CITY'S TRIBUTE

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24598, 1 June 1943, Page 2

CITY'S TRIBUTE

LATE MR. COATES MEMORIAL SERVICE CORTEGE IN STEEETS : IMPRESSIVE SCENES The people of Auckland paid their 1 last tributes to the late Rt. Hon. J. * G. Coates yesterday. During the lying in state of the coffin in St. Mary'sCathe- ' dial, at the service there later and again during the funeral procession over , a four-mile route to the railway station many thousands of city, suburban and country residents, representative of all shades of life and station, shared in a common sorrow and a silent and reverential farewell. It was shortly after seven o'clock i yesterday morning, as the sun rose to shine all day from a cloudless sky, that a special train bearing the coffin arrived at the Auckland railway station from Wellington. The coffin was later conveyed to St. Mary's Cathedral. Ensign and Maori Mat Many hundreds of citizens filed through the cathedral during the lying in state from 8.30 a.m. until about 2 p.m. Throughout that period the coffin, which was draped with a Maori mat and a silken New Zealand ensign, had a guard representative of the Navy, Army and Air Force, including Maori servicemen, mounted over it. The guard retired shortly before the commencement of the service at 3 p.m. From early in.tho afternoon official representatives and others began to arrive at the cathedral in increasing numbers for the service. Tram traffic by way of Parnell Road was overtaxed and even at two o'clock Meadowhank cans were filled to capacity before they reached the foot of Queen Street. During the service the cathedral grounds were packed with hundreds of people for whom accommodation could not be found within the building. Endless streams of cars were packed in Parnell Road and adjoining streets. Crowds Line Streets Returned soldiers wearing red poppies flanked _ the pathway as the mourners arrived, their place being taken as tho procession moved out to the street by the servicemen who had kept guard within the building. This guard presented arms as the coffin was carried on the shoulders of other servicemen to a gun carriage. A dense crowd flanked both footpaths until the cortege had moved off in the direction of Newmarket, en route to the railway station. From Parnell Road to Khyber Pass Road the cortege passed through almost continuous lines on both sides, with a larger group clustered at every intersection. The same scene was repeated in Symonds Street and in Karangahape Road. Men bared their heads, and everyone stood silently. City Stops Work Down Queen Street, from top to foot, the line of people on either footpath was unbroken. Many of those who watched were from shops and oflices which had closed, at the Mayor's request, as a mark of respect to Mr. Coates. Tram and motor traffic had been diverted to other routes and tho procession moved slowly down the middle of an otherwise deserted roadway. For a better view, many climbed to verandahs and roofs of shops, while others watched the procession from the windows of tall buildings. Particularly dense was the gathering at the intersection of Queen and Customs Streets, where the procession turned toward the railway station. The Closing Scene Nowhere was the scene more impressive than in the closing tributes at the station. The gun carriage and official cars drew up in the loop of roadway fronting the lawns while the remainder of the procession passed by in a last salute. Flanked by the Ministerial pallbearers and followed by the service pallbearers, the Governor-General's representative. the relatives and representatives of the armed forces, the coffin was then taken at a slow march up the rampart into the station. The band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, with muffled drums, played the procession on its way through the motionless files of a military guard of honour with arms at the present. The final tribute from the citizens of Auckland was paid by massed crowds who again watched in silence the solemn march. A final salute was given and heads were bowed as the coffin was borne into the station building, while on the lawn outside the last strains of martial music died away. AUSTRALIA'S SYMPATHY MESSAGE FROM MR. CURTIN (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday "Mv colleagues and I wish to convey an expression of our deepest sympathy to the relatives, to you and members of the New Zealand Parliament in the tragical I v sudden passing of Mr. ! Coates,"' stated the Prime Minister of i Australia, Mr. J. Curtin, in a message ! to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. | P. Frascr. I "You will recall entrusting Mr. 1 Coates with special war missions to the j Commonwealth, during the discharge ot which he attended meetings ol the Ausj tralian War Advisory Council, and had 1 vital consultations with members of the ; («o\eminent." continued Mr. Curtin. i "The many friends he made in this | country are much saddened by his nnj expected death. New Zealand has lost ! a distinguished citizen and great Parj liamentarian, who over a long period of years contributed service of endur- ! ing value to his country and to the ! Empire." NEWS IN AMERICA i MR. COI!DKIjL HULL'S I! KG REP (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Monday The United States Secretary of State, Mr. Cordell Hull, has sent the following message to the Prime Minister, the l!t. Hon. P. Eraser:—"l have received I with great sorrow the news of the death of a former Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. (J. Coates, and desire to) express my deepest sympathy to you and the Government of New Zealand. The loss of this distinguished statesman, whom 1 came to know and admire in the course of his visits to Washington, will be keenly felt at a moment in which the world so sorely needs outstanding leaders." NORTHERN WAIROA SOLDIERS APPRECIATION OF SERVICES (0.C.) DARGAVILLE, Monday The executive of the .Northern Wairoa Returned Services Association has passed a resolution expressing its deep regret at tho sudden and tragic death of Mr. Coates. The executive placed on record its high appreciation of the many services Mr. Coates rendered to the association, of which he was a foundation member. To Mrs. Coates and family heartfelt sympathy was tendered. SPECIAL PETROL ALLOWANCE MOTORISTS AT DARGAVILLE (0.C.) DARGAVILLE, Monday Arrangements have been made with the oil fuel controller, Dargaville, for an allowance of petrol to be made available to motorists upon their stating the number and names of passengers to be carried to the funeral of Mr. Coates at M atakohe io-niorrow. The business houses in Dargaville will be closed between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. to-morrow as a mark of respect to Mr. Coates.