THE LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18617, 12 July 1930, Page 8

THE LATE SIR JOSEPH WARD.

BODY ARRIVES AT LYTTELTON. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, July 11. The ferry wharf at Lyttelton was strangely still this morning when the steamer drew alongside, bearing the body of Sir Joseph Ward. The coffin was lowered amid reverent silence, the ship’s officers standing at the salute, and the mourners on the wharf standing bare-headed.

Eight railway guards raised the coffin into the mortuary van and the train steamed out. At the Christchurch station hundreds paid their last respects. Again there was deep silence along the w’hole platform. A guard of honour of fourteen returned soldiers marched up and stood silently v/hile a bugler sounded “The Last Post.” Then quickly the train steamed out. Thus Christchurch paid its homage to the memory of the statesman.

AT ASHBURTON By Telegraph—Frees Association ASHBURTON. July 11. Business w*as suspended for half an hour as a tribute to Sir Joseph Ward as the train passed through the borough. The Mayor, County chiarman, and Councillors offered the sympathy of the borough and country to the members of the family, Sir Cyril acknowledging wreaths from both local bodies and the Post Office, and the large gathering of the public to pay respects. MILITARY FUNERAL. By Telegraph—Press Association INVERCARGILL, July 11. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Southland Regiment, Sir Joseph Ward will be accorded a funeral of full military honours. The casket on arrival to-night will be met by a gun carriage with six horses, and an outrider, an escort of the Eleventh Battery and two companies of the First Battalion Regiment, and escorted to the Invercargill Basilica. At Bluff on Sunday there will be the same escort and additional local troops. The line of route to the grave will be lined with troops holding wreaths. The order of the procession will be: Firing Party, Batatalion Band, gun carriage, chief mourners, and escort. After the coffin is lowered a salute will be fired and the “Last- Post” sounded.

Special trains will run from Dunedin and all country centres.

PRESIDENT HOOVER CONDOLES. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 11. The Governor-General has received from President Hoover,’ the following message:— “I have learned with great regret of the death of Sir Joseph Ward, twice Prime Minister of New Zcalnad. May I express to you the sincere sympathy of the Government and people of the United States in the loss which your country has sustained in the passing of this distinguished statesman.” IRISH FREE STATE TRIBUTE. By Telegraph.—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 11. A tribute, from the Minister of External Affairs, Irish Free State, says:— “The Irish Free State desires to express profound regret at the death of Sir Joseph Ward, and offers sincere sympathy to New Zealand in the loss of a statesman who rendered his country such signal service. SWEDISH CONSUL’S SYMPATHY By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, July 11. The Swedish Consul-General at Sydney on behalf of Sweden cabled:— “I beg to offer your country most sincere and respectful sympathy in the loss of its distinguished statesman and citizen, Sir Joseph Ward.” FOOTBALLERS’ MESSAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 11. The joint-managers of the New Zealand Rugby League Football touring team at Bathurst, New South Wales, cabled:—• “Our team greatly laments the passing of the Dominion’s most eminent statesman and sympathises with the Government and people.” PATRIOT AND CHRISTIAN. By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND, July 11. Pontiflcial requiem Mass for the late Sir Joseph Ward was celebrated by Bishop Liston at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the presence of a great congregation, including representatives of the Government, Legislative Council, and Auckland local bodies. Bishop Liston described Sir Joseph Ward as a true patriot and Christian. THE LAST HOME COMING. BODY REACHES INVERCARGILL. By Telegraph—Press Association INVERCARGILL, July 11.

The train bearing the body of Sir Joseph Ward steamed into Invercargill ion to-night, with muffled whistle blowing, and came to a standstill with the mortuary van opposite a passageway, through wilich the cortege was to pass. With the cessation of the rumble of the train, an eerie silence fell upon the station. A huge crowd in the precincts of the station stood with bared heads, awaiting the appearance of the cortege. The casket was placed on a gun-carrige, and the procession moved off, led by a guard of honour, with the Southland Caledonian Pipe Band, of which Sir Joseph had been patron for many years, immediately in front of the gun-carriage, which was followed by mourners. The procession moved off to a lament played by the Band, and passed through a silent lane oi people which lined the entire route to the Basilica.

There were several thousands in the crowd, all of whom had gathered to pay homage to a distinguished statesman. Tho casket was received into the church by the Bishop of Dunedin, and a short service was held, the church being crowded.

REMAINS CONVEYED TO INVERCARGILL. TIMARU PAYS RESPECT. The mortal remains of the late Sir Joseph Ward were conveyed to Invercargill by the first express from Christchurch, At each station an route

there were large assemblies of people Who desired to pay their last respects to the memory of the late Prime Minister. This was an evidence of the esteem and affection in which Sir Joseph was held by a large section of the people of this country. The people of Timaru paid their tribute along with other centres. When the express moved slowly into the station and pulled up the platform was crowded and the Mayor of Timaru uVIr W. Angland), conveyed to Sir Cyril and other members of Sir Joseph’s family the sympathy of the people of South CanterbUrySir Cyril in a few words expressed the thanks of the family for the consoling and sympathetic messages that id been forwarded to them. .These messages were a great comfort to them in their hour of sorrow, and he could not express how much they were appreciated. A number of old friends of Sir Joseph spoke to members of the family for the little time the train remained, while others filed past the mortuary van, which was opened to give the people a view of the casket, which was draped with a Union Jack. In the two special cars which were attached to the express were Sir Cyril

Ward and Lady Ward, Mr and Mrs Vincent Ward, Mr and Mrs Gladstone Ward, Mr P. Ward, Mr J. Ward, a grandson of the late Sir Joseph Ward, Mr and Mrs B. B. Wood. Mr A. Tipping, brother-in-law of the late Sir Joseph Ward, the Hon. P. A. de la Perrelle (Minister of Internal Affairs), r Francis Boys and Lady Boys, Mr B. Boys, Dr. J. Campbell Duncan, of 'otorua Sanatorium, who attended Sir Joseph when he was at Rotorua, and two nurses from the sanatorium. The main official party will go south this morning. T. A. AND P. ASSOCIATION. At their monthly meeting yesterday, the committee of the Timaru Argicultural and Pastoral Association adjourned for half an hour as a tribute to the memory of the late Sir Joseph Ward. The president (Mr M. F. Maze) said that the ex-Prime Ministre had devoted his life to the progress and interests of this country, and despite different political opinions, all would agree that Sir Joseph Ward had had a distinguished career as a statesman. A motion of sympathy with the relatives was carried in silence. FARMERS’ UNION. The Timaru-St. Andrews Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union yesterday, on the motion of Mr P. R. Talbot, passed a vote of condolenec with the family of the late Sir Joseph Ward. Mr Talbot said that the death of the late Prime Minister was a great loss to New Zealand, and his place would be hard to fill. The meeting adjourned until after the first express, bearing the deceased statesman’s remains to Invercargill had passed through Timaru, and the members assembled at the. Railway Station along with the representatives of other local bodies to pay their last respects to his memory*