PASSING OF A CHIEF

Otago Witness, Issue 4042, 1 September 1931, Page 7

PASSING OF A CHIEF

THE FINAL TRIBUTE FUNERAL OF MR RODERICK MACKENZIE. (Photograph in This Issue.) Amid the many traits which mark the sons of Caledonia, stern and wild, none becomes them more than the tribute they pay to their honoured dead. ' This was exemplified on Tuesday afternoon, when Roderick Mackenzie was borne to his last resting place, attended by a long cortege of mourners, composed not only of tae family relations and personal friends, but ol representatives of the many societies and organisations with which he was connected during his busy life. Chief amongst these, of course, was the Gaelic Society, whose honoured chief he was, and lending that national touch dear to every Scottish heart came the pipers in full panoply playing as only th e pipes can play “ The Land o’ the Leal.” Slowly the long procession wound behind the stately pacing band—over 100 motor cars blocking alike the cable car on the hill slope and the busy traffic of the main thoroughfares So the procession moved out to Andersons Bay, and here again the nation; I music of his native land was heard. At the graveside, when the last throbbing rote had died .away, the service of tr ° church of his fathers was held, to be finalised by a single piper at the foot of the grave, who p.ayed “The Flowers of Ihe r orest, ’ taken up by the massed band, which had moved off up the slope to stand amid the dark vegetation and re-echo the strains over the heads of the crowded mourners. How like it seemed to many an exile there of the wind-swept Hebrides: the grey sea, the grey sky and the heartbreaking lament. The Masonic service was conducted by his brethren of Lod"< Celtic," of which he had been 36 years a member, and with the deep-toned bene diction of the church. Roderick Mackenzie was gathered to his fathers. Wreaths iiom

friends and social -bodies were receive 1 from the following: — Mr R. Dawson, Mr G. Fvnemore. Mr and Mrs R. S. Black, Mr ‘ Andrew Grant (Fairlie), Mr and Mrs H. G. Dixon, Mr James Samson, the Orphan*' Club, Lodge Celtic. Dunedin Highland J? pe m B ?? d k Mr and Mrs A - MacLauchlan. Mr 'I- D. Burnett, M.P. (The Cave), Mr Trengrove, Mr W. Gardiner (Oamaiu), Mr Robert Leiton (Fairlie). Otago Pipers’ and Dancers’ Association. Caledonian Society of Otago, True Highland frienqs, Mr J. E. Withers, Air R. H. Bryant, Mi and Mrs J. Race, staff of Coker’s Hotel (Christchurch), the Whinan fanulv Gaehe Society of New Zealand. Miss house, Dr and Airs J. Duucai. (Christchurch), Air and Airs Peter Findlay, the council of Dunedin Scottish Societies, bister Elizabeth and Aliss Rutherford, Air K. Al. Greenslade, the Ainge family the directors of the Exchange Court Picture Company, Mr and Airs F. P. Stephenson, ¥ r x an xT Mrs E - E - Shrimpton, Alr s L. Boot, New Zealand Breweries, Alessrs Lang and Paterson, Airs and Aliss APPeak Alessrs Quill, Alorris and Co. (Christchurch) Airs and Aliss Allan, Airs Dugald M'Leod and family, Dr and Airs Brown (Christchurch), and Air E. Alford (Mount Nessing).