MB. SEDDON'S FUNERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13210, 22 June 1906, Page 5

MB. SEDDON'S FUNERAL

WELLINGTON CROWDED WITH MOURNERS.

GREAT AND IMPOSING PROCESSION.

SERVICES AT THE CHURCH AND GRAVE.

MEMORIAL GATHERINGS IN ALL CENTRES.

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN" CORRESPONDENT.]

able to witness the proceedings su. this point, that the mournful procession was taking place to the burial place. The order of the procession was as follows: - Chief Marshal. Firing Party from Permanent Artillery. Garrison Band. 'r-'l Bishop of Wellington. ■ ; ' THE GUN CARRIAGE BEARING THE COFFIN. Pall Bearers: (On the left—The Hon. Wm. Hall-Jones, tho Hon. A. Pitt, the Hon. C. H. Mills, Mr..McGuigau,Mr, F. C. Binns, and Mi. R. McKcnzie, M.'H.R. ' On tho right—The Hon. J. Carroll, the Hon. T. Y. Duncan, the Hon. J. McGowan, Mr. Murdoch, Mi. Malcolm Niceol, and Mr. Colvin, M.H.R.). Family and relatives of the deceased. His Excellency tho Governor's Carriage. Representative of His Excellency the Admiral. Sir J. G. Ward's carriage. Commandant of New Zealand Forces. Judges and ex-Judges of the Supremo Com*. The Speaker and Member* of tho LegislaV five Council,

Wellington-, Thursday. The hum of industry was v*shcd this morning. The carpenter lef' his bench, tho blacksmith left his anvil, the merchant left his desk: all the trafficking by which tho living prolong their lease of life lor a. lew .to-morrows was abandoned, and the worker.' went into the streets: There they lin- r gered by buildings that were draped in mourning hues. They gazed at pictures of the Late Premier that looked out from counties? windows. Now and then a squad of soldiers trooped along the silent roadways, for this was to be a funeral in which military and civilian forces would combine in' impressive strength. Everywhere flags waved at half-mast under a sky that shaded from blue to gray, completing the city's aspect of deep mourning. LYING IN STATE. The body of the late Premier was lying in state at Parliament Buildings from nine a.m. to-day until noon. Long before the doors of the building were opened this morning there was a great press of people in the vicinity. Frim nine a.m. onwards the crowd increased in density, and it soon became necessary to close the doors at minute intervals, admitting in single hundreds the thousands upon thousands who had come from all quarters of New Zealand to pay [ their respects to the memory 01 the deceas- i ed. From every quarter of the city the throng pressed forward all the morning, and after eleven a.m. Molesworth -street and the closely contiguous streets were densely packed with patient waiters. As each detachment of the people, was admitted to the buildings its members reverently moved forward and passed down the main entrance, and thence to the main lobby, wherein the coffin was mounted on a trestle suitably draped. THE WREATHS. The long length of the lobby was entirely covered with hundreds of wreath* of natural and artificial flowers, and waxen and othei emblems. These tokens of regard are of beautiful design and excellent work-, manship, and the quality and-variety of the natural flowers forming them is astonishing to one who remembers that the season.is mid-winter. The floral offering sent by His Excellency the Governor is especially handsome an imposing circle of white splashed with bunches of violets, and interspersed with rare orchids. From north, and south, east and west, the tributes have come. A scheme of district grouping has been observed, and thus it may be seen that Mr. Scddon's old West Coast has remembered him in death with a hearty and widespread favour equal to the great and unvarying confidence it extended to him along the years of bis .lengthy political life. The total of the wreaths and menjDrials sent in from all parts of the colonies must rim to many thousands.. As the throngs of mourners passed along the lobby they were received by the Speaker of the House (the Hon. A. R. Guinness)' and other officials. Two wins of the dead Premier were also in attendance. As the coffin was neared, the lines were divided, so that' one-half of the people passed the trestle to the left, and the other half went to the right. It was a sad procession that reverently filed past. It is officially estimated thasb about 35,Q00 people filed "past the coffin. They went through the lobby at the rate of about 100 a minute. ? ; MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT. ■ Shortly before two o'clock the members of both branches of the Legislature assembled at the main entrance of Parliament Buildings, and then took their places in the procession. Conspicuous amongst the members were the Premier (the Hon. W. HallJones) and the Ministry, viz., the Hon. J. Carroll (Native Minister), the Hon. T. x. Duncan (Minister for Lands), the Hon. J. McGowan (Minister for Justice), the Hon. C. H. Mills (Commissioner of Customs), and the Hon, A. Pitt (Attorney-General). These gentlemen, as colleagues of the deceased statesmen, acted as pall-bearers Prominent in this part of the procession were tho ex-Speakers and chairmen of committees, and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. W. F. Massey). It may be noted that amongst the late Premier's oldest friends in Parliament were Sir Wm. J. Steward (who has been a member of nine Parliaments), Mr. Parata (a. member of seven Parliaments), Mr. J. Allen (six Parliaments), and Mr. ■ F. Lawry (six Parliaments). The members of the Legislative Council who attended to pay their last token of respect to the deceased'' The Hens. W.'.D. H. BailHe, A. Baldey, W. Beeliah,'W. M. Bolt, C.C. Bowen, W. C. F. Carneross, H. Feldwick, F. H. Fraser. S. T. George, H. Gourley, B. Harris, J. Holmes. J. E. Jenkiuson" C. J. Johnston, T. Kelly, C.Louisson, K. Macdoiiald, J. Marshall, A. Pitt, B. H. J. Reeves, J. Rigg, W. C. Smith, T. Thompson, F. Trask, and H. F. Wigram.' The attendance of members of the House of Representatives was particularly good. There were 57 in the procession, those present being: Messrs. E. G. Allen, J. Allen, J. F. Arnold, W.H.P. Barber, A. R. Barclay, F. E. Baurne, J. Rennet, D. Buddo, J. Carroll, J- Colvin, T. H. Davey, A. Dillon, T. Duncan, W. H. Field, F. M- B. Fisher, F. R, Flatman, A. L. D. Fraser, W. Fraser, J. Graham, C. M. Gray, H. J. Greenslade, A. R. Guinness, W. Hall-Jones, J. A. Hanan, C. A. C. Hardy, H. Heke, J. T. Hogan, A. W. Hogg, J. T. M. Horusby, C. H. Izard, W. T Jennings, A, Kidd, G. Laurenson, F. Lawry, F. Y. Lethbridge, C. Lewis, J. McGowan, R. MeKenzie, T. Mackenzie, J. McLachlau, J. A. MacPherson, Yt. F. Massey, J. A. Millar, C. H. Mills, A. T. Ngata, T.Parata, H. Poland, C. H. Poole, A. E. Remington, R. B. Rcss, A. W. Rutherford, T. K. Sidey, E. M. Smith, J. C. Thomson, T. M. Wilford, G. Witty, W T. Wood, and Sir W J. Steward. TH ORDER OF PROCESSION. ' At two o'clock the cortege left Parliament Buildings. A long line of mourners stretch-, ed far back out of sight from the starting point, while the firing of minute guns conveyed to thousands of people, who were tai-

Tlic Speaker and Members of tho House of ':■■■:■ Representatives. Ex-Ministers of the Crown. Ex-members of Parliament. ; Foreign Consuls. i; Representatives of other Colonies (including representatives of New Zcalanders in ■■'■■■,*' .-■'. Sydney). The Mayor of Wellington. Naval and 'Military Officers. Representatives of West Coast. Memorial Service Committee. District Court Judges. Magistrates. Legislative Officers. Head* of Departments of the Civil Seirviw. ; S?|§ Public, Schools' Cadet Band. Old Age Pensioners. Representative Maori Chiefs. Lancashire Men. > Representatives of Local Bodies. ' ,;> Representative Clergy. Representatives ; of -Liberal and Labouv • Federation., ■ ,':,'. .■' ."J ■■;>;;'• "" ' .-.;.; Jupp's Band. Trades and Industrial Unions. Petone Workshops Employees. / Veterans. -.-.'..' ;> " Ex-Members of South African Coutiugenta. Old Members of Wellington Naval Association. < . .-■/.Navy League! Tramways Band. New Zealand Civil Service. /:'///*; Representatives of the Press. Graduates and Professors of Universities.. l Boards of Education. Educational institute. District Teachers' Association. Staff and Students of Training College. Wellington District Law Society., Medical Profession. Chambers of Commerce. Representatives of Bank-'. Freemasons. <. ' .'" Central Mission Band. ,-'.'...,- Friendly Societies. Maetertou Band. Missions to Seamen. Young Men's Christian Association. Shipmasters' Association. Australasian Institute of Marine Engineer!!. Scottish Society. New Zealand Rugby Football Union. Salvation Army. General Public. . "•'-.'.•.. Carriages. THE CHIEF MOURNERS. The chief mourners were: Mrs. Seddoiw, Captain R. J. Seddon, Mr! T. Y. Seddon, Master Stuart Seddon, Misses Mary S. Seddon, May G. Seddon, Rubi Seddon, Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Bean, Mr. F. and Mrs. Dyer, Dr. and Mrs. Morice (daughters and sons-iu % law), Mr. E. Seddon (brother), Mrs. Cuiiliffe and Mrs. McKay (sisters), Mr. G. Spots- -• ■■ wood (Mrs. Seddon's brother). Captain Hen- • nah and Mrs. Hennah (Mis. Seddon's sister), Mr: W. S. Hennah (Mrs. Seddon's: i nephew), and Mrs. Hennah, Mr. H. Hennah. (Mrs. Seddon's nephew), Mit>.» Elsie lieu- ' nah (Mrs. Seddon's niece), Mr. Reid and Mrs. Reid (Mrs. Seddon's.niece), Mr. N. Seddon (Mr. Seddon's cousin), and Mrs. N. Seddou.

AT THE PRO-CATHEDRAL. ■ ' When the gun carnage had been drawn up at the gates of St. Paul's pro-Cathedral'""."': it was met by the Anglican Bishop of Wei- ;< linglon (Dr. Wallis), the Rev. T. H. Sprott ;;; (vicai of St, Paul's), .the Vea. ArclnSsaiou ■':' Faivcourt, and the.vicars of' the Anglican :| churches in various parts of the city and •■ suburbs. As the pallbearers began tbcijr solemn march from the gates to the church ; they were preceded by the clergy, the- i Bishop leading aloud the opening senteucC-J! ■ of the Church 01 England service for tho burial of the dead. The scene was im- , pressive, the white-gowned priests moving slowly forward, the pallbearers, with heady - downcast, bearing their sad burden, and ".' the Bishop's voice rising in solemn cadence, reciting Christ's words of comfort to the - mourner, " I am the resurrection and.th© !:; life, suith tho Lord, he that believeth in, Me, though ne were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoevei livetb and believeth in Me shall never die." As the ceremony pro- , ceeded there was a tenseness of nervous feeling apparent. The crunch of gravel beneath the ieet of those forming the procession struck the ear with an intensity of ;, sound peculiar to overwrought feelings. , The service closed with the chanting by the clioh of the Nunc Dimittis—"Loi-d, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace." As the voices of the choristers died down, - the organ pealed out the solemn notes of "Tho Dead March" hum "Saul," the heartstirring strains with their sad . sciaticas ; growing tamiei in cue ears, of the raoumers at. they left the church, and again took • their places at the head of the procession, "' which stretched its long length through street after street, a sorrowful tribute to the departed Prime Minister DENSE MASS OF HUMANITY '•' Meanwhile points of vantage were occu- • ' ■ pied. Tranicars (which had ceased.run- : .s :"'■*:■ •'"•■'.'••: : ...•'"".'••'•".'•.■''•'» :.'vK: ". -.:' ■ '■'■.■<:■:■<. :■■;.":■,. f':mmo' I WMMP^Mm&

■ ■hag), tabs, expresses, carts, roofs, fences, ■ : trees, ail carried a living freight, and the . line of route from the Cathedral to the v Departmental Buildings was occupied by a dense mass of humanity. All the way 'V . along the, route were stationed volunteers i and cadets, but the crowd made no t.ttemwfc to break the ranks, and no: one could imagine a concourse of human atoms better behaved. There was no roughness and no . pushing. .The. man or woman with pram, or go-cart, or baby in arms, was in perfect ', safety in the crowd. Th© scene from the railway station to Bowen-strect whs one .to be- remembered. There the concourse of people was the greatest, and, viewed from above, it appeared as though the entiro space was occupied by a mass of hu- ■ manity which could not possibly find room to move. From windows, alcoves, roofs, ?:I fences, everywhere, another crowd looked . down on the aggregation of people which thronged the sidewalk;! and roadway; and '. everywhere there was order and cuiek At i brief intervalsthe' clock bell in the Government Buildings tolled its last farewell to him who had figured so prominently iSS within its walls, and but for the. hum of Pm: conversation no other sound arose. THE SOUND OF MUSIC. ■/■''. At last came the sound of music. The procession was within measureablo distance, • and a few minutes after three o clock the crowd could hear "The Garland of Flowers," that dirge which appeals to all, played by one of the bands. It seemed a long time before the sound got lose, and the dash of the Instruments could hi distinguished in detail, and then the stir, began .■'to be more pronounced. Everyone must see; it was the '-"last, chance. Still there was no crushing. In some way or other' all got 'a view of the hearse and the procession, and about twenty minute;: after, ' three o'clock the procession turned to its light up Bowen-street, and commenced the •last stage of its sad journey. A REMARKABLE SCENE. The scene at that point was remarkable. A\»ay to the south a vast concourse 01 peo- . ple- could be seen on a point of Wellington ■ '. Terrace getting a distant but clea»' view. • From the railway station to the front of the buildings the crowd was packed closely together, from the Government Printing Office and the Hotel Cecil opposite, hun- .'• dreds viewed the unique spectacle, and tramcars were densely crowded. Leaving ' Ihe Government Buildings and turning into '. Bowen-street' the scene was a strangely beautiful one, despite its mournful purpose. Far up on the hill sides thousands of people could bo seen. A MAORI FAREWELL. At the top of Bowen-street some hun- • dreds of Maoris, bedecked in twining green- ;:■' ery, had taken a stand, and there they gave a last farewell, according to their own cus- • toms. All that could be seen, at first was •; a rustling of green twigs, in striking contrast to the many-coloured background formed, by thousands of ladies' bats. When ;?■ the cortege turned into Museum-street one, long mournful shout rent the air, and the natives entered into a haka 01 defiance fiance at death. As the procession turned c'nto Sydney-street the wailing of the na- ' tives became fainter and fainter, and gradually died away altogether. In Sydney-street, too, thousands had taken up positions. '. Some seven or eight hundred had crowded . on one little knoll away in the Botanical Gardens, and many more looked down on the solemn scene from housetops half-a- . inile away. Every fence in the locality became a resting-place for hundreds for the time being. ' The trees in Parlia<v ment Grounds presented a strange sight. Dozens of boys were perched on every shrub in the ground, and even. ladies did ". not scruple about trusting their safety to «: frail verandahs and window sills overlooking the streets. . ,: AT THE. CEMETERY. - When at last the casket was transferred from the heavy gun-carriage, end borne silently through the cemetery gates, the crowd which had watched so long' and 1 eagerly, turned quietly away, and commenced to wend their way homewards. At H : the end of the march up Sydney-street the ;.'''.' men of the local defence forces transferred -.', their charge, to a detachment of marines from His Majesty's ship Encounter, . who had come provided with a lighter gun-car-riage to facilitate the approach to the grave by way of the last steep path through -" the cemetery. It was a way of tortuous fe.'. turns, past the -graves of former wellknown citizens who are now sleeping their long sleep. Prominent, by the way, was a, tombstone erected to the memory of the , Rev. Robert Ward, "First Primitive Metho- ,'■•■''■■'-■ dist minister who crossed the equator; or- ■ ; rived in New Zealand in 1844 ; laboured in Tar-nail, Auckland, Christchurch and Wei- j . lington; died at Wellington in October, I|j '1876, aged 60." Further jon was the | grave of an ex-officer of the Indian army, , and near by this the concreted resting-place ';':, (above ground) of the wife of a well-known citizen, there being left open a joined receptacle in amcrcte for the body of .the husband when the call comes. THE GRAVE. '■' " The grave .of the late Prime '~ Minis ''" is in a commanding site. After leaving _■ the original Sydney-street Cemetery, one passes through the caretaker's grounds, and , i emerges on a knoll bordered to the west- .; ward by grave.*, backed by the sombre, - green foliage of native bush that stretches ..to the south on a gently-rifting hill, flanked to the east by a steep "gully, green with leafy luxuriance, and relieved-to the northward by a declivity, overgrown with • ','.• shrubs and trees, which stretches away to jgspthe distant road. From the knoll onehalf of the-city and the greater part of the harbour may be seen. Undoubtedly the . - site is an eminently suitable one, and when ■r.'-';'in future time: a national memorial to the, : Jate Prim* Minister is raised upon the spot f?ir; it will be a prominent landmark indeed. CONSECRATION OF THE GROUND. .•• On arrival at the grave, Bishop Wallia -' consecrated the ground in a clear voice. He read the following prayer:—" In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and ' of the Holy Ghost. 1 solemnly consecrate this burial ground, and pray that God's j ' blessing may ever be upon this place, and sanctify and keep it holy, that'it may be a fit resting-place for the bodies of His •./■: servants until, the day of the Lord Jesus, when He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. Amen." '■■/*.. THE BURIAL SERVICE. Then followed the concluding portion of ; ' the beautiful burial service of the Anglican Church. As the Bishop read the solemn words there were signs of grief and emo- ■ /_ tion on the faces of the relatives and friends '.. ■ around the grave, and these signs were intensified when the Bishop '] said :—" Foras- ,- much as it hath pleased Almighty God of : His great mercy to take unto Himself the soul of our dear brother here departed, we therefore commit his body to the ground; earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust; m sure and certain hope of the •resurrection to eternal life through ourJ &V Lord Jesus Christ." I '.Then followed the words: "I. heard a voice from, heaven -saving unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the,' Lord: even mo with the Spirit; for they rest from their .labours," O' * « • ' /■•'■. ■ ■ •■ - - ' SS&S& \: ■-'.-'■

' THE FINAL CEREMONY. Then the mourners moved slowly buck, and a firing pally from the New Zealand Royal Artillery took up, position. Three buglers from the company blew the call, known ■:.» ''The Sunset,'' and meanwhile three volleys of rifle cartridge were fired over the grave of the ex-Defence Minister. in token of farewell, as the trio of buglers sounded the musical mournful notes of the "Last Post." And there they left him to rest from his labours, and '- the mourners around the grave and the multitudes on the surrounding slopes slowly dispersed in the gathering gloom of the .winter evening. ■ God'* finger touched him, and he slept." MASONIC SERVICE. [BT TELKGRAPII.—PRESS'- ASSOCIATION".] Wellington, Thursday. A very brief Masonic service was gonethrough at the graveside. Brother Malcolm Niccol, Grand Secretary, and a Past Grand Master of Grand Lodge of New Zealand, conducted the service, concluding with a prayer and the customary dropping in the grave of the late brother a sprig of acacia, the Ma-sonic emblem of immortality. THE JUDGES. ; As all the Supreme Court judges wsre absent from Wellington on the various circuits they were represented at the late Premier - !? funeral by Sir James Prendergast, the former Chief Justice.