ONE OF WELLINGTON'S MOST IMPRESSIVE FUNERALS

Chronicle (Levin), 4 February 1949, Page 5

ONE OF WELLINGTON'S MOST IMPRESSIVE FUNERALS

WELLINGTON, Feb. 4. The funeral tod'ay of Traffic Inspector John Kehoe, who was killed last Monday near Whakatane, was one of the most impressive Wellington haS^ seen. Some shops closed and most others ceased business, and traffic mainly stopped while the long cortege proceeded through the eity after Requiem Mass at the Church of St. Mary of the Angels. * Behind traffic officers on motorcycles were police, while a pipe band sounded its long lament. Two long rows of traffic officers, police, army an'd New Zealand Railway bus drivers' representatives flanked the hearse and lorry of flowers. The casket was covered with the Union Jack. On it was a single wreath and the late Mr. Kehoe's uniform and cap. From the Cenotaph the procession of neariy 150 cars proceeded to Karori, where he was laid . to rest in the soldier's cemetery beside his father. At the close of the ceremony his colleagues in the Transport Department, police officers and army representatives went two by two to the gravesi'de and each one dropped a poppy into the grave and saluted. The Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones, the Commissioner of Transport, Mr. G. L. Laurenson, and the. Commissioner of Police, Mr. D. J. Cummings, were among those present. Transport Department officers attended from many parts of the North Island.