FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR M. STITT.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14838, 2 December 1913, Page 10

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR M. STITT.

The funeral of tho lat© Matthew Stitt, of Ashburton, took place yesterday afternoon. The casket was covered with flowers, and tho large number of floral tributes was an ample and touching testimony of the esteem and regard in which the deceased gentleman was hold throughout the Ashburton County. Mr C. J. Harper (chairman of the Ashburton County Council), Mr T. E. Upton (president of tho Ashburton County Racing Club), Mr J. Davison (secretary of the Upper Ashburton Road Board, of which body the late Mr Stitt was a member up to the time of his death), and Mr A. A. Fooks (secretary of the two County Racing Clubs) acted as pall-bearers. Immediately following tho hearse wero the private carriages containing the nearest male relatives. The funeral procession was a long one, and mourners were present from all parts of the County. The following local • bodies were represented: —The Ashburton County Council, Ashburton Borough Council, Ashburton A. and P. Association, Upper Ashburton Road Board, Ashburton Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, Ashburton County Racing Club, Ashburton Trotting Club, Ashburton High School Board, Ashburton branch of tho New Zealand Farmers' Union, Mount Somers Road Board, Mount Hutt Road Board, tho New Zealand Farmers' Cooperative Association, Ltd., Messrs Friedlander Brothers, Ltd., the National Mortgage and Agency Company, Ltd., and other auctioneering firms and local banking establishmnts were also represented. Among private citizens were Messrs W. Nosworthy, M.P., D. G. "Wright, T. Bullock, A. Curtis, F. Ferriman, Robert 8011, A. Roberts, H. C. Orbell, J. Forrester, C, F. M. Wroughton, A. H. Shury, and others At the graveside the last rites were conducted by the Rev. J. R. Burgin.