FUNERAL AT WELLINGTON.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14831, 24 November 1913, Page 10

FUNERAL AT WELLINGTON.

(special to "the press."! "WELLINGTON", November 22. The sincero regard in which tho late Mr George Laurenson was held was fully 6hown when his remains were interred in Karori Cemetery this morning. Tho cortege which Jeft the late member's residence in Hobson street, at 10.30 a.m., was one of tho longest that has been seen in Wellington for very many years. It stretched the whole length of Tinakori road, it was headed by tho Wellington Waterside Workers' Band. Something like 1000 waterside workers marched in tho procession, which included about fifty cabs and motor-cars. At the botanical Gardens the watersiders drew up in two ranks to allow the cortege to pass through. The band boarded a special tram in which it was conveyed to the Cemetery. Quite a large number of men who could not find room on tho car walked all the way and Dack The Prime Minister accompanied the cortego for a considerable distance, but owing to *Se pressure of public business he was unable to go the wholo wa3', leaving it to the Hons. W. Fraser, 11! H. lthodes, and F. H. l>. Bell to represent tho Cabinet at the graveside. Also there were present tho Speaker of the Legislative Council (Sir . Charles Bowen), tho Speaker of the House (Mr Lang) and a consideraoio nmm-or of members of both branches of the Legislature, including Sir Joseph Ward. The pall bearers were Messrs Witty Forbes, Ell -iud Davey, M.P.'s. The chief mourners were Messrs James and Morgan Laurenson (brothers), John, James and William Tait (brothers-in-law) James and George Laurenson (sons) and A. F. Morrison brother-in-law.

Others present included the Mayor of Wellington, members of tho Corporation stuff, Mr J. Moore (representing by request the Lyttelton branch of the British and Foreign Sailors' Society), Mr Voyco (Lyttelton Waterside Workers' Union), Mr Farland (Wellington Watersiders , Messrs Hickey and Stow© (representing the of Labour), the chief officials of Parliament, the chief of tho "Hansard" staff (Mr Spragg), the chairman (Mr Bullock), and other members of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

The Labour Department was represented by Messrs P. Hally (Conciliation Commissioner) and Carmody, and the Wellington Harbour Board by Captain Johnson and Mr J. W. Marchbanks (engineer). Mr R. Fletcher, the Chairman of the Wellington Harbour Board, was unable to attend owing to urgent public business in the city.

Tho Rev. J. Gibson Smith officiated at the graveside, and tho final prayer was said by the Rev. Dr. Gibb.