THE AUCKLAND MURDER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19623, 18 October 1933, Page 6

THE AUCKLAND MURDER

FUNERAL OF VICTIM IMPRESSIVE PUBLIC TRIBUTE By Telegraph—Press Association AUCKLAND. October 17. More than 200 taxi cabs and private motor cars, constituting the longest cortege seen in Auckland for many years, took part in the funeral of James Hunter Blair, who was murdered in his taxi cab on Sunday. Colleagues and the general public united in paying a most impressive tribute to the memory of Blair. Hundreds stood bare headed and silent as the coffin, draped in a Union Jack and adorned with wreaths, was borne from the residence. The long lines of taxi cabs disposed along neighbouring streets moved quietly into the procession as the hearse turned into the new north road, the vehicles being grouped according to the organisation to which they belonged. On the radiator cap of each cab fluttered a strip of black silk ribbon. It Is estimated that the procession was two miles long. At all the main points along the route crowds had collected to pay their respects. At the cemetery there was another large assemblage. Blair was buried in the soldiers' section of the cemetery. The service was conducted by the Rev. Evan R. Harries of St, James Presbyterian Church, who. in an eloquent graveside prayer, referred to the tragic nature of Blau's passing. “Thou knowest, O Lord, how our hearts are stirred to sympathy and to indignation," he said. "We are mindful of the frailty of life, of its subjection not only to disease but also to hatred and even to crime. An enemy hath sown tares where Thou hast sown wheat. We remember that the devil was a murderer from the beginning. We thank Thee for the magnificent tribute paid to our brother at ties graveside. Have compassion upon his wife and daughters. We pray that our minds may be freed from thoughts of personal revenge. Help us to commit our cause to Him who judges right eously. Give us grace to pray even for him whose hand has done this foul deed that he may be brought to penitence.’’ Representatives of the Returned Soldiers’ Association stepped forward and cast into the open grave replicas of the red poppies of Flanders.