CITIZENS PAY LAST RESPECTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19119, 11 July 1930, Page 7

CITIZENS PAY LAST RESPECTS.

SIR JOSEPH WARD S DEATH.

REVERENT SCENES AT FERRY AND RAILWAY. In the murky half-light of a winter’s morning, with an occasional glimmer of sunlight in the eastern sky, the coffin containing the body of Sir Joseph Ward was reverently brought ashore at Lyttelton to-day. The ferry wharf was strangely still. The usual clatter of the winches was absent. Of the noise and bustle associated with the departure of the ferry train there was none. Members of the late statesman’s family gathered in a silent group on the wharf. Near at hand was another small group of spectators, there to pay a tribute to a great man. High above the jetty could be seen [ the open hatch of the Maori. Alongside stood a ship’s officer. At the winches were two bare-headed enginedrivers. A wave of the officer’s hand and with hardly a sound, the coffin was hoisted into the air. ITats came off, ship’s officers stood at the salute. Captain Irwin, who had so often taken the late Sir Joseph across the straits, paid his last tribute as the coffin swung out over the side. A lone figure, he stood on the promenade deck. As the coffin swung past him, he saluted gravely. Gently the coffin was lowered to the wharf. The Union Jack which covered the coffin never moved, although the edges were hanging free. On top was a single wreath. For a. few moments the coffin rested on the wharf. Then eight railway guards stepped forward and .raised it. Slowly they carried it to the waiting mortuary van. Two policemen saluted as the body was placed inside. The doors were shut, the family joined the train, and so concluded the last stage of the funeral journey by sea. At Christchurch. The same air of reverence that marked the disembarkation of the body at Lyttelton was to be felt at the Christchurch railway station. Quietly, one by one, citizens of all classes and creeds approached the van bare-headed, and peered in at the coffin. The public moved about quietfy; railway porters cried “Make way, please,” in a subdued voice. Half an hour before the train left, the van was opened, and hundreds of city people went in and paid their last respects. Wreaths were placed in the van and a group of about one hundred people gathered round. Then, with a firm tread, a guard of honour of fourteen returned soldiers., under the president of the Christchurch R.S.A., Mr G..A. Hayden, marched up. “Returned soldiers, halt!” rang out the order. '‘Returned soldiers, right turn!” came another order, and as smartly as they turned when on the parade ground fifteen years ago, they faced the van. These men, who had met Sir Joseph Ward in the firing line in France, stood there silently while Lieutenant G. Burgess played that saddest of all bugle calls, the Last Post. Spectators and officials stood bare-headed once more as those plaintive, sad notes rang out through-the still air. Quietly the train moved cut. The

whole of the life of the station came to a standstill as it passed. Thus Christchurch paid its homage to the memory of a statesman. AT ASHBURTON. Per Press Association. ASHBURTON, July 11. Business was suspended for half an hour as a tribute to the late Sir Joseph Ward when the train passed through the borough. The Mayor, the county chairman and councillors offered the sympathy of the borough and the county to members of the family. Sir Cyril Ward replied. Wreaths from both local bodies and the post office were handed over. There was a large gathering of the public to pay their respects.

FAMILY GOES SOUTH TO ATTEND THE FUNERAL

The members of Sir Joseph Ward’s family passed through Christchurch this morning on the way to Invercargill, where the funeral takes place on Sunday. In the party were Sir Cyril and Ladv Ward, Air Tames Ward, Mr and Mrs B. B. Wood, Mr and Mrs Vincent Ward, Mr and Mrs Gladstone Ward, Mr Pat Ward and Mr A. Tipping, a brother-in-law of Sir Joseph’s. They were accompanied by Sir Francis and Lady Boys and Mr B. Boys. There also went south to be present at the funeral Dr Duncan, medical officer in charge of the Rotorua sanatorium, who was medical adviser of Sir Joseph Ward while he was at Roto-; rua. The two nurses who tended him in his last illness also went south. Mr D. Ardell, of the Department of Internal Affairs, who is making funeral arrangements on behalf of the Government, went south by the same train. The Lyttelton Harbour Board will be represented at the funeral of Sir Joseph Ward by the chairman, Mr IT. T. Armstrong, M.P., and Mr E. J. Howard, M.P.

WILL BE ACCORDED A MILITARY FUNERAL.

Per Press Association. INVERCARGILL, July 11. As Colonel-in-Chief of the Southland Regiment, Sir Joseph Ward will be accorded a funeral with full military honours. The coffin on arrival'tonight will be met by a gun-carriage six horses and an outrider escort of the Xlth Battery, two companies of the first battalion of the Southland Regiment and escorted to the Invercargill Basilica. At Bluff on Sunday there will be the same escort and additional local troops will line the route to the grave. The order of the. procession will be:—Firing party, battalion 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.

IMPRESSIVE SCENES IN STREETS OF WELLINGTON.

(Special to the “Star.”) WELLINGTON. July 10. To-dav was one of ineffable sadness for the capital city—Wellington paid its tribute to Sir Joseph Ward. Weep-

ing heavens conformed with the mood of the mournful and mourning populace. Hundreds had attended Pontifical Requiem Mass on Wednesday, but this afternoon thousands and still more thousands, with heads bared, lined the rain-drenched streets reverently to watch the coffin containing the remains of the great statesman conveyed via a selected route through the city to the ferry steamer which was to take the body to Lyttelton, en route to Bluff. Unity in grief had brought this mighty concourse together, and if solace could be had by the bereaved family surely it was to be found in this magnificent public acknowledgment of a great man’s greatness. Rarely, if ever, has Wellington been moved to such a massed demonstration of sorrow and respect as this tribute typified. Throughout the day the body had lain in state at Parliament House. Bells tolled as the coffin was borne from the Basilica to the semi-darkness of the purple and black draped vestibule of Parliament’s home, around which hung a faint scent of Nature’s most wonderful expression—flowers. Floral emblems from both mighty and small covered all but the inscription on the coffin, and four figures in khaki, with heads drooped over reversed arms, guarded the coffin as the public in dignified streams filed past the catafalque. Promptly at 4 p.m. the cortege to the ferry steamer left the front steps of Parliament House, mounted police and the band heading the solemn procession. The guard of honour and the gun carriage bearing the coffin draped with the Union Jack, a Maori mat and the family wreath, came next, followed by two waggons over-laden with wreaths. Then came the representaives of the Governor-General, Air A. C. Day and Major A. H. Bathurst, and the chief mourners. Over 200 cars were in attendance, the cortege in all i extending in length over one mile. # Through the crowded streets it slowly wended its way, reaching the ferry wharf as darkness spread its pall of gloom over the waterfront. A welloiled winch hoisted the coffin aboard the Maori, reverent hands conveying it to a specially provided container. Khaki heads again drooped over reversed rifles, while the coffin was being shipped. The guard came to the present, and then the salute was given Wellington had paid its last tribute to Sir Joseph Ward.

MINISTERS TO ATTEND FUNERAL ON SUNDAY.

The funeral of the late Sir Joseph Ward, which is to be held at Invercargill on Sunday, will be attended by many leading citizens from all over the Dominion,, and there will be few institutions or bodies that will not be represented.

Many Christchurch people are going down to Invercargill by Saturday’s express, and among them will be the Rev J. I-C. Archer, Mayor of Christchurch as well as the Christchurch members of Parliament. The Ministerial party, which leaves Wellington to-night for Invercargill, will include the Hon G. W. Forbes, Prirpe Minister, the Hon Sir A. T Ngata, the Hon IT. Atmore, the Hon W. A. Veitch, the Hon E. A. Ransom, the Hon W. B- Taverner, the Hon J B. Donald, the Hon P. A. de la Perrelle, the Hon J. G. Cobbe, the Hon A. J. Stallworthy, the Hon Sir Thomas Sidey, the Hon S. G. Smith and the lion J A. Murdoch.

I a @ a a sb a a a gj a a a @3 a a a go a a a POLITICAL SUPPORTERS EXPRESS SYMPATHY.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, July 10. The Dominion executive of the United Political Party has forwarded the following to Mr Vincent Ward: “The Dominion executive of the United Political Party tender to you and the members of the family the deepest condolence in the grievous blow you have all sustained in the death of vour illustrious father, the Right lion Sir Joseph Ward. They beg to convey to you their affection for your father as a man, their respect for his high character, both as a statesman and a business man, and their admiration for the vast range of great service which he rendered to New Zealand and the British Empire. To-day the Dominion mourns the loss of one of its greatest men, whose long, devoted and faithful service and high public ideals will never be forgotten in the land he loved so well. With genial, kindly personality he ruled every department in the State. Ilis great services to New Zealand are a household word and the admiration of the people. Widespread happiness has come to many as a result of his work in the public service, for justice, righteousness and fair play were his constant objectives, and generosity his most conspicuous quality. The public sorrow for his loss, and the deep gratitude for his invaluable services will, we hope, help to console the personal grief to yourself and other members of the family.—Yours very sincerely, J. W. Henderson, chairman, J. A. Shand, general secretary.” SERVICE IN AUCKLAND. (Special to the “Star.”) AUCKLAND, July 11. Solemn Pontifical Requiem Mass for Sir Joseph Ward was celebrated in St Patrick’s Cathedral this morning. The Government was represented by the Postmaster-General, the Hon J. B. Donald, and the City Council by Mr G. Baildon and other members of the council. Bishop Liston was the celebrant. Also present were members of the Consular Corps, the local executive of the United Party, and representatives of local bodies.

FEW WREATHS HAVE BEEN MADE IN CHRISTCHURCH

Contrary to expectations, very few wreaths for the funeral of Sir Joseph Ward, which takes place at Bluff on Sunday, have been made locally. A large proportion of the florists have taken the precaution of forwarding their orders to Dunedin and Invercargill, in order that the flowers may be as fresh as possible when the funeral takes place. Some city florists are of the opinion that the majority of the Christchurch orders were sent to Wellington and that the wreaths were delivered for the ceremony there on Thursday. Wreaths from the following have already been sent, to Invercargill from Christchurch :—Sir Cyril and Ladv Ward, Mr and Mrs A". K. Hadfield, Mr F. G. ITall-Jones (Invercargill), Hon D Buddo, M.L.C., Mr W. Hayward of the Executive of the United Party), Port and City League, Christchurch, Mr and Mrs W. H. M’Dougall, Christchurch R.S.A., Canterbury Owners’ and Breeders’ Association, Mr and Mrs Irving Carney, Mr and Mrs C. R. Kiver, the Mayor. Councillors and citizens of Christchurch, Mr and Mrs Colin M’Donald, Canterbury Frozen Meat Company, Mr D. J. Shea and Mr \Y. A. Erasmuson. In addition a number of wreaths are sons who will be attending the funeral.