LAID TO REST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14746, 31 July 1911, Page 8

LAID TO REST.

THE LATE MR. T E, TAYLOR.

A CIVIC FTJNEE.AL.

an■•■■ IMPRESSIVE OCCASION.

[by telegraph.— association.] , *■ CnKiSTCHURctt, Sunday. 1$ the presence of a great. gathering of ; Christchurch citizens the remains of the late Mayor, Mr. T. E. Taylor, M.P., were ' to-day. laid to rest. :}'•? v | Around the marshalling area along the lino of route, and outside and within the cemetery gates, the people massed all along to pay their last tribute to the departed head of the city. Tho weather was dull, and added to the pronounced general air of sadness. The cortege was perhaps the largest of its kind yet seen in Christchurch. The head of the procession left at 2.30, I and the Selwyn-street Cemetery, was reached threequarters of an hour later.. Early in the morning the casket containing the body of the late Mayor was brought from the Cashmere Hills to the City Council Buildings, and there placed in the big Council Chamber opposite the. Mayoral chair. . The interior of the chamber was heavily draped in black, while all,around, on tables covered with white cloths, were arranged the multitude of wreaths' which since Saturday morning had poured into the office. At 10.30 the main gates to the building were opened, and the big crowd assembled outside commenced to file in to view the casket and the wreaths. The stream of citizens 'continued without interruption throughout the whole of the morning and right up to one o'clock, when the doors were closed and preparations were made for the funeral. The wreaths were placed on a special hearse, which followed immediately behind the coffin. The wreaths came from all sections of the community and from all parts of New Zealand, and arrived continuously throughout the whole of the afternoon and evening and on Sunday morning. A wreath from the Ministers of the Crown was composed of violets. and other spring flowers and ferns. Among the numerous wreaths were some from the City Council, the.municipal office staff, Maori representatives, and the Society for the Protection of Women and Children. Among the bodies largely represented in the procession were several bands, the Oddfellows, the Prohibition League, and many ministers of religion, while almost every public body in the city was represented. The greater part of tho pedestrian section of the cortege was composed of trades unions and friendly societies, and this clearly indicated the sentiment of organised labour towards the late Mayor. A band was present, and played the tune of one of Mr. Taylor's favourite hymns, "The Day Thou Gavest Lord is Ended," and tho assembled choirs sang the hymn through, accompanied by the band. A few minutes later tho casket, borne by members of the City Council, was brought down from the chamber, and placed on the open hearse. Then the choir sang a second hymn, and at the close, the long cortege moved off, the silence being broken only by the slow tolling of church bells. Outside the cemetery large crowds congregated quite an hour before the funeral procession arrived, but none were admitted to the cemetery. The cortege reached the cemetery shortly after three o'clock, and was- preceded by members of Svdenham Prohibition League. Mr. L. M". Isitt took the first part of the service, and the Rev. C. H. Garland conducted the service at the grave- Mr. Isitt delivered a funeral oration. Prominent around the grave, in addition to Mr. Taylor's family and relatives, were the Acting-Prime Minister (Sit Jas. Carroll), the Hon. Geo. Fowlds, and tho Hon. D. Buddo. t , ... Mr. Isitt, in his funeral oration, said the man whose grave they were around was no millionaire who could buy his way into the hearts of the people. The secret of the hold he had on them and of the love they felt for him was simply that from the time he was an office boy ho gave tho whole of his V life and energies to an effort for the people's good. He was a keen fighter, but was also a most tender and chivalrous soul. A man 'of faults as well as- of virtues, lying on his deathbed he had said, " I have made many mistakes, but I have tried to live a selfsacrificing life for the good of: the people.' To -Mr. Taylor labour was often prayer, and his gospel was a gospel of work. Doubtless he sometimes forgot the duty to smite the sin and not tho sinner in his impatience to hurry on the right. Ho might have been sometimes harsh in, his criticism of thoso who opposed him; -but all who knew-him well knew how swift he was to express regret, and how eager he was to make amends. Tho one, lesson of Mr. Taylor's life was that they should struggle on amidst all difficulties, struggle for Christ-likeness in word, thought, and spirit. Mr. Isitt concluded with a few words to Mr. Taylor's comrades-in-arms in the cause of temporance, and urged them to greater efforts to secure tho reforms that Mr. Taylor .had so much, at heart.

A MEMORIAL FUND.

TO PROVIDE .-; FOR THE FAMILY. [BY TELEGRAPH.— CORRESPONDENT.] CnRiSTCHracH, Sunday. public meeting was held yesterday afternoon to set up a memorial fund-in memory of the late Mr. Taylor. Mr. H. W. Bishop, S.M., presided, and the room was crowded by representatives of all sections of the community.. -'..'■.;. The Chairman said that-he wanted the public to accept his presence there as chairman as the best, possible assurance they could have that the movement was entirely unconnected with any party or faction or branch of the work that the late Mr. Taylor during his strenuous life had been connected ■ with. Mr. Taylor had given his best .talents, and the whole ,of his physical strength to advance the best interests of the and ho had left an imprint that all hoped and knew would live in the country for years; that was proved by the marvellous tribute that had been- paid by all the people and all the newspaper press of the country. Ho remembered Mr. Taylor as a loving and devoted son, and as a loving husband and father, and it was only in that he had given his talents, for the public that he had not left adequate provision for the maintenance of his family. Mr.. Salter, the late Mayor's solicitor, had asked him to tell the meeting that his mother was practically penniless. She certainly had the old age pension to look forward to, but neither Mr. Taylor nor his friends would like to' think of that. His wife, five daughters and one son wore not sufficiently well off to raise them above the worry of .educational and other considerations, and no person present Would wish toa'dd to the sorrow and strain being endured by the widow. It was necessary to establish such a fund to provide an adequate income so that the; immediate effect of their friend's death would not b« so severely felt. . .-■ '• ■ , , Mr. J. J. Dougall suggested that a shilling fund should be instituted, and moved that a committee should be appointed to, carry out the memorial scheme, consisting of the Mayor of Christchurch, Mayors of other municipal .corporations, president of the Trades and Labour Council, Mr. H. W. Bishop, S. M., Mesdames Cole, Wells/ and Newton, the Revs. J. Dawson, J. Comrie, the Hons. C. E. M. Luke and G. J. Smith, Messrs. R. McNab, R. Malcolm, M. A. Ferguson, 0. T. J. Alpers, J. A. Flesher, C. H. Poole, M.P., D. McLaren, M.P., A. S. Adams, S. Saun- . ders., Wesley Sp/agg,J. A. Frostick A G.

T. Booth, A. W. Beaven, H. G. Ell, M.P., G. Bowron, A; C. Caughey,; R. S. McKenzie, Frank Thompson, J. T. Forester, H. E. Holland, G.Lamenson, M.P., A. ' R.Atkinson, F. G. Horrell, H. D. Bell, J. G. W;-Aitkeh," W. J. Hellyer, C. H. Gilby, A. F. Wright and! Dr. C. J. Russell, the committee to be empowered to add to its number." ' , ■■■ . . The motion was carried. ■ It is intended to vest the sum raised in trustees., Subscriptions are receivable by the town clerk of Christchurch : (Mr, H. R. Smith), the treasurer of the fund (Mr. C. E. Salter), and the secretary (Mr. J. McCombs). During i the meeting £267 was i collected. The Farmers' Union and the labour unions have. given notice of their intention to help. . " ', . , ',

LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S TRIBUTE. [by telegraph.— association.] Wellington, Saturday. , -In moving a resolution in the Legislative Council this morning expressing appreciation of the lato Mr. Taylor, and of condolence with his widow and family, the Hon. J. McGowan said the deceased was a unique personality. He had not unfittingly been termed the stormy petrel of New Zealand politics,. and his censure was severe, even to the.extent of.ruthlessriess. Yet ho was correspondingly liberal in his praise, which, being, carefully bestowed, was all the more appreciated. In his advocacy of any cause he espoused ho was whole-souled and characteristically effective, and New Zealand grieved to-day at the cutting off of a public-spirited legislator and citizen. Tho Hon. R. A. Loughnan, in a brief eulogy, seconded the motion. .The Hon. J. Barr and the Hon. J. T. Paul also made appreciative speeches. The motion was carried, and the Council rose till 7.30 p.m. on Tuesday.

MEMORIAL SERVICE. ~ [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION .J A'siniTTRTON,. Sunday.. A memorial service 1 to Mr. T. E. Taylor, held in the Theatre Royal this afternoon, under the auspices of the Ashburton Nolicense Council, was largely attended, all sections and creeds of the community being represented. The Mayor and borough councillors were officially present, and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. W. J. Elliott.

SYMPATHY FROM WAIKINO.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

' "S\ Waihi, Saturday. At a temperance meeting held at Waikino last evening, a resolution was carried expressing heartfelt regret at the death ot Mr T. E. Taylor, by.which the Dominion had suffered a severe loss. The opinion was expressed that the deceased s influence would long remain, owing to his splendid work in the interests of humanity.

WELLINGTON RESOLUTIONS.

iBT aTSLEGRAPH.— ASSOCIATION.]

. Wellington, Sunday. . At a meeting.of the City Men's Brotherhood to-day Mr. Edward Tregear and. Mr. A W. Hogg, M.P., made feeling reference to the loss occasioned to social reform by the death of Mr. T. E. Taylor A resolution was passed condoling with the widow and family, and regretting, the loss of a capable and self-sacrificing man. . . , A resolution of regret and sympathy was passed yesterday at a meeting of the beamen's Union. '