OUR LATE QUEEN

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1510, 7 February 1901, Page 37

OUR LATE QUEEN

GREAT GATHERING OF ROYALTIES.

ORDER OF PROCESSION

LONDON, January 29.

Admiral Sir Charles Hot-liam will command the squadrons taking part in the naval funeral procession of the Queen. He will be assisted by ViceAdmiral Rawson and Rear-Admiral Noel. The members of the Royal Family will sleep on Friday night aboard the yachts Victoria, and Albert, and Osborne. The Alberta, which will contain the coffin, will be moored at the Clarence Yard at Portsmouth.

The engines of the train from Portsmouth to London will be painted black, and will carry mourning emblems. There will be no representative of the Vatican at the funeral, but there will be at- the Coronation of the King. The cruisers Dupuy and Delorme represent France at Osborne. T'He funeral arrangements were mainly arranged by the Queen during her life-time. The Channel Reserve Squadron, consisting of eighteen battleships and twelve cruisers, will form two lines from. Cowes to Portsmouth. The southern section of the line includes sixteen vessels representing the fleets of Germany France, America, Russia, Portugal. Denmark and Italy. Eight destroyers will escort the Royal yacht Alberta, bearing the body. This will- be followed by the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert, with the King and Queen and other Royal mourners, the Admiralty and Trinity House yachts and probably the Imperial German yacht HoJhenzollern. It is expected the passags will occupy two hours. The Achbishops of Canterbury and York and the Bishop of Winchester will conduct a service at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, prior to the removal of the body to Frogmore. The coffin-bearers will consist of noncommissioned officers of the Brigade. Twenty thousand troops will** line, the streets. The Czarevitch, the Crown Princes Gustaf of Sweden and Constantine cf Greece, Mohamed Ali (brother of the Khedive of Egypt), and the Hon J. H. Choate (the American Ambassador) will attend the funeral.

Starting from Victoria Station at 1 1 o’clock, the cortege will proceed along Buckingham Palace road., past the Queen’s Palace into the Mall, past St. James’s Palace by St. James’s street to Piccadilly,’entering Hyde Park by the Apsley Gate. Skirting alone the Park "Lane end of the Park, and emerging by the Marble Arch, it will proceed along Edgeware road to the Boundary mat, and thence through Praed street to Paddington Station. The procession will occupy two hours to traverse this route. Seats along the route are realising fabulous sums, some windows fetching £420. The members of the House of Eords and thd House of Commons will not “participate in the precession, but will view it from stands erected in the gardens of St. James's Palace.

Thousands of exquisite wreaths, crosses and shields, some ot them costing hundreds of pounds, have ‘been forwarded to Windsor. LONDON January 30.

King Edward is in London completing arrangements for the funeral. Sixty princes of Royal blood will ride in the procession, which will be headed' by volunteers, yeomanry and colonial le-pre-sentatives. Prussian dragoons will also participate. The. King will ride alone behind the gun-carriage bearing the coffin, followed by the Emperor of Germany and other reigning 'Sovereigns. The total length of the route through the city is three and a quarter miles.

Until Monday the body will remain in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, and it will then be removed to the Royal Mausoleum at Frogmore in the presence of the Royal mourners only. Guns will fire a salute half-hourly between sunrise and sundown, when fortyfive will be fired a»s a salute to the Union Jack.

Owing to the extended nature of the procession in London, over 20,000 regulars and 7000 volunteers will be needed to line the route.

LONDON, January 31

An Army Order has been issued directing the following order of procession : —Officers of the headquarters staff, bands of the Royal Horse Guards and the Second Life Guards playing Beethoven’s and Chopin’s funeral marches, detachments only of the volunteers, yeomanry and colonial corps, twentyfive officers and a hundred men from the Shorncliffe Militia, the Honourable Artillery Company and departmental corps, twenty officers representing the Indian Army, six hundred infantry, four hundred of the foot-guards, engineers and garrison artillery, a battery of field artillery and horse artillery, three squadrons of cavalry of the line, a detachment of the Household Cavalry, five hundred of the Royal Marine Light Infantry and bluejackets, the headquarters

THE FUNERAL CEREMONIES.

MOUTH

staff, foreign military attaches, the bands of the Marines, the Guards, the Engineers and the Artillery. Invalided colonial soldiers have been allotted seats to view the funeral. LONDON, January 31.

Field-Marshal Earl Roberts is controlling everything in connection with the funeral procession, Lieutenant-General Pfile-Carew being responsible for the military arrangements. All the clubs are lavisly decorated with various shades of purple draping, and householders along the route of the procession are doing their utmost in helping! to increase the magnificence tf the spectacle. Special envoys from the Kings of Portugal, Greece and Belgium have arrived in London.

The funeral procession from Osborne House to Cowes will be less elaborate. The lata Queen’s pipers will play in front of the gun-carriage bearing the coffin, which will be escorted by a detachment of the Grenadier Guards ; and the King, the German Emperor, the Princes of the Royal blood. Queen Alexandra, and the Princesses will follow. The only others present will be the Countess of Lytton, Lady of the Bedchamber, and the Hon Harriet L. Phipps, Woman of the Bedchamber. ,

Major-General Sir Joint C. McNeil, Equerry-in-Ordinary, Admiral Ctilme Seymour, First Principal Aide-de-Oamp to the late Queen, and four other naval aides, will accompany the coffin on beard the yacht Alberta to Portsmouth. The King and Queen, together with the Emperor William and the Royal Family, will proceed on board the Royal yacht Victoria and Albert.

Following the military in the funeral procession will come the gun-carriage bearing the coffin, attended by a Sovereign’s escort, with the late Queen’s aides and equerries side of the coffin. The Royal mourners will be followed by the attending Sovereigns, and accompanied by an escort consisting of a hundred of the Household Cavalrv.

LONDON, February 1. Immediately behind the coffin will ride the King, the Kaiser, the Duke of Connaught, Princes of the Royal, blood, foreign royalties and their representatives, the Master of the Horse (the Duke of Portland); four four-horse carriages containing the Queen and the Princesses, with an escort of the Royal Irish Guards, closing the procession.

FROM OSBORNE TO PORTS-

GREAT NAVAL DEMONSTRATION

A MAJESTIC SPECTACLE

LONDON, February 2. Queen’s weather prevailed yesterday, the sunshine being unbroken. There was a soul-stirring spectacle at Cowes, and in the Solent. Scores of thousands of people lined the headlands of Portsea Island, Southsea Common, and the points of vantage in Portsmouth Harbour.

The members of the House of Peers and the House of Commons, with their wives, and others who were invited, travelled by four special trains to Southampton, the ocean liners Scot and Dunvegan Castle conveying tliem to the Solent.

Three thousand five hundred troops with arms reversed and bowed heads, lined the streets from Trinity Pier to Queen’s Gate. At Osborne there were dense crowds of onlookers.

After the Bishop of Winchester had concluded the service in the chapel at half-past twelve, bluejackets acted with the Highlanders who had been the Queen’s personal servants, as bearers of th,e coffin to a khaki-coloured gun-car-riage, which was drawn' by six dark bay horses, driven and led by artillerymen. The muzzle of the gun projected under the platform, and the pall, which was of silk, edged with gold lace, was embroidered with the Royal Arms at the corners, which were drooping. The Royal Standard partially draped the pall.

At the head of the coffin was a cushion with the great State Crow r n, not the small one, flashing with diamonds, which had been seen in the chapel. The cushion at the foot bore the sceptre and two orbs.

Three mounted grooms in scarlet, and detachments of military, preceded the cortege. The Queen’s equerries and aides-de-camp walked on either side of the coffin, and behind came Admiral Sir Culme Seymour (Principal Aide-de-Camp), Vice-Admiral Sir John Fullerton (Commander of the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert), then the Royal mourners walking three abreast, KingEdw r ard in the centre, the Kaiser on the right, and the Duke of Connaught on the left.

The King and the Kaiser were attired in the uniforms of British admirals, the Duke of Connaught in a military

uniform. All wore the riband and Star of the Garter.

After them walked two lines of Princes, according to their degree of Relationship. brilliant both with the colour of their uniforms and decorations.

Dressed entirely in black, with long veils, were Queen Alexandra. Princess Christian and Princess Louise, also Princess Beatrice, the Duchess of York, the younger Princesses and Ladies-in-walt-ing, followed by the members Of the household, the Kaiser’s suite, the Royal servants and tenants.

i'he Queen’s company of Grenadiers escorted, the procession. At the moment of starting two of the Queen’s pipers ahead of the coffin played the lament of the “Black Watch.”

Presently the pipers the wailing dirge to “Thd Flcnvers of the Forest.” On reaching Queen’s Gate, entering the road, the pipers became silent, and massed bauds’, with forty muffled drums, preceding the procession, played alternately Chopin’s and Beethoven's funeral marches. The descent of the hill of Cowes was made amid a roll of drums. Three thousand five hundred troops presented arms until the cortege passed. Meanwhile the church bells rang a knell, the heads of the spectators throughout were bared, women and children curtseyed, and women and men were moved to tears.

On arrival at the pier, petty officers of the Royal yacht Alberta bore the coffin aboard through an escort of Grenadiers, amid muffled drums. As the coffin was placed in the pavilion on the quarter deck the King. Kaiser and others following, surrounded the coffin and took a last lingering look. Queen Alexandra wept. ’TViyTiCi,-' U-irex-cept the Duchess of York, who returned to her husband’s bedside), proceeded in pinnaces to the Victoria and Albert. With Admiral Fullerton in command, the Alberta started for Portsmouth at three o’clock, the massed bands on the pier playing “The Saints of God,” the Queen’s favourite hymn. The Kaiser’s yacht Hohenzollern, and the Royal yacht Osborne followed at brief intervals, and eight torpedo-boat destroyers, in two columns, escorted the Alberta, four on either bow.

The King’s flag flew at the masthead cf the Victoria and Albert alone, symbolising the continuous sovereignty. The guardship Australia, opened the salute, which was taken up by the Rodney and six others. The British and foreign warships all manned their bands on deck, playing funeral music, the minute guns momentarily breaking the strains of Beethoven and Cliopin’s marches, while the yellow wreaths of smoke drifting down the line presented in the full sunlight many strange shapes and strange hues.

Passing the Alexandra, Camperdown, Rodney, Benbow, and nine others on the port side, the Alberta entered a double line of warships, and the salute continued on either side. When the flotilla neared Portsmouth the fleet ceased firing, and minute guns were continued by the ships in the harbour and by the forts. The harbour was entered a few T minutes before five o'clock.

The destroyers, moving in a jerky, dubitant march, looked a weirdlike escort as the sun sank.

At the King’s wish the flags remain at half-mast until snnset on Monday. The coffin could be plainly seen throughout the crossing, the draperies being drawn aside. The canopy was formed of Imperial ruby velvet lined with pure w r hite silk. A dais covered with ruby velvet bore the coffin. Lying athwart the ship on either side were two pyramids bearing on red cushions the crowns. The combination of the two hues of subdued reel, relieved by the gold of the crowns and white linings, produced a rich, solemn effect.

The corners were occupied by floral anchors from four of the naval commands. One w r as composed of lilies of the valley, another of Harrisii lilies, a third of white azaleas, and the fourth of arum lilies, white carnations, white tulips and camellias. The cable of each anchor consisted of violets. Seen at a distance, the colours suggested red, white and blue.

Among the naval aides-de-camp was Captain the Hon Hedivorth Lambton, of Laclvsmitli fame. The coffin remained aboard the Alberta, which took up her moorings for the night. The naval pageant was a masterpiece of organisation, a majestic, splendid moving spectacle. The Colonial Office announces that the representatives at the interment include the Australian Agents-General and the Countess of Ranfurly.

FROM PORTSMOUTH TO LONDON

ARRIVAL AT THE METROPOLIS

VAST CROWDS OF PEOPLE

LONDON, February 2

The weather to-day at Portsmouth was in striking contrast to that which favoured yesterday’s ceremony. Torrents of rain were falling, and a heavy wind was blowing as the royalties followed the coffin ashore, passing between a line of Admirals, commanders of the battleships. which took part in Friday’s naval

pageant, high military officers, the local clergy. Mayors, and official personages. Lord Roberts was also present. Minute guns were fired, and muffled peals rang as the funeral march proceeded. The coffin was placed in a draped salcoo carriage attached to an engine bearing emblems of mourning. The train starting at nine o’clock, preceded by a pilot engine, reached Victoria. station without incident at eleven, steaming into the station amid a solemn hush. All present uncovered, and minute bells warned the metropolis of the dead Queen’s arrival. London exhibited remarkable manifestations of grief and sympathy. From the earliest dawn all the streets leading to the line of route were filled with silent crowds in deep mourning. Hundreds of thousands o fpersons from the suburbs and provinces poured into the city. The vehicular and metropolitan train services were quite inadequate. The morning - broke cold and gloomy, though without rain until tlie procession was over.

All shops and hotels were closed, and the solemnity and dignity of the occasion was universally observed. Tlie behaviour of the populace was most decorous, though lampposts,* railings, trees, and house-tops were used by thousands. This says nothing, however, owing to the vastness of the crowds, which, nevertheless, were orderly and respectful, except for a few ugly rusiies at the Marble Arch.

Thirty-three thousand troops and /••>!-■ unteers lined the route early in the day. A thousand' police and many ambulances were in attendance, treating cases of fainting, hysteria, and. a few accidents' which occurred. The dominant note in the decorations was made up of varying shades of purple, relieved by festoons of white silk, with bunches of violets and laurel wreaths on the lampposts. In part of Piccadilly purple draperies edged with gold had a beautiful appearance. These were especially lavish in the vicinity of St. James’s Palace.

CONCLUSION OF THE CEREMONY.

PROCESSION TO PADDINGTON

STATION.

TRANSFER TO WINDSOR

LONDON, February 2.

After the Alberta had been berthed at Clarence Yard, adjoining the coveredway connection with the private railway station, a night guard of a hundred marines took charge, and picket boats patrolled around, barring all approach. A dozen naval officers and naval aides-de-camp watched throughout the night. A sentry with reversed arms stood at the head and one at the foot of the coffin.

At half-past eight the King and the Kaiser, in the uniforms of British Field-Marshals, the Queen and some of the Royal Princes and Princesses, proceeded in pinnaces from the yachts., where they had slept, to the Alberta, rmcl grouped themselves around tlm coffin.

The Vicar of Portsea. conducted a short service, and then eight petty offimers from the Royal yachts carried the coffin to the train, the Vicar preceding them. The Crown, Globe and Royal Standard, and some wreaths were carried before the coffin.

LONDON, February 3. Victoria, railway station was covered throughout with purple cloth, and presented an imposing appearance when the train arrived. Hundreds of brilliant uniforms of every nationality could be seen.

The visiting Kings, who had lodged at Buckingham Palace, arrived at Victoria. station before eleven o’clock. The King of Portugal was speciallv popular. "

King Edward and Queen Alexandra received upwards of sixty royalties and foreign representatives* in a. magnificent pavilion erected on the platform. Ihe procession which had been previously organised stretched over a distance a raile. It started from the station at hair-part eleven and in composition represented all sections of the army with arms reversed. There were a hundred members each of volunteers and ; yeomanry ; two hundred colonials, including forty-five officers, their brawny figures and khaki dresses contrasting with the cloaked British soldiers and Indian and West African detachments, which were handsomely uniformedThe procession reached Paduington Station at one o’clock. Twenty noncommissioned officers of the Guards and Household Cavalry placed the coffin in a saloon car draped with purple and white. The engine was draped with purple with wreaths cf white immortelles in front.

Special trains had previously conveyed to Windsor the Ambassadors, the members of the Ministry, the Lord Mayor and sheriffs of London, the AgentsGeneral of the various colonies, Earl Carrington, the -Countess of Ranfurly, the leading members of the Opposition, and members of the House of Commons* The funeral train reached Windsor at two o’clock, and a party of the First Grenadier Guards bore the doffin to a gun carriage: drawn by eight artillery horses.

The horses attached to the gun carriage bearing the coffin were cold with long waiting, and refused to start. The drivers were afraid to coerce the animals, lest they should overturn the coffin and regalia. . G-.

The Kiiig was terribly distressed, but the naval'guard of honour came to the rescue. J

"Utilising the refractory horses’ traces as a rope, they, after a quarter of an hour’s delay, slowly drew the gun carriage to St. George’s Chapel. This was one of the most striking incidents of the day. The guns fired a salute of eighty-one and the service terminated about four o’clock with Beethoven’s march.

THE PROCESSION IN LONDON

GREAT MILITARY PAGEANT

LONDON, February 3.

The procession from "Victoria. Station ,waa headed by the military, which, in addition to colonial, troops, included Militia,'Gordon Highlanders, Welsh Fusiliers, Royal Irish,- Norfolk-Regiment, Departmental Gorps, Army: Veterinarian Department, Army Medical Corps, Army Chaplain Department, Army Ordnance, Pay ■ and Service Departments, Infantry of the Dine, Rifle Brigade, Irish Fusiliers, Highland Light Infantry, King’s Royal;Riles, Royal Fusiliers, Lancaster Regiment, Foot Guards, Irish Guards, Scots Guards, Coldstream Guards, Grenadier' Guards,.. Royal • Feld and Horse, Artillery, with twelve guns, Cavalry of the Line, 2ist Lancers, 7th Hussars, 2nd Dragoon-Guards,- Household Cavalry, Royal Horse. Guards, 2nd Life Guards, Ist Life Guards, 100 Royal Marines and 300 bliihjackets. ... The nxiiitary attaches of foreign embassies joined the procession at Victoria Station, the. striking colours of their uniforms affording a. striking contrast tq the sombre surroundings. Earl Roberts, bearing his Field-Mar-shal’s baton, came next, and was followed, by other Field-Marshals of the British Army and the headquarters staff. The hands of. the Royal Horse Guards," Engineers, Artillery; and • the Household regiments, whose scarlet cloaks provided a bit of relieving colour, played Beethoven's, and Chopin’s funeral marches.

The Duke of Norfolk, Earl. Marshal, accompanied the "Royal Household officials. 1 *.

’ After the .military, which headed the procession from Victoria Station, came thirty mounted aides, then came a khaki-coloured gun-carriage drawn by eight cream-coloured horses, bearing the coffin, covered by a handsome white silk pall, which had been worked in ninetyeight hours by Kensington school children from a needlework design by the - Queen -Consort and the Royal Princesses. Besides the pall were draperies, flags and a -cushion, bn which were placed' the -Royal Crown, orb andvsceptre. Behind the coffin was borne the Royal Standard. Then earns the King—who was riding a beautiful bay horse—looking pale . and careworn. He gazed: straight-'ahead,..only saluting the group of Generals"hear . St. James’s Palace. The German Emperor, mounted on a * handsome •white charger, rode on the King’s tight, though slightly behind, and the Duke of Connaught, in a General’s Uniform, on the left. Then followed over forty Royal personages on horseback, including the -Kings of Portugal and Greece, the Crown princes of RoumaniaL'Germaiiy, Siam, Denmark and Bwedbi|"J : Archduke Ferdinand of Austria,: ahd'the 'Grand Duke Michael of Russia. The princely escorts furnished a brilliant display of uniforms of all Courts of Europe and Egypt. Despite the cold! weather, all rode uncloaked, and pre- " sen ted-;'a magnificent spectacle. ■Six carriages followed, bearing in the first the Queen Consort- and her three daughters, in the second Prince Leopold, Princess Louise and Princess Beatrice. "Tri. the others were the Duchess •" of ; Bake-Co'burg, the Duchess .of Connaught?; “the Dukes of Albany and Cambridge, Lord Wolseley, Court officials and others. '

. Eyefx'iioad.. was 'uncovered along: the route coffin passed, and the crowds were dumb; the only sounds heard -were the notes of the Funeral Marohyand the distant booming of the ini mite-'-gums. J It>. was'/ a supremely impressive moment as the funeral cortege wended its way' slowly along. There was a. sea of •upturned faces, and the spectators wept. The long line of soldiers with reversed arms and bowed heads was strangely patbeticN* '

SERVICES AT WINDSOR

A -MEMORABLE SPECTACLE

DISTINGUISHED FATHERING AT

ST. GEORGE’S

LONDON, February 3

Statesmen, Peers, foreign representatives, and men of science, arts and letters, began to in St. George’s Chapel at 11 o’clock. When the chapel was fall the perfect harmony of colour made a wonderful sight. The altar was dimly-Htighted, showing the foliage of palms/ In front were the stalls cf the Knights of the Orde'r of the Garter, which • were occupied by tlieir owners, all bearing their insignia with crape loapings. The stalls of Sovereigns were curtained with purple velvet. On tiers of purple-covered seats erected in the aisles sat the Marquis of Salisbury, Lady Gwendoline Cecil, thei Right H° n - WhC. Gully (Speaker of the House of Commons), Sir W. V. Harcourt, the Earl of Rosebery, the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, the Duke of Devonshire, Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, Right He.n.

A. J. Balfour, Right Hon. John Mo r ley. Right Hon. W. E. H. Lecky, Lord Carrington, and most of the members of tlie Ministry and Privy Councilors, in. uniforms' of gold and black. The Lord Mayor and sheriffs of London wore their State robes. ■ The Indian Prince Thakore, Sanib of Marvi, resplendent in a rich dress of white satin surmounted by a huge gold-en-eimbroidered turban, was a notable figure. Lord Alverstone, the Lord Chief Justice, appeared in robes of crimson and ermine; Lord Halsbury, Lord High Chancellor, in a State dress of black and. gold- The Lord. Provost and Baillies of Edinburgh wore ’ brilliant red! cloaks, with ermine tippets,"which lentcolour to the scene. Behind the military Court representatives, the Ambassadors, Privy Councillors and Agents-General, sat the ladies, ; making a sombre background with their broader stretches of gold crimson. The Queen Consort was seated on the right of the general congregation. Near her Prince Edward, wearing a sailor suit and looking bright and interesting, was observed by all. The Archbishop of Canterbury, with attendant choristers holding his robe, and accompanied by the Archbishop or York, the Bishop of Winchester, the Dean of Windsor and clergy, proceeded to the western entrance to receive tne coffin. The Bishop of Oxford, Chancellor of the Order of the Garter, wore a gorgeous cardinal silk mantle; the Dean of Windsor, Registrar of the same Order, a long dark rich velvet- mantle. Behind the Predates the choir stretched in two lines nearly up to the chancel screen. . The tension overcame one chorister who had to be removed. Behind the choir stood the Yeomen of the Guard. , -. The whole scene formed a grand ana memorable spectacle. On either side of the marble steps leading to the westdoor were numbers of wreaths of the choicest flowers. . . _ , The strains of Chopms Funeral March notified the approach of the procession. First entered three pursuivants with golden tunics; then Earn Roberts and the King, who wore the ribbon of the Garter. Other Royal personages followed the coffin, which was placed on a purple-coloured catafalque at the foot of the altar steps, clergy and choir preceding the mourners. Gentlemen-at-Arms were placed near the catafalque, and the Knights oi VV mdsor under the organ loft. Behind the latter were the Royal servants. The King stood at- the head of the coffin, the Lord Chamberlain (the Earl of Clarendon) at the foot, tlie Lord Steward (the Earl of Pembroke) on the right or the King, and the Earl Marshal on his left.

The ordinary burial service was enriched by the choicest music, which was intenselv solemn. The Archbishop of Canterbury, near the foot of the coffin, read a prayer ana pronounced the benediction, and the Bishop of Winchester read the lesson. Between the reading two collects were sung by the choir with touching beauty. n The King-at-Arms proclaimed tlie style and titles of the departed Queen ; Spolar’a anthem, “Blest are the Departed,” was rendered, and the service concluded' with Beethoven’s Funeral March. The immense congregation quietly departed. ' The coffin was then removed to the Albert Memorial Chapel and placed in front of the cenotaph of the Prince Consort beside the monuments of the Duke of Clarence and Duke of Albany. The coffin will be removed to,, Frogmore privately on Monday.

LATER PARTICULARS

LONDON, February 3

The demeanour of the crowd in London was one of silent sympathy. The only cheer was when Lord Roberts first appeared, before the procession started. The German army deputation oi noncommissioned officers and men rode at the rear of the funeral procession. A multitude had gathered at Hyde Park, the gates of which were closed at ten o’clock. The best view was obtained at Piccadilly. (Received February 4, 0.42 a.m.) LONDON, February 3 Simultaneous with the service in St. George’s Chapel, funeral services were held iii nearly every church in the United Kingdom. During the funeral several English railways ceased running for half an hour.

The coffin was carried in an elevated position, enabling most of the Spectators to see it. The- solemn restrain of the hushed multitudes was deeply impressive. Even the poorest wore mourning. .. FLORAL TRIBUTES. LONDON, February 1. The weialth of floral tributes at Windsor is unprecedented, and is estimated to have cost £50,000. Mauritius seint a broken column of violets. A white floral model of Eddystone lighthouse inscribed, “Lead, Kindly Light’) was sent from Trinity House. A wreath was also sent by 183 flowergirls of London. The three children who presented a basket of flowers to the Queen on behalf of 52,000 children at Phoenix Park on the occasion of her

visit to Ireland, sent a floral anchor six long. The Duke of Connaught’s staff in Ireland sent an Irish harp. • LONDON, February 3. Many of the Eton scholars helped to guard the route from the Windsor Railway Station to St. George s Chapel. The Royal splendour and dazzling brilliancy of the final scene in the Royal Chapel were indescribable. The town of Windsor was elaborately draped, and every one wore the deepest mourning. Countless- wreaths have arrived at the Castle Deanery from foreign Sovereigns, Presidents of Republics, and every quarter of the United Kingdom, India. South Africa, and Canada, all bearing inscriptions expressive of the deepest honour and love. They included one from the Commonwealth, one each from the separate States of Australia, another from the people of New Zealand, and one from the Women of Auckland, innumerable societies and corporations throughout the Empire sent wreaths. The* King has conferred the Grand Cross of the Victorian Order upon ViceAdmiral Sir John Fullerton, Commander late Queen’s yacht, and has also decorated other naval officers concerned in the funeral arrangements. Twenty-six petty officers- who fitted up the bier at Osborne House and the catafalque on board the Royal yacht- Alberta have received Victorian. Medals.

SERVICES IN AMERICA.

NEW YORK, February 4

President McKinley, the members of his Ministry, Judges, diplomatists, senators and ethers were present at a funeral service held at Washington. Trinity Church, New York, was crowded with consuls and the representatives of American and Canadian societies, including Mr Andrew Carnegie. Twentythree clergy officiated, including Archbishop Lewis, of Ontario. At San Francisco twelve thousand persons attended a memorial service.

The German warship at New Orleans fired eighty-one guns. Service was held aboard, Admiral Sampson being amongs* tliGse present. A salute of twenty-one guns was fired at the Navy Yard at Boston yesterday.

MISCELLANEOUS

RELIGIOUS SERVICES

SOME IJpTABLE SERMONS. ENORMOUS CONGREGATIONS

LONDON, January 28. Vast congregations filled the churches of every denomination throughout the kingdom te-day. Deep mourning was universal, and the pulpits were heavily draped. Eloquent eulogies on the late Queen were delivered. The Archbishop of Canterbury, preaching at St. Paul’s Cathedral, said the nation ought to express its gratitude! that so wise and good a Queen had lived so long. Dean Bradley, at Westnainster Abbey, Dr Parker at the City Temple, the Rev Hugh Price Hughes at St. James’s Hall, the Bishop of Winchester at Whippingham Church, Isle of Wight (where tha King and Queen were present), Dean Farrar at Canterbury Cathedral/and the Chief Rabbi at the Whitechapel Synagogue, made special references to the deceased Queen and bar works, and prayers were offered in the Russian, Greek, Dutch, and Italian Churches in London. Everywhere were to be found touching evidences of profound grief. Similar services were held throughout Canada, and a great part of South Africa.

LONDON, January 29. On Sunday morning the police turned 30,000 people away from St. Paul’s. It has been arranged that only one service shall be held in the cathedral on Sunday, the hour being fixed at noon. Another service will be held in Westminster _ Abbey, the south transept of which will be reserved for Peers. A service will be held at St. Margaret’s for the Commons.

SCENES AT OSBORNE.

THE ROYAL DEATH CHAMBER

LONDON, January 29. The King has allowed forty British and l foreign journalists to visit J 1 e Chappelle Ardelite, where the late Que-ui is lying. The predominant tone of the clamber is red, and there is a wealth of flowers and stately palms. In the centre of the chapel, resting mi a dais covered with the Royal Standard, lay the coffin of cedar, lead, and oak, covered with a white satin and lace pall, and also partly draped with the Queen's ermine robe of the Order of the Garter

±ne> jvnig placed on tne collm a diamond crown used at the Royal Draw Rooms, also the insignia of the Garter.

Around the coffin . were countless wreaths of laurel, lilies, and azaleas, and on the coffin a colossal crown of blue flowers.

Four Grenadiers stood motionless at the four corners of the coffin, with heads bowed and arms reversed. The scene was most solemn and impressive. The Royal Family meet daily for worship around the bier.

SORROW IN AMERICA. LONDON, January 23. The American National Congress of Mothers has cabled a message of sympathy to King Edward and Queen Alexandra on the loss of their mother, who.-© nebility tnd purity of character add >Jdignity, motherhood and strength to the homes of all nations. LONDON, January 29. The mourning in America is as widespread as if the country was a British possession. The United States newspapers recall the Queen’s solicitude for President Garfield when he was struck down by an assassin’s dagger. THE EMPRESS FREDERIC. " LONDON, February 1. The Empress Frederic is improving. FEELING IN SOUTH AFRICA. ; / LONDON, February 4. Saturday was observed as a solemn fast holiday throughout Cape Colony and Natal/ The Queen’s statues at Capetown, Durban and Mantis burg were wreathed. Five thousand Indians gathered at the. foot c-f the statue at Durban and delivered eulosiums of thelato Queen in six of their dialects. : - THE WORLD’S REVERENCE. LONDON, February 4. The crowd on Saturday was the largess ever seen in London. The procession was a triumph of organisation. Even tE© contretemps at. Windsor, through the horses refusing to start, served to show the readiness, utility and übiquity of the blue jackets. The ‘"Times” says : —“Remarkable asa pageant and evidence of the depth of the national sorrow, the funeral was perhaps even a more remarkable demonstration of international sympathy and respect. Nothing quit® like such a tribute of personal reverence from the chiefs or Government in almost every State has the world ever seen.”

A PRIVATE SERVICE.

LONDON, February. 4

At six o’clock on Sunday evening the. Bishop of Winchester conducted a short service in the presence of the family. Madame Albani sang two solos. MOURNING AT HOME AND ABROAD. LONDON, February 4. The Bishop of Oxford preached at St. George’s Chapel before the King and Royal family yesterday morning, taking his" text from Proverbs xvn, 12th verse. He said:—Thank God the last- three years had brought to 1 our consciousness a great element in the active, prompt and sympathetic realisation of Empire, namely, an unparalleled growth, the ex-y tension of. quickened vivified energies, by the consciousness of common life in India, Canada, Australia- Newborn to true vitality, the idea had became a fact.; All were pleased that King Edward was called after his greatest ancestor, the First Edward. Let them pray for a seven-fold blessing on the Seventh Ed-

ward ■ Memorial services were held on ounci av in all cathedrals and churches. * ST PETERSBURG, February 4. The Czar and Czarina attended funeral services at the English and American churches in St. Petersburg. LONDON. February 4,

Queen Olga- at Athens, the Kliedival Princess at Cairo, the representative head of the State, Ministers and Ambassadors attended English services. At- the other capitals there was a similar attendance of local authorities and princely visitors in every Consular district, and at all health, resorts.

All creeds joined in the services’ in Canada, other colonies and India. A parade of British and foreign troops was held at Pekin, and an English service conducted, at which there was a representafive' attendance. LONDON, February 4.

The King decided that the public should be admitted to the Park to see the remains transferred to a gun carriage for removal to Frogmore at three o’clock to-dav. The Kaiser has conferred on the Queen Consort the late Queen’s honorary oo- _ onelcy in the Prussian Dragoons. Ihe Kaiser returns home to-morrow. There was a total suspension of business in Canada during the xunera-i. Several American cities closed their Exchanges. , The Queen had anticipated the possibility of her death occurring at Osborne, and'left a will directing the naval pageant, which was strictly followed on Friday. THANKS TO NEW ZEALAND. MELBOURNE, January 30. Mr Seddon has received a. cable from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, conveying the thanks of the Royal Family for his message cf sympathy. SERVICE AT BERNE. LONDON, February 1. There will be a grand English service to-morrow at ' the Berne Cathedral,

which has been lent for the occasion. The President of Switzerland and the authorities will attend in state.

A TOUCHING INCIDENT

LONDON. February 1.

A ragged boy in Dublin, noticing the. news of the Queen’s death in a newspaper contents bill, which was displayed on the ground, bought a penny bunch of violets and placed them . over the word “Queen.”

THE KING’S MESSAGE .TO THE NAVY.

The following is the King’s message to the Navy, dated Osborne, January 25th, a copy of which has been received, from the Admiral at Sydney by Captain KingsmiO, of the Miidura : —“I am desirous of expressing to the Navy any heart-felt thanks for its distinguished and renowned services during the long and glorious reign of my beloved mother the Queen, to whose throne I now succeed. Her Majesty, ever proud of the great deeds of her Navy, the protector of our shores and commerce, watched with the keenest solicitude its •fast progress during her reign; and made it the profession of my late-lamented' brother, 8.9 I also chose it for the early education of both my sons. Watching over your interests and well-being, I confidently rely upon that unfailing loyalty' which is the proud inheritance;, of your noble profession.* ... MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY. When the Land Board met on the 31st ult. the Commissioner (Mr J. W. A. Marchant), moved the following resolution —“The members of the Board place on record their profound sorrow at. the death of their beloved Sovereign. Hei Most Gracious Majesty Queen Victoria, and the great less the Empire has -sustained.” Mr A. W. Hogg, M.H.R. seconded the motion, which was carried in silence.

At a special meeting of the Wellington (New Zealand) Committee of the St. John Ambulance Association. Mrs T. C. Williams (vice-president) in the chair, resolutions were carried unanimously placing on record the committee’s deep feeling of sorrow at the death of* its Sovereign Head and Patron, Queen Victoria; offering heartfelt sympatic- 7 with his Majesty on the death of hi? beloved: . mother, and offering congratulations to his Majesty on his accession to the throne.

At a meeting of the Board of the Carriers’ Union it was resolved that a vote of sympathy and condolence with the Royal Family in the loss of the Queen be recorded: in the minutes.

The Southern Cross Lodge of Oddfellows passed) a motion expressing deep rel gret at the death ox Queen Victoria, and sympathy "with the Royal Family jd -their bereavement. It was further resolved that the lodge go into mourning for three months.

At the meeting of the Board of CoR lege Governors last week the following resolution was. unanimously carried:

‘'That the Governors hereby record the a

profound grief at the death of her Majesty the Queen, and their devotion to her successor, King Edward VII.”

MESSAGE,FROM THE GOV£R- . NOR

SATURDAY’S FUNERAL SER-

VICES

'* ‘"WIDESPREAD' AND FAR-REACH-ING AFFECTION.”

“ Government House, . / Wellington, 3rd February, 1901.

'' -‘The 1 Governor, as his Majesty’s ‘ representative, desires to express his thanks to all those who joined in the special funeral service on Saturday last, ! the day of the funeral of, our beloved Queen. . On . behalf of the people of New’ Zealand, he has informedhis Majesty the King of the solemn service held, and of the intense reverence shown by the whole community.

“ From all part-s of the colony the Governor has received messages expressive of t-ho universal sorrow, showing how widespread and far-reaching was the affection of the people for their Sovereign.

“No previous monarch has. ever been so dear to her people as her Majesty,, whose many .splendid qualities will for ever: enshrine her memory in all, hearts. Her noble personality had drawn closer the bonds of the Empire over which she had so'long and wisely ruled. }.

“ The Governor feels confident that the remembrance of the last fortnight in New Zealand, with all its sad associations, will for ever live in the history of the colony, and in the hearts qf its people.

“ RANFURLY.”

FUNERAL SERVICES

A DAY OF MOURNING

SPLENDID TRIBUTES TO HER LATE MAJESTY.

IMMENSE ASSEMBLY AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE GROUNDS.

No untoward incident marred the solemnity of Saturday as a day 01 mourning in tho Empire City. From a business pbint of view the town was abso- • lately dead. Not one shop remained open. The streets were without traffic. The populace moved about little and silently during the greater part of the day. No sports or recreations of any kind were indulged in. The prevailing colour was sombre black, relieved with white and purple. The public* buildings in the city and many semi-public and private premises were draped funereally. Everywhere flags fluttered at half-mast, A leaden grey dullness sat upop the sky. A creeping; wind soughed mournfully through the trees. At midday, the tolling of bells from every steeple in the city contributed a weird in'Ate to the prevailing mournfulness. In the forenoon a children’s service Was held in the Basin Reserve. The afternoon was destined to produce the largest and most impressive gathering to take part in the most solemn and memorable proceedings which the people of New ' Zealand have ever witnessed. THE CHILDREN’S SERVICE. It was an interesting gathering winch took place on the Basin Reserve at 11 o’clock on Saturday morning. Children of all denominations, accompanied by their parents or guardians, clustered round the raised black-draped platform which had been erected in front of the crape-beclecked cricketing pavilion, and in a seemly and exemplary manner took part in a servicewhich will probably linger in many youthful memories during a life-time. The gathering had been organised by a number of our clergy and Sunday school teachers. These gentlemen it was who, mounting the platform, led in the service of solemn prayer and praise. Amongst those present was his Worship the Mayor, whose interest in church and Sunday school matters over a long Series of years has endeared him to a large section of the community. The Salvation Army Band mustered in strong force, and effectively led the singing «_>i the hymns under the conductorship ci Mr F. Billman. The first, “O God, our help in ages past,” was announced by Mr IT. W. Kersley, President of the Sunday School Union, and sung with great feeling by the large assembly. Mr W. A. Evans then offered a most eloquent and helpful prayer; Rev F. T. Jones read the Ninetieth Psalm; and the choir and people sang with great feeling the hymn commencing:

When our heads are bowed with woe, "When our bitter tears o’erfiow, When we mourn the lost, the clear— Jesus, Son of David, hear!

The 'Thirty-ninth Psalm was next rial by Rabbi Van St aver en. Again, the wo •- shippers’ voices were raised in the beautiful and appropriate hymn, ‘‘.Brief Life is here our portion,” the opening words being recited by the Rev M. D. M. McCrackett. A passage from ) Corinthians by the Rev J. K. Elliott followed, and Mr A. Jolly delivered an eloquenand thoughtful address. The preacher said there was in at day but one thought in their minds and one feeling in their hearts. He believed Le could truly say that that thought was of their dead Queen, and that sorrow for the less- which they had sustained by her death. -There w r ere few there that day who -had ever seen the Queen, yet she had made for herself a home in their hearts, so that nothing—no, not even death—-could take her away from them. The Queen had reigned so long, .so wisely, and so well, that it had been hard to realise that the time must come wdien she should die. The more so that the Queen during her whole lifetime had never had one serious illness : though the life of our present King had. once hung in suspense, and his _reco Very had led) to one of the most striking demonstrations that the nation had ever witnessed, in the shape of a great thanksgiving service at St. Paul’s. But, as with all frail humanity, so with kings and queens. All must die. She who had for years devoted the best usages of brain and heart to her people now-T.y cold and still, and they were gathered together that day to mourn her loss, and to commemorate the fact than bur gracious, our beloved Queen was being carried to her last resting place Addressing bis remarks to the children, the preacher then made an appeal to them to mould their lives by this Royal pattern, and on that solemn day -to make a vow to dedicate their life-work to the service of God. ' The Rev W. L. Slater then led the assemblage in pray dr, after which Ensgu Dickens, of the Salvation Army, gave out the first verse of “Rock of Ages/’ which was most fervently sung by the large) congregation. Thei Rev A. O. Lawry recited the Lord’s Prayer, those

present repeating the familiar words with hushed and fervent voices.

At that moment-, from St

Mark's

steeple opposite, a bell chimed, muffled and mournful. Immediately the baud played the “Dead March.” Many w.men in the assemblage were so overcome that they fell upon their knees and wept bitterly. Presently the crowd dispersed, melting silently away.

AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE GROUNDS

A GREAT MULTITUDE.

Three o’clock was the hour fixed for the service at Parliament House grounds. Shortly after noon groups had begun to assemble in the vicinity and the crowd gradually increased until by the time the service commenced a multitude, variously estimated at from twenty to twen-ty-five thousand people, took up every foot of available space in the grounds and precincts, swarmed into the building itself, overflowed on to the roofs and verandahs of the houses overlooking the lawn and plantations, and stood in packed masses in the streets on every side. Orderly, forbearing, reverent, expectant, this great concourse st-ood solemnly by. Many were/ on their Let for three or four hours before the service concluded, so that it is not wonderful that every now and again woman 3ud children should have been drawn fainting from cut the closely-packed throng.

The predominating colour in the crowd was black, but everywhere splashes and dots of white and purple and red appeared to relieve this sombre effect. The entrance and-facade of Parliament House had been richly decorated with purple and black with white edgings, whilst between the columns bunches of evergreens (emblematic of immortality) creating an, eye-sat is*. lying effect. Black-garbed figures looked out from every win-few of the immense building, hundreds also having taken vantage on the low roofing above the entrance hall. On every verandah, and from numerous windows on every side, a minor army of photographers v> 7 as stationed, rendering permanent so unprecedented, so epochal, a gathering; Shortly before half-past two the solemn strains of a funeral march fell upon the ears of the waiting throng. Nearer and hearer it came, and as the solemn martial strains of “A Garland of Flowers,” magnificently played by the Garrison Band, filled the air, a great hush came upon the multitude, with fresh realisation of the immense solemnity of the occasion which had so called them forth.. It was fitting that the first of the processionists who should file through the gates and quietly take up positions on the space reserved for the soldiery, should be the medal-starred veterans, representatives of a type which always enjoyed the reverence "and esteem of our late beloved sovereign. After the veterans, the blue jackets and marines of the Mildura; after these file after file of volunteers —a goodly muster numbering in all over a thousand.

All stood there with arms reversed and with -bowed heads awaiting the arrival of Vice-Royalty. Meanwhile the Garrison Band had been located on a stand specially erected for its reception. Again “A Garland ox Flowers/’- played so magnificently as to increase the heart-throb-of the listening thousands, and to raise a lump in many a throat. Slowly the distinguished visitors began to take their places. ' . The Acting-Premier arrived m Court uniform, and took his place at the right of the Governor’s chair, the Hon Jas. Carroll (the representative of the Maori race) sitting on the left of his Excellency’s place, and the Hens W. C. Walker and W. Hall-Jones taking prominent positions in the vicinity. A platform, to the right of the entrance, with a pulpit draped with a crape-covered Union Jack, marked -the place where the clergy were to be located/ and where representatives of each denomination presently came and took up positions; . the most distinguished figures amongst them being Bishop Wallis and the Rev 11. Van Staveren (the Jewish Rabbi) in their elegant robes.

• Seated in the main entrance were representatives of the various Ministerial families. Behind them, standing ill such numbers, as to fill , the large corridor, were the heads-of departments, the college professorial staffs, a number, of members of Parliament and leading citizens. Prominent amongst- those in attendance • upon his Excellency was Sir Henry Miller,-Speaker of the Legislative Council, the Chief Justice and Mr Justice Edwards, in their wigs and robes, also being distinguished figures.. Flanking the entrance steps on either side, resplendent in uniforms of blue and gold, were the Consuls of the nations, Commandant Rings mill, of H.M.S. Mil dura, the Command apt of the Forces and the officers of his staff, the senior officers of the local garrison, and other distinguished uniformed personages. ' •'Oh a raised platform overlooking the multitude, a choir under Mr Robert Parker was stationed, and which subsequently, hinging admirably, led the miltitu.de .in the musical portions of the service. / Looking out over the lawn, one saw the statue of the departed John B a dance standing out prominently over the heads of the assemblage, a black sash'having been effectively draped over the left shoulder of the figure, in token of the universal mourning. Punctually at three o’clock Lord Ranfurly, attired in a Vfindsor uniform, anil accompanied by Captain Alexander and the Hon C. HiU-Trevor, arrived in a carriage, attended by a detachment of

the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, and, dismounting in Hill street, was escorted to his place by ‘Colonel Penton. Majors Madoeks and Owen, Captain Kingsmilf, and Lieut. Baker, Fleet Engineer'” (H.M.S. Mildura); the troops,, meant while, giving the Royal salute, but immediately reversing arms again, and. standing steady so during \tho ser - vice. ,n

Immediately the Bi3h,op of Wei 1 mg- ' ton announced the first hymn : 1 . n

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come, Our shelter from the stormy Blast, And our eternal home.

The old familiar words' were soon upon the lips of the thousands in the concourse, who joined most fervently in the noble invocation.

The Rev G. H. Mann then read the opening sentences of the burial set 7 -, vice: “Now is Christ, risen from the? dead, and become the first-fruits, of .them, that slept. For since by man came* death, by man came also the resurrect tion. of the dead, . For as in Adana all die, even so in Christ shall all be made* alive. ...” •: * -

The Rev W. Oliver followed with theNinetieth Psalm : 'ror a thousand ages* in thy sight are but as yesterday: seeing that it is past as a watch m the night:" As soon as thou sca-tterest them they are even as a sleep, and fade away suddenly like the grass . “When our neads are bowed with woe 1 ” recited by the Rev J. R: Glasson, was effectively sung by the assemblage, many amongst whom were visibly affected.

The Rev H. Van Stayeren next read the Thirty-ninth Psalm : “Lord.;. let me know mine end, and the number of my days, that I may be certified how iqng I have to live. . . " ... ’

The hymn “When the day of toil is clone,” was recited by Mr F. Halo?, and sung with much fervour.

The Rev J. Paterson react a lesson from the : “But now is Christ risen from the dead ,and become the first fruits of them that slept. . .” THE BISHOP’S ADDRESS. '

' Bishop Wallis, 01 the course of a spirited extempore address, which rang clear, and was heard by a large’ section of his auditors, said they had been told that on the coronation day of our late dearly-beloved Queen, when the trumpets and heralds were drowned by 'the triumphant shouting of thousands of her subjects who cried, “God Save the Queen.” the tears were running fast down her cheeks, so that a writer at that time said :

Strange blessings on that honoured nation lies, Waoso sovereign wept, ab, wept to wear a crown.

And men had been learning ever since that beneath the Queenly exterior with which h©n Majesty was wont to receive the homage of her people and her soldiers there lay a humble heart, a heart that had no longing for pomp or ; power, but a heart brave in the consciousness that she hadi been called upon to do God’s work, and that ho evil could come to one who took the crown from the King of Kings. Their late Queen had shown the world in a way that it had never been shown before that two apparently hostile forces, monarchy and democracy, could be indissolubly bdund together. For instance, here in this country, which had been called the most" democratic community in the Empire, the sorrow of the • people at the loss of the Queen had been evidenced in the most touching way. His Lordship went on to point out that tLo will of the people was the paramount law to her Majesty, who had never attempted, like her predecessors, either to thwart it or to impose her commands upon a reluctant people'. ■ It would be mon - strous .to connect with ambitions .of pomp and power the memory of a Queen who was in the very best sense the mother of her people. They all knew; how she had never been deaf tb the voice of suffering.'- It was only: the other day that • their late Queen had sent to th©/. parents of a New Zealand soldier who had won an Imperial commission, but who had fallen, in battle, a letter full of sympathy apd Avomanly tenderness. Lord Melbourne, one of the Queen’s earlier advisers, had said she was the most . truthful'woman he had ever met. Truthful, unselfish, tender and loving, indeed their Queen had been, and in her life and conduct there was a lesson for us. Her desire through life had not been to be ministered to, but to minister to her people, and if we could make up our minds to benefit by her example' and live nobler, purer, more courageous anc! unselfish lives, we should he the more fitoted to (follow that faithful ' servant of Jesus Christ who had just passed to rest, to hear the voice 1 of. the Master saying “Well done, thou good'and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

•The Rev C, DallaStbn offered up a powerful extempore' prayer; Adjutant * Hatcher, of the Salvation Army, an-.. nounced the singing of the hymn “Rock cf Ages/’! the gathering joining with heart,, and voice; and Bishop Wallis first. .in- {/ toned the Lord’s Prayer'and then pro-: non need the Benediction . The crowd - then stood “a silent sea of faces, with unbared heads,” whilst - the hand played,, the “Dead March’k in “Saul,” and the n Battery, in the tennis courts, behind,/; fired a royal salute. .., y,

This denoted the close o£ the ceremony. The Vice-Regal party at once took its departure ; the crowd began to melt; the troops filed out, and, headed by the Garrison Band playing a lively tune, inarched to the Drillshed, where they were disbanded; and, as if in sympathy, the sun, which had been obscured all day beneath a mist of clouds, shone out as if to assist in dispelling the air of gloom. At sunset- the Mildura, in the harbour, fired a salute of 101 guns. Then darkness fell upon the scene. The obsequies were at an end.

THE MILITARY PARADE.

The following figures show the parade strength on Saturday : Wellington Rifle Battalion prude:* Lieutenant-Colonel Collins, with him Major Brandon,. Captain and Adjutant, : Harccurt, Captain and Quarterma?;er Henderson, Sergeant-Major Sanderson and Quartermaster-Sergeant Carmine), 499, made up as follows: City Rifles (Captain W. G. Duthie) v»CPost and Telegraph Rifles (Captain Morris) ... ... ... ... 62 College Rifles (Captain Turner) 60 ’/Civil Service Rifles (Captain King) 54 r: "Wellington Guards (Captain John Duthie) ... ' ... 48 Highland Rifles (Captain Mclntosh) 48 / Ze'alandid Rifles (Captain Keir) ... 42 Kolburae Rifles (Captain Davis ... 42 \ Garrison Band (Bandmaster Herd)... 2$ Ciycle Corps (Ccl-Sergt. SHnn) ... 25

( ‘Bearer Corps.(Surgeon-Captain Mackenzie) ... ... ••• 10 The Naval Brigade, under Commander . Campbell, with him Captain Duucan, . . mustered in great force, the Wellington tl -.Navals holding pride of place both for active and reserve list. Subjoined are .< the company parade states: .-.t Wellington Navals (Lieut.-Com- : : ; mauder Bell; ... ... ... 341 Pet one Navals (Lieut.-Commander Kirk) ... ... ... ... 75 Naval Cadets (Lieut.-Commander Sampson) ... ... ... ... 40 D Battery, under Captain Moorhouse, turned out 70 strong, the Heretaunga Mounted Rifles, under Captain Loveday, mustered 48, the Permanent Artillery, under Colonel Messenger, 63, and there „• was an attendance of a naval guard numbering 60 from H.M.S. Mildura (under Lieutenant Rideout), making the total muster of all arms considerably over a thousand.

In addition to the naval guard from H.M.S. Mildura there were also present Captain Kingsmill, Lieutenant Ellis, Mr Baker (fleet engineer), Mr Greenward (paymaster), Dr May, and Mr Harry. ST. JOSEPH’S. A largely attended memorial service was held at- St. Joseph’s Church (Catholic), Buckle street. Archbishop Redwood officiated. The service was brief, ; but impressive. Dean McKenna (Masterton) and Dean Kirk (Wanganui) acted as assistants at the throne. Father Herbert was the master of ceremonies, and Father Kimball presided at the organ, The choir was composed entirely of clergy, who sang, with fine effect, ‘"Dies Irae” and the BenedictusJ A large body of clergy now in synod were present. ........ The Archbishop said they were ass mibled together in cordial sympathy with the grief which was at present overwhelming the British Empire. Everywhere were signs of mourning and wjvdu of grief. Never in British history was sorrow at the death of a Sovereign so . widespread and genuine. The reign ..of Victoria, of happy and glorious menu.ry, was marked with characteristics which made it a record reign in magnificence and duration. Her period of rule surpassed that of any other of our sovereigns ixi progress. He expatiated cm the endearing personal quali-

ties of her Majesty, who had left the world such a glorious example. At the present moment two sentiments were predominant in all hearts—regret at the loss of so good and so a Queen, and hope that her son and successor would emulate his mother’s glori- ‘ V'ous example and give his subjects cau-:s ’ to rejoice in his reign. lie concluded by ’ offering up a prayer in the name of the . Catholic body of New Zealand, giviug . .thanks to God for so good a Sovereign, '/l and beseeching His blessings on her successor. . The organist played the “Dead Mareu** in “/Saul” at the close of the serr?o. ST. JOHN’S. The service at St. John’s Church was conducted by the Rev James Paterson. There was alarge attendance of mourners, and the church was heavily drapod in black. In the course of an eloquenti tribute to her Majesty’s memory, Mr Paterson refetrred to the death of her husband, the Prince Consort, forty years ago. On Monday the! remains of the wife would be placed side by side with those of her husband in the mausoleum ,s at Frogmore. “Lovely and pleasant in ; their lives, in death they would not be divided.’’ Continuing, the speaker said he believed that those who were near and dear on earth and followers of Christ would meet again in His kingdom. .They would recognise each other and have communion together of a nature far higher and sweeter than they enjoyed on earth. He concluded by relating : several incidents in the life of her Majesty, illustrating the tenderness, simplicity and sincerity of her nature, qua-

lities which had so endeared her tc her people. ST. PAUL’S. On Saturday evening a funeral service was held in St. Paul's. The church was crowded to the doors. The Rev T. H. Sprbtt (vicar), assisted by -the Rev J. G. S. Bartlett, officiated. The anthem, “Thou knovest, Lord,” and the thirty-ninth Psalm (Purcell) were sung, and Stainer’s "Nunc Dimittis” was ployed as a recessional by the organist, Mr R. Parker. The hymns were "‘Lead Kindly Light” and “Praise to the Holiest in the Height.” ST. PETER’S. A special memorial service was held at St. Peter’s Church on Saturday evening, there being a large congregation present. The-church was draped throughout with violet, the Church of England’s colour of mourning. The beautiful burial service for the dead contained in the church’s ritual was read by the Rev G. P. Davys. the choir rendered the anthem, “Blessed are the dead that diein the Lord.” and the congregation joined in the singing of appropriate hymns. A short address was delivered by the Rev G. P. Davys, bearing upon the sol emn lesson taught by Death, the Great Leveller, in the course of which the preacher urged upon all the desirableness of so shaping their lives that when the earthly end thereof shall arrive they may be found good in the Master’s sight. At the conclusion of the service the “Dead March” in '‘Saul” was played upon the organ. THE SYNAGOGUE. At the Synagogue on Saturday a special funeral service was held, and a prayer was offered up by the congregation for the repose of the soul of the late Queen. Rabbi Van Staveren preached an eloquent- sermon from a text from the Proverbs of Solomon : “Many daughters have done valiantly; but thou excelleth them all.” MISSIONS TO SEAMEN. Special memorial services were held in the morning and evening at the Missions to Seamen. The hail had been specially decorated for the services, the pulpit being surrounded with white and purple flowers entwined in lycopodium, the Maori emblem of mourning. At both services Mr James Moore spoke feelingly of the death of the Queen, instancing many touching incidents of her life. AL the 'morning service the hymns were “Light after Darkness.” r ‘W © shall sleep, but not for ever,” “Asleep in Jesus,” and “Sleep on, Beloved.” The lessons were the thirty-ninth Psalm and First Epistle of Corinthians, xv. chap., 20th to oßth verses. The sermon in the evening was ' a ken from the ninth verse of the sixenth Psalm. The “Dead March” was -yecl at the close of both services. SUBURBAN CEREMONIES. PETONE. The residents of Petone, the most important and populous of Wellington’s suburban centres, carried out an interesting and creditable display, in respectful memory of our late Queen. At. ten o’clock a.m. a procession was formed at the railway station, headed by the band, which was followed by the Petone Naval Artillery, under Lieutenant-Com-mander Kirk, with arms reversed, the borough and Gear Company’s fire brigades, under Captains Austin and Carter, members of the Borough Council, Manchester Unity, Foresters and Druids’ Friendly Societies, and Salvation Army, some four hundred school children, under the charge of the teachers, and a large number of citizens. To the impressive strains of the “Dead March,” and the tolling of bells, the cortege, which was fully half a mile long, slowly wended its way to the Recreation Ground, where a platform had been erected, appropriately draped, and in front of which was displayed a large photograph of Queen Victoria, set in wreaths of greenery and flowers. On the platform were, the Revs J. D. Russell (.Anglican), who acted as chairman, A. Thomson (St. David’s, Petone), E. Eldridge (Knox Church, Lower Hutt), W. B. Martin (Wesleyan Church, Lower Hutt), E. P. Blamires (Wesleyan Church, Petone), and Captain D. Gunn, of the Salvation Army. A combined choir from the various churches, under the condnetorship of Mr C. Young, led the musical portion of the service, Mr J. U. Sheiwin presiding at the organ. The large crowd having assembled around the platform, the hymn, “When our heads are bowed with woe,” was sung, in a manner that- betokened the solemnity of the occasion and the intensity of the feeling which that sion inspired. A prayer by the Rev A. Thomson, in which he invoked the Divine blessing in that the nation’s hour of need, followed. The Rev Mr Blamires read the Scripture lesson, Psalm xc., setting forth the brevity of human life, and the lesson to be deduced therefrom. ’‘Days and moments quickly flying” was the next hymn. The Rev Mr Eldridge read I. Corinthians, xv., in which St. Paul proves the resurrection of the body and its glory. The hymn “Now the labourer’s task is o’er,” was

succeeded by versicles, and the Lord’s Prayer, led by the Rev W. B. Martin. The Rev J. D. Russell delivered a short address, his theme being “Peace” —the “peace that passeth all nndev- ‘ standing.” There was no word, Mr Russell said, that our late gracious Sovereign loved more than peace, and it had long been her desire that when her time came to go hence, peace would prevail throughout her dominions. Divine Providence had, however, willed it otherwise. Better than earthly peace, Christ had made her partaker of His peace, and she was now at rest for ever. He dwelt on the noble example set by her life, and urged his hearers to practically follow that example.

A prayer by Captain Gunn, the hymn '•For ever with the Lord.” and the benediction by the Rev A. Thomson, concluded the proceedings. Thereafter the hand played the “Dead March,” the spectators standing with bowed and bared heads.

From many flagstaffs in the town the Union Jack floated half-mast, and the post office was draped in black. Services appropriate to the occasion were held in the various churches in the evening. KARORI. A large congregation attended the late Queen’s memorial service, held at St. Mary’s Church, Karori, on Saturday night. The Rev Mr Hansell preached an eloquent sermon from the text “Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.” The service was fully choral. OBSERVANCES IN AUSTRALIA. SYDNEY, February 2. To-day was- observed as a close holiday. The city was thronged with thousands of people in mourning costume, and great congregations assembled at the various churches, where special services were held. A State memorial service was held at St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Lord Hopetoun, Mr Barton, Mr Seddon, Admiral Beaumont and the leading 'dignitaries of the city were present. The Archbishop delivered an address. The funeral dirge, “If We Believe,” composed by Sir John Goss for the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, was sung in the Queen’s Square, where the general public manifested its sorrow. The square was densely packed all the afternoon. Lord Hopetoun, Mr Barton, Mr Seddon and many officials were present.

Lord Hopetoun placed a wreath amongst the many thousands already reposing at the foot of the statue. Four thousand children sang sacred selections. The bands also played funeral marches.

Round the statue were the colours of the various nationalities with bands of crepe across each flag. The statue of the Prince Consort, facing that of the Queen, was garlanded with white flowers.

Bells were tolling mournfully all clay. ADELAIDE, February 3. All business was suspended yesterday. Memorial services were held in all the churches, the Governor and Ministry attending that at the Cathedral. The usual salutes were fired. MELBOURNE, February 3. Yesterday was practically observed as a Sunday. All the hotels and theatres were closed. Memorial services were held in all the churches, the LieutenantGovernor attending at the Cathedral, where a state service was held. BRISBANE, February 3. Yesterday was generally observed a£ a day cf mourning throughout the colony. Memorial services were held in all the towns. The Governor, Ministers and defence forces attended a State service at the exhibition buildings, where the singing of a choir of two thousand voices was most impressive. PALMERSTON. The open-air memorial service in connection with the funeral of the late Queen Victoria was commenced at 2.30 p.m., writes our Palmerston Nortn correspondent. The Volunteers, Fire Brigade and general public mustered in such strength as to make up one of the largest meetings Palmerston has ever seen. The service was opened by the! Palmerston Band playing Beethoven’s “Funeral March/’ at the conclusion of with a hymn was sung. Then the Lord’s Prayer was said, the congregation being led by Ensign Mathers (Salvation Army). Mr C. H.. Hinman then read a lesson from Corinthians, fo||ftg|ed by another hymn, after which tfra||lifiLev J. Chisholm gave a short and totrching address. Another hymn was sung previous to an address by the Rev S. Lawry. The next item was that old and favourite hymn, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” The Rev S. Baker led in prayer, and then previous to the benediction by the Rev H. F. Wilson, the band played the “Dead March.” Most buildings in toAvn were draped, and every flag had a black scarf banner above it. CARTERTON. The commemoration obsequies of the late Queen were fittingly observed. All Government offices and many other buildings w r ere draped in purple and black. All bells tolled, at minute intervals, from noon until 3 in the afternoon. The morning attendance at the various churches was very large. At 2

p.m. a procession of Town Councillors and friendly societies, preceded by the Mounted Rifles, marched to the pastoral grounds, where a united service was held in the presence of about fifteen hundred persons.

Telegrams received from all parts if the colony show that the day was generally observed as one of mourning, and services were held at all centres of population.