheit. Jenkins, senior Naval Ulliccr, and Ollieers of lI.M. Arniv and Navy. Major General Calloway and Sta(l'._ Lieutenant-General Sir I*. A. Cameron, 1v.C.8., Commander of the Forces, and Stall". 1 On arriving at the Cemetery Gates, the Collin was removed from the (inn Carriage and borne : on the shoulders of men of the Defence Force towards the Grave Yard. The Collin was i covered with black velvet, and the inscription plate bore the following record : — jUAKMAI'VKK (Ikokok Nixon, Late li'Jth Regiment, I'orn April 27 th, ISM, ' Died Mav -7th, LS(U, Aged oU Years. Tt was sometime before the tiring party and ! numerous cortege could take up a position around the grave, which is situated a little above, but in'close contiguity to that, of Commodore Burnett and tlie cbivalric band now clustering around his remains. AVhen that was ' accomplished, the burial service was read by the Rev. Mr. Lloyd, of St. Paul's, in his wonted impressive manner. Farth was consigned to 1 earth. Ashes were mixed with ashes. Three parting vollies. And all, but an undying memory, was left to filial repose.—May :H.