State Funeral At Greymouth For Hon. J. O’Brien

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1947, Page 4

State Funeral At Greymouth For Hon. J. O’Brien

(P.A.) Greymouth, Oct. 2. ■’i' l ! i. !.ri I nines idle and business at a standstill for the duration v-. v..tomes, thousands lined Greyr.wuth streets this morning in tine but threatening weather to pay their last tribute to the late Hon. J. O'Brien, who was accorded a State funeral at Karoro cemetery. St. Patrick’s Chturch was crowded tor Solemn High Mass, the'celebrant being the Rt. Rev. Monsignor J. Long. A panegyric was given by the Rt. Rev Monsignor Kennedy, of Christ church. The casket was borne from the church to the hearse in the presence of a densely packed throng by national and local officials of the Labour Parly and representatives of the united mine workers, led by the Greymouth Municipal Band. The cortege included the Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet, representatives of both political parties, including the Leader of the Opposition, departmental officers, representatives of every industrial and workers’ organisation, local authorities and all sections of the community. If was immediately followed by six lorries of wreaths. The hearse -passed in slow ■ between lines of school children, behind whom were packed a large percentage of the population of Greymouth and surrounding districts,