THE FUNERAL.

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

THE FUNERAL.

TOUCHING GRIEF OP THE | MAORIS. SEVENTY THOUSAND PERSONS ASSEMBLED. (By Telegraph.) (From Our Special Correspondent.) Wellington, June 21. A gloomy day has been experienced in the capital of the Colony in a double sense, as clouds obscured tho sky, and there were euspiciors of tears from the heavens, while all the people congregated hero were in a condition of sadness, for so well was the late Mr Seddon known per- 1 sonally throughout the Colony, that there ware comparatively few who did not think of him as a personal friend, while the feeling that the Colony has sustained a loss that is { irretrievable depressed the v.hole | people. Business has been at a standstill, and many of the commercial, as well as the public otlices, were closed alj day. In the forenoon a continuous stream walked through the lobby in the Parliamentary | Buildings, where some thousands of j beautiful weaths were arranged on j tables, cccording to the district from which each had been sent. About one o'clock, those who desired to pay a last tribute to the memory of the great man we mourn, were assembling to take part in the solemn processioD, while military bodies were marching in all directions, with a view to taking up the positions allotted them. The whole route of the funeral cortege, some two miles in length, was lined by men end youths in uniform. A detachment of men of-waremen and marines, under their respective officers, marched towards the Cemetery, which overlooks the city. Very shortly after two o'clock tbe solemn procession commenced its slow march, but very few of those taking part therein were able to enter the pro Cathderal, and the great majority stood silent in the cold wind till the service was concluded. The procession was a most imposing one. Colonel Collins led. followed by the tiring party, and after the bior came the mourning carriages, containing members of deceased's family, Ministers, and ; others. The rest of the people '. walked on foot, and places of honor 1 were given to the West Coasters and < Lancastrians. There were eight i bands at intervals in the procession, J and the funeral marches were i solemnly and effectively played. In ] the procession 1 noticed Mr Brown (of Messrs Brown and Kerr) amongst t the old West Coasters; Mr Bannehr i (of "The Colonist") among the I Pres9 representatives: Mr George * ralbot (Chairman cf Nelson Educa- i cion Board) amongst the members of > t;he University Council; and Mr F. r Hamilton (Chairman of the Nelson a Chamber of Commerce) among tbe i representatives of the Chambers of 1 Commerce, i have mentioned these t jentlemao in the order iv which they g were placed'- by the marshals. Of the c 3adly impressive scene, the portion c ihat mist deeply affected one. was <? ;he grief of the ilairis. Wearing c jarlaads of g.een leaves, they had a o

position in Bowen" street, r arid; one woman moved to and fro, in a sort of solemn dance, while she and the other members of her race showed that their grief was indeed felt. At the grave three volleys were fired, , and the last post was sounded, when those who could not hear the service or see the very last, walked sadly away, and. the feeling was that every New Zealander has lost a valued friend. It is estimated that there were seventy thousand persons prosent in Wellington streets this after- , noon. Later. In addition to the Hon. Colonel Pitt, Messrs Reeves and Trask, of the Legislative Council, and Messrs J. Graham arid R. McKenzie, of the House of Represntativss, were among the Legislators There were few members of either Chamber ; absent. There were eight bands in the procession, and the workers and members of Friendly Societies who took part were very numerous, while every party in the Colony, from the BlulF to the north of Auckland was ; represented. To-night the various bands are performing funeral i marches in the Basin Reserve, and in the Town Hall there is an organ : performance, while the Salvation Army is Holding a memorial meeting. A memorial service is to bo held in the Tovvn Hall on Sunday.