LATE CHIEF JUSTICE

Taranaki Daily News, 11 May 1929, Page 22

LATE CHIEF JUSTICE

THE LAST RESTING PLACE. BURIAL AT KENSAL GREEN. London, March 21. The casket containing the body of the late Sir Charles Skerrett was taken to the Chapel of St. Gregory at the Westminster Catholic Cathedral last Tuesday night. There it remained throughout the night covered with a New Zealand flag. When the late Chief Justice died at sea on February 13 the captain, officers and engineering staff of the Port Denison had this flag made, and it covered the casket during the remainder of the voyage. Thp following morning the coffin was removed to a position in front of the high altar, and there followed that most impressive of services, the Mass for the Dead. About a hundred people attended the mass. Many of these were New Zealanders, many of them were official representatives. mourners were: Mrs. ComptojfyMiss Mary Skerrett, Miss Julia Skerrett (sisters), Mr. James Conchie (brother-in-law), Master Peter Compton (nephew). The pallbearers were Sir James Parr, Lord Strathspey, Mr. Cecil J. Wray, Mr. James Conchie, Master Peter Compton and the Hon. H. G. Butler. The Rev. T. de Lusignon celebrated the mass. After the service the casket was carried down the great length of the cathedral to the waiting cars and the chief mourners and a few intimate friends went on to the burial at St. Alary’s cemetery, Kensal Green, where Father Williams officiated. Kensal Green cemetery is a large tract of country on the low hills in the north-east of London. - It is beautifully situated and, cut off from 1 the spreading metropolis by' a 15ft. wall, it retains the peaceful rural aspect it possessed .when it was first chosen as a place for burial. The late Sir Charles Skerrett was buried near to other niembers of his family. Beautiful wreaths, about 30 in number, were afterwards -placed on the grave.

The wreath sent by the High Commissioner was of parma violets with. a spray of pink carnations and lily of the valley. The inscription read: “With deepest sympathy from the Government and High Commissioner, Dominion of New Zealand.”