DEATH OF MR. FRANK WILSON

Taranaki Daily News, 16 November 1927, Page 6

DEATH OF MR. FRANK WILSON

NUMEROUS MESSAGES OF SYMPATHY ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FUNERAL Messages of sympathy concerning the death of Mr. Frank E. Wilson, Mayor o£ New Plymouth, arrived yesterday from municipalities and friends throughout the Dominion. Votes of condolence with Mrs. Wilson and her family were passed by the Taranaki Hospital Board and the New Plymouth Motor-Cycle Club. At each meeting the loss the town had sustained and the unfailing geniality and self sacrificing spirit of Mr. Wilson were emphasised. Mr. C. E. Bellringer, M.P., sent the following telegram to the deputy-Mayor (Mr. H. V; S. Griffiths): "I most sincerely regret hearing of the sad news of the death of our Mayor. In long years of faithful service he gave of his best in the service of the town and citizens and in promoting their welfare and progress. His sudden demise is to me a great personal shock, and I desire to join in the universal sympathy his untimely death must evoke in the hearts of our people. I greatly deplore that the’urgent call of duty here prevents my being present to join in paying the last sad tribute of respect to an honoured and esteemed friend and public man.”

The funeral will be held this morning. The borough offices will be closed all day, the public library till one o’clock, and business people have been asked to close their premises from 10 a.m. until noon. The Magistrate’s Court will not commence its sitting until noon and the Taranaki Education Board will meet at 9.15 a.m., as usual, but will adjourn at 10 o’clock until later in the day. There will be a complete suspension of tram and bus services from 10.30 to 11.30 a.m; The last trams and buses to leave the terminus before the funeral will start as follow: —Fitzroy, 10.15; Moturoa, 10.15; Westown, 10.15; Pukekura Park, 10; Vogeltown, 10.15; Avenue Road, 10. A special bus will leave Franklcigh Park at 10 o’clock.

The first part of the funeral service will commence in St. Mary’s Church at 10.30 a.m., and the cortege will leave for To Henui Cemetery at 10.45. The procession will be led by the Citizens’ Band, which will play the ‘‘Garland of Flowers” through the streets, and by members of the Masonic fraternity. After the hearse will coino the cars for the mourners and for the bearers and then two cars containing New Plymouth borough councillors. Following these the order will be: Cars with Mayors and councillors from Taranaki towns, cars with representatives of other local bodies, Fire Brigade, on foot, pedestrians, and private cars.

The public are to be requested to assemble in front of the soldiers’ plot at the cemetery and outside the roped enclosure. Cars will not be permitted inside the cemetery gates. At the graveside the funeral service of the Church of England will be concluded and will be followed by the Masonic ceremony. The band will then play “Sandon,” “The Garland of Flowers,” and “Abide with Me.” The route to be taken from the church will be through Brougham, Devon and Watson Streets. Official cam will assemble in Robe Street at 10.15 and private cars in Vivian Street, entrance to this thoroughfare being obtained by way of Dawson Street. No private cars will be allowed in Lower Vivian, Brougham or Robe Streets after 9.30 a.m.

Fire Brigadesnten will assemble, in mufti, at. the Fire Station, and will proceed to the church, and bandsmen will parade at the bandroom at 9.30 a.m. Scouts and Cubs will parade at the cemetery at 10.30 a.m. The Regimental Band, at its meeting last night, passed a vote of condolence with Mrs. Wilson and family. The conductor, Lieutenant F. W. G. McLeod, and four members of the band were deputed to represent the band at the funeral.

The Hawera Borough Council last night made reference to the passing of Mr. Wilson and a vote of sympathy with Mrs. Wilson and family was passed.