FLORAL TRIBUTES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23619, 1 April 1940, Page 12

FLORAL TRIBUTES

WEALTH OF BEAUTY MEMORABLE SPECTACLE WIDESPREAD SYMPATHY Not for many years has Auckland seen such a wealth of beauty ns was. displayed yesterday in the floral tributes to Mr. Savage., Thou- j sands of flowers of every shade and hue, wreaths ranging from the most magnificent that money can buy to simple tributes by children, all were silent expressions of the deep esteem in which Mr. Savage was held by every section of the community. lt| was a never-to-be-forgotten spectacle. lied predominated in the flowers' chosen. Many of the emblems featured roses, which are stated to have been Mr. Savage's favourite flower, or dahlias, including the miniature pompom variety. Autumn-tinted chrysanthemums. zinnias, gladioli, carnations, asters,, liliunis, delphiniums and daisies were also much in favour. Many of the flowers '.vould have taken pride of place in any horticultural show. Transport to Graveside Most of the wreaths, displayed on trestles, and mounted on i2O large motor-trucks. wore taken over the funeral route to Bastion Point <lO minutes before . the cortege moved off from the railway station. Many emblem* brought from Wellington and others collected, between that city and Taumaiunui on Saturday were taken out to the graveside yesterday morning. Wreaths collected between Tauinariinui and .Auckland yesterday were placed on motor-trucks and taken to Bastion Point on the arrival ot the train at 2.15 yesterday afternoon. All official wreaths were carried on a vehicle which followed the gun-carriage bearing the casket;. The tributes came on behalf of persons and organisations tar and near. There was one from the Prime Minister of Britain. Mr. Chamberlain, another from the British Government and one from the Mouse of Commons. Other distinguished people and associations in Britain were also represented, as wen; the leaders of the Governments of all the British Dominions. Vi.'icount Galway's Tribute The Administrator and people of Western Samoa and the Resident Commissioner and people of Nine Island and of the Cook Islands sent wreaths. The inscription on that Irom the Governor-General. Viscount Galway, and Lady Galway was as follows: — "To the memory of one whose ideals and luimanitarianism won the esteem of all." Every section of the community was represented in the floral offerings received from all parts of the Dominion. They came from Cabinet Ministers and members of Parliament, including Opposition members, all members ot the consular corps, National Party, the French family, workers, old-age pensioners, company directors, local bodies, labour organisations, Maori citizens, religious organisations and members of foreign communities in Auckland. Gratitude ol Families Numerous tributes were received from families who had been helped by Mr. Savage. Their gratitude was summed up in words brance of him who did so much for others and so little tor himself," or "To a beautiful life came such a sudden end. liie died as he lived, everyone's friend." In other inscriptions he was described as "a man with a heart of gold," "a man in a million," or simply as "a great friend." Nearly "1000 wreaths were handed in at tin; Town Hall on Saturday and yesterday morning and several thousand people inspected them there on Saturday night. So great was the congestion that the services of additional police constables hud to be obtained to keep people moving past the stands upon which the wreaths were mounted. Bv JO o'clock all the stands were fully occupied and wreaths brought in after that hour had to be placed in an anteroom. LINING THE ROTJTE DUTY OF THE SERVICES Special detachments from the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy, the New Zealand Military Forces, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force, together with members of ex-servicemen's organisations and Boy Scouts, heipod to line tliie route of tli" funeral yesterday. The number parading was about (5000. In addition to providing this service, the three forces made up the escort; and provided the eight hearers,, while, the casket was strapped to a ir'un-chrriage drawn by a motor tractor. The Armv also supnliod '250 men to assist police and traffic officers. All the units at Papakura camp were drawn on and were brought to the city by special trains. The detachments front the Navy. Air Force and North Shore defence units were transported to the 'city by water. Those used for the lining of the route were marched awav as soon as the cortege had passed, •while th° members of the escort and the bearers left the processi&n at. the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets and were conveyed to Bastion Point bv motor-bus.

Tin' orsnnisntinn nf 111 o militarv participation worked in smoothly with Iho rest rif (he plans for Iho earrving out of the fiinor.il. Pota-led orders proffirorl hv Captain -1. CI. C. Wales nnd Cantnin R. SI. Tlalliwell worn carried out ivit.li the precision usually associated with the services. 4 AUCKLAND YACHTSMEN CHEAT ASSEMBLY OF BOATS Auckland yachtsmen paid n striking tribute to the late; Prime Minister yesterday afternoon when ovof '2OO boats of all si:;.es and classes dropped anchor off Bastion Point. A nuinbor of these had taken part in a procession from the Kind's Wharf, while the remainder, sailing in from various parts of the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, assembled off the point in time for the funeral. ' In accordance with the usage of the sea, all boats were Hying flags or club burgees at half-mast, and as the first notes of the "Last Post" sounded flags were hoisted to the masthead and then slowly lowered. At the conclusion of the bugle call Hags were again hoisted to the masthead.

DEPARTURES FOR SOUTH A large number of official representatives at the funeral, including the acting-Prime Minister, the lion. P. KrasCr, oilier members of the Cabinet and 'the Legislature, representative* of oversieus Governments and departmental officers, who arrived by special trains yesterday, left again for the south last evening. A number were accommodated sn the limited express, but the majority travelled by the relief express o J • P ,m * au d a special express at 8.40 p.m.