FUNERALS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5838, 3 April 1897, Page 6

FUNERALS.

■ ■0 The funeral of the late Mr Thomas Herrick took place yesterday afternoon at the Linwood Cemetery. Amongst those present Avere the Rev Canon Knowles, Rev Canon Stack, Re vsW. S. Bean and J. Orchard, and Messrs J. M. Heywood, J. C. Prudhoe, W. Chrystall, R. W. England, H. D. Carter, D. Duncan, 11. Purdie, J. R. Brunt and G. Willmer. Many of thoso who had been befriended by Mr Herrick iv his lifetime also attended. Numerous wreaths and crosses were sent by friends. The service at the grave Avas conducted by the Revs Dr Elmslie, C. Porter and J. J. Doke. The funeral of the late Very Rev Father O'Connor took place at Rangiora yesterday. On Thursday afternoon the remains, encased in a handsome polished coilin. Avere conveyed, from the presbytery to the church, ahd a large number of the Rev Father's Jate parishoners and the townspeople visited the church -to' take a Inst look at his features. The fjanctuary of the church, Avitli the high side altars, and Avere draped in black, and the coffin stood on a dais in front of the sanctuary railing. The obsequies were commenced at 10 o'clock yesterday morning avitli a service in the church. : At the hour named a procession started from the presbytery, headed by the cross-bearer and acolytes. In the procession were his Lordship Bishop Grimes, Canon O'Donnell, Fathers Chervier, Bowers, Marnane, Tubman, Malone, Aubrey, Foley, Ginaty, Tracy, Quirk and Melu, Father Bowers being master of ceremonies. Arrived at the church, the offices for the dead Avere commenced in the presence of a large congregation gathered from all parts of the district. At the conclusion of this part of the service the' Requiem Mass avus said, Father Chervier being celebrant, Father Marnane deacon, Father Quirk sub-deacon, Fathers O'Donnell and Malone cantore.«, and Father Aubrey organist. After the Mass, Bishop G rimes delivered an eloq uent address from St John 11., the eleventh and succeeding verses. He said, referring to the Rev Father O'Connor, that it was not necessary, nor Avould it be seemly, for him to add much to the obituary notices which had appeared in the public Press. : He remarked, upon the late father's ; devotion ' -to duty . during his time of illness, and; the extraordinary grace which upheld him' 'during bis last moments. He ..'jilbo referred in grateful tortus to those Avho had'devoted themselves to caring for him during his last illness ; and also to the kindness of the parishioners Avho had, only a few days before his death, given tangible proof of their sympathy with him. The last absolution was then gi\'en by the Bishop, which concluded the service in the church. The funeral procession was then formed, the children of St Joseph's School, with draped banners, being in the front. The coffin Avas borne from the church by Messrs M. Lynskey, R. Andersoo, T. M'Grath and Thos. Power. The interment took place in the presence of a large concourse of people, a great proportion of whom had not found room in the church. The ceremony at the grave Avas conducted by the Bishop, and concluded at one o'clock. Numerous floral tributes of sympathy were sent by friends and public organisations. Telegrams expressing regret at thereverend father's death came from all parts of the colony, including one from Bishop Verdon (Dunedin),- Bishop Lenihan (Auckland) and the Very Rev Father Devoy (Wellington). The sad news of the death reached Bishop Grimes when on a visit to Mount Cook, and he travelled day and night to be present at the funeral.