PUBLIC TRIBUTE.

Colonist, Volume XLVIII, Issue 11668, 2 July 1906, Page 2 (Supplement)

PUBLIC TRIBUTE.

GATHERING AT THE CATHEDRAL STEPS. The gathering held at a quarter past ten ou Sunday June 17 as a mark of respect to the dead statesman's memory formed an impressivescene, rendered more so, perhaps, because theie was no spoken word. There was a very large gathering, which uncovered as the strains of the "Dead March in Saul", beauti-' fully rendered by the Garrison Band. The Citizens' Band then played Southwell's funsral march, introducing the well-known hymn "Nearer My God to Thee," at the conclusion of which the Garrison Band played the American funeral march "Garland of Flowers." This concluded, the assemblage dispersed, the proceedings having lasted about half an hour. The Mayor, City Councilors, and members of various local bodies were present, but there were no formalities, and the function, happily conceived, was marked by a simplicity and spontaneity! more eloquent than speech, and j eminently fitting to the sorrowful j occasion. Great interest was .displayed in connection with the funeral arrangements, and knots of expectant bystanders were gathered about the Telegraph Office till noon waiting information, up to that hour the only information received being that the Oswestry Grange had arrived at Wellington the previous night. It was nearly five o'clock when the word came that the funeral would take place on Thursday next in Wellington. _____ j