A DAY OF MOURNING

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4264, 25 January 1901, Page 5

A DAY OF MOURNING

FUNERAL OBSERVANCES. .BLACK TO BE WORN—FLAGS TO BE DRAPED. The Acting-Premier has sent out the following telegram to Mayors, clergymen and other prominent men : As it is difficult in a scattered community to attain unanimity of action in connection "with the lamentable death of our beloved Queen, the Government suggests that the following he adopted— The public to be respectfully invited to observe a close day of mourning on the occasion of the funeral of the Queen. A general holiday will be proclaimed throughout the colony on that day for that purpose. Women and girls to wear a band of black ribbon on the right arm above the elbow, and men to wear a strip of ribbon ou the lapel of the coat until after the funeral of the Queen. Flags on public buildings, in addition to being at half-mast, to nave a black streamer a foot above each flag. Business places to arrange their flags similarly. Clergymen to fix next- Sunday as a day for universal mourning services in the different churches throughout the colony. A GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT. A Gazette Extraordinary, issued last night, contained a notification of the demise of the Crown, and an Order-in-Council prescribing public observances with regard to mounwrg. All religious denominations are invited to hold meo morial services on Sunday next and f-u the day appointed for the funeral. The New Zealand Ensign with a scarf of crepe

J attached to the flagstaff one foot a! I the flag is to be displayed at balf-i . on all public buildings throughout • colony until sunset each day, inclu the day of the funeral. All ships iu colonv are also requested to display t flags at half-mast for the same pe: All officers of the Government are joined to wear mourning until fur'.-, notified, and all other subjects are quested to do the same. General until after the day of the funeral it ■ enjoined that all festivities of a pub nature be suspended, and on the i..of the funeral all places of business a, , public entertainment be closed. THE HARBOUR BOARD’S TRIBUTE When the Harbour Board met yesterday (Messrs H. Beauchamp, chairmavFraser, Fisher, Cable and Booth bein present), the Chairman said he propose to move a resolution adjourning tb. meeting, on the ■understanding that th usual payments should be authoriaec and that on the occasion of the funer. of the late Queen all traffic on tL wharves should be suspended. The fc lowing resolution was then proposed 1 Mr Beauchamp, seconded by Mr Prase and carried: —“That tha Wellington Hr hour Board, having received with tl deepest regret the intelligence of tl death of Her Most Gracious Majetel Queen Victoria, desires to place on record its sympathy with the members > I the Royal Family, and its expression- < sorrow at the great loss the En pire has sustained, and resolves that, ! a mark to the memory of tbgreat and "much beloved Sovereign wl. has just passed away, the Board do nov. adjourn to Thursday, 31sb January." ITALIAN SYMPATHY. The following has been presented to his Excellency the Govern on behalf of the Italian communit; through Mr G. Fisher, M.H.R., Italia.. Consul: “To His Excellency the. Governor, Ea>.. Ranfuriy, K.C.M.G.,— “The Italian residents of New Zealand desire to convey to your Excellency a-, expression of their profound sorrow upo i; the death of bet Majesty, Queen Victoria-. “We share the feeling of deep grie in which the British nation is plunge, by the death of bar Majesty, for all me: and woman, of every nation, have recog nised for more than a generation pasi that Great Britain and its dependence were governed by a beneficent and er.lightened ruler, whose constitutions power and domestic attributes were a pattern to the whole civilised world. “It is needless to burden this expres sion of our sorrow with any extended reference to the strong feeling of amity «n< friendship which has always existed between the English and Italian nations. It is enough to say that none morel tha-. the Italians throughout the world wii regret that such a noble and gloriou - life has reached its close. “We beg to assure yo.ur Excellent that we do not forget the kind mesaaf of sympathy which you sent to the Itr ian residents of New Zealand on tl 31st July last, upon receipt of the »ev of the assassination of King Humber “Little then did wo think wa should t so soon called upon to send you tb mournful message upon the terminath by death of the reign of the great ar good Queen of England—a reign whii stands out unexampled in the history i the nations of the earth. “In the fervent hope that her Majr tv’s successor, King rdward VII., m, minister to the wants of his people, ai guide the destinies of the State wi equal prudence and wisdom, I have t honour to subscribe myself, “ GIOVANNI MILESI, * “President Garibaldi Club.” - % WELLINGTON STUCK EXCHANGE. The Wellington Stock Exchange av i the offices of its members were close * yehterday, as a mark of respi u and sorrow at the decease of L' late Majesty Queen Victoria. The/ relution to close was passed in silence . .; the motion of the Chairman. TELEGRAMS OP CONDOLENCE.

Amongst many other telegrams < f condolence which have been received his Excellency the Governor are m sages from the following:—Mr E. Ftwick (Mayor- of Kaiapoi), Air Jar. Horne (County Council of Clyde), Mr Ha trick (Mayor of Wanganui), . Thomas Wallace (Consular Agent Italy, ’ Christchurch), Mr William B-• schart (Consul-General for The Neth<‘ lands, Victoria), Mr W. Wood (Ma;, . of Palmerston North), Mr J. N. Brr sbaw (Mayor of Oamaxu), Mr A. R. H lop (Secretary of the Marine Ehgih.ee Institute of New Zealand), Mr 11. Me;. dith, M.H.R. (on behalf of the peoj - ■ of Ashley), Mr T. S. Weston (Chaimr . of the North Canterbury Board of E(‘- • cation),’Mr H. Tomoana, Hastings 0 ■ presenting the natives of the Tv Coast), Mr H. V. Fulton (Agricultu and Pastoral Society, Dunedin), Mr •• J. O’Brien (President of the New Z. land and Australian Natives’ Assoc tion), Mr J. D. Heagerty (Mayor . . Greytown), Mr Henry J. Ranger (G.M. . the Loyal Orange Institution, Chr. church), Mr Hugo Friedlander (Ma, of Ashburton), Mr 6. W. Rus: M.H.R. for Riccarton (on behalf of . constituents), Mr C. E. Beasley (Pi dent of the Working Men’s Club, R mond, Christchurch). IN MEMORIAM. A special memorial service is tr '• held at St. Paul’s Cathedral at 3 o’f on Sunday afternoon. It is intende invite his Excellency the Governor, members of the Ministry, ‘the Mayor : Councillors, etc. A fine programm music is being arranged for the occar details of which will be made kn ..a later on. At Trinity Church. Newtown,, a f . cial service was held in connection % ’ the national bereavement. The ser was conducted by the Rev Mr Lav. and an address was delivered by ■ Rev F. W. Isitt, in which the life of Queen was eulogised and the bright ample which it formed for all commei. upon. A general intercession for ■ well-being of the Empire and throne : made in the prayers offered tm. and • hvmns sung had. special reference to occasion of the service. BRITAIN’S GREATEST QUEEN. (By^LA.”) As one whose life has been coincid with the reign of our late beloved So eign, I ask permission to make some serrations on her great character • . qualities. 1. Under great provocation to hr temper she has possessed wonderful c 'ness. The Bedchamber question, difference with Lord Palmerston, e his untimely recognition of Napt IH-, the agitation against Prince bert when he was .supposed to hay fluenced her too much by his ad the irritation which arose at her ; seclusion after his death, were all c sions when her feelings may easily 1. ■ led her to expressions of intense im nation. But all was calmly and qui and constitutionally settled without .

temper or dignity, and she never f°r long in any degree lost her hold on her people’s affection and esteem. 2. Her loyal acceptance of changing and, at times, it is said. uncongenial advisers. Sir R. Peel. Ifeacausnmd, Gladstone, Palmerston, Salisbury. ihuer«nt as they were in their views and. cMarketers, all in turn received her loyal support, and worn treated wiln courtesy and consideration. . 3. Her courage during tho trying periods of the Crimean war and the Indian Mutiny, and, personally, alter the several attempts on her life, and /fUit- recently in her old age, her visit to Ireland, which was not without its dangers, and was necessarily attended with tagracious and unremitting concern for her soldiers and officers, -in wympathy with the bereaved and woundod and with overy form of individual ■uffeting. In theso and many other particulars she has never forgotten the woman in tho Queen. How easily her head might have hecn turned by the very greatness of her Empire and its rapid growth, bub .she has been, always the same gracious, kindly, sympathetic lady, not forgetting in her own numci ous trials and bereavements those ot others, and never betraying tho least /trace of arrogance. . . I am amazed when I try to think of any one point in which she has faded m her duty to her people, and looking bac,c over tho long yours mm remember none. She has indeed fulfil l cd her touching childish promise to her mother, 1 will Ijo good.” Elizabeth 'vas great, but wa.s full of petty weaknesses, and not without crueltv Victoria will, 1 think, bo pronounced! a greater, though a consiitutioir.il Ouocn, and she was literally san.-. peiu ©t sans roprooho.” J know of none in history to compare with her. She is followed to tho grave with the homage and reverence of tho whole world, hot ub hope that our now King, having left behind! him his youthful errors, with so groat an example heloro him, and with a Queen Consort possessed of the most •graceful presence and the most lovable dualities of any woman of her time, will prove himself a fitting successor to tho beloved Victoria, tho greatest and noblest monarch the world has over teen.

POETICAL TKLBUT.es. THE PASSING Of THE QUEEN. Wo tlo not four that Death has further beyond tho grave. O gracious Wo know how free from ham thy li!° So reßt‘wo’tr"nquil-Buro that only gain Can come to thy pure soul. when, breaks tho chain , , ~ , „ Tliat held thee long m ihiol. ..s with serene, , , ~ , , Contented heart thou leav at tho troubled scene, Would we—if ev'n wo could—bid t' OC main ? Why should wo grieve? Blind folly, would it bo To grudge thy wearied soul its well-won Pet ua rojoico that thou at last art free. And cry vrith hearts* nob Bat.. Loti knoweth best, .... And if Ho need tbea for Urn diadom, Bo grateful praise our myallest reJ.H.IZETT. Wellington. VICTORIA, QUEEN OF BRITANNIA AND EMPRESS OF INDIA. Farewell, dear Queen, thy honoured name Is highest on tho lists of fame; Victoria’s name shall honoured bo Till death shall set the last soul free. Arfeols hold wide the golden gate To admit thee to a happier state. And Chriot Himself, who knows thy worth, ~ Will welcome thco to Heaven from earth. We hear the solemn tolling hell. Which no more sorrowful tale could toil; For all thv subjects, far and near. Thy name to them was always dear. No people on this earth before. Pike tbiue. their Ruler, did adore; It was their glory thus to be Ruled by tho Queen of earth and sea. Though Britain’s power may wider unread, . i , Hot greatest glory now is aeaa; Greater wisdom or greater lovo Only exists in Heaven above. —JOHN PLIMMEK Father of Wellington. The foreign Consuls in ‘Wellington, being desirous of expressing their condolences to his Excellency the Governor in connection with tho sad event which has befallen the British nation. Lord Ranfurly has informed the Consul for Prance (Count de Conrto) that he will bo pleased to receive the members of the Consular Corps in a body on Saturday, at 10 a.m. Mr H. Gerritzon, of the firm of Messrs 11. Gcrritzen and Co., (Wellington, has completed a most artistic piece of woocl•arving emblematical of the historian of the future writing «. life of Queen Victoria. At a meeting of tho Vv ollmgton Rowing {Regatta Committee held_ on Wednesday evening, on the motion of Mr O, H. Both*no, seconded: by Mr A. G. Johnston, a resolution Was carried placing on record tho committee’s deep sorrow at the death of her Majesty tho Queen. Tlio meeting of tho Melrose Borough Council called for last night was attended by his Worship the Mayor (Mr Frost) and Councillors Fullford, Brawn. Keene. ■Newell, Highet and J. Clark. No business was transacted. Tho Mayor moved the following motion, which was seconded by Councillor Clark, and carried in silence, “On behalf of tho burgesses of the Borough of Melrose, this Council expresses its deep regret and sorrow at tho loss sustained by our Empire through the death of our Most Gracious Majesty tho Queen, and resolves that this resolution bo recorded on tho minutes of tho Council.” Our correspondent writes that the nows of her Majesty’s death was received at Carterton with deep grief. Tho bells were tolled, all flags were at halfmast, and business entirely suspended. Little knots of people congregated at different portions of tho streets, and commented with hushed voices on the many virtues of tho deeply-lamented Sovereign. Tho Trades Council at its meeting last night adjourned without transacting business out of respect for the memory of the late Queen.