DEATH of SIR DONALD M'LEAN.

Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 131, 12 January 1877, Page 6

DEATH of SIR DONALD M'LEAN.

.., . For, some time past ' reports,. have been 'circulated, that Sir Donald M'Lean i was lying dangerously, ill at .Napier, and although recovery was _.. considered hopeless by his friends, it!-. was -not /generally anticipated that the end was ...so near. It appears, however, that, by request of , his family the local journals ; abstained from, saying any thing. .about it, as he* was* in the habit of looking at, f the newspapers; and if-he saw, anything in -them "about his illness it ..was a '.' sbiiree of vexation to him. On Sunday .his life Hvas ' despaired ofl He * rallied, ..however, considerably, /and* to : a very ■ early;" hour oh Fiiday s morning' it j was _. thought 'pcssible the d'euta attfic'k of his ; disease flight pass over for a nine ; but about five o'clock "'in the morning the attack look a sudden turn for tiie worse, . ancl at nine o'clock unother turn took, place, which*; rendered all, hopeful an-!' /.ticipations vain, irom that- ti'pne until ten .minutes to four .-.-in-the: afternoon, when 'he 1 * died; *- he- .was « almost unconscious, 'but now and then /muttered sonic/words in' Gaelic, of tenor showing , his r 'hiihd 'was -occupied : with] thought's ,;suitable' .tp'the imminence' 'of his en- 1 ,itr^riceTnto J a future' state. /He could recognise the, faces of friends/ but ' his ibrmh.j '.could^lscafcely'l)e' saicfto be at work.,,, , v JtJis^ji'ea ;^has' creajje'd' a pro----' -■fohp.ol,; sensation', among ' all 'classes" in*' '"iNapier..-;; .. ), . ., ,_ ;/ . '!." ' '. ' :' " ■A ; The .funeral , which, Uoo&' .place. . on*.essentially... AJasonic.., _,it . ;had"been >in ten ded *to give , jt : .a. . military, . "character/ and/; the Artillery Volunteers , , !were 'ordered] tor assemble'?; with' -gun-, . carriages prepared to carr i f'- the '.coffin, .

'And a!firifigVpnrty ? w : 3s fold 'off,; but* , at' 71 most thei'Tast 'moment -the* military iiispTay *was^oun termanded: . i;l he Odd FellovV-s' -walked in procession .-to the cemetery, also a few Foresters, and; a* "considerable number of .Good Templars a>d l! meuibers ofthe Hiberhia'n'Society, bearing scarves and -other ''insigna; but at r thie -.gate- of. the ; ..cemetery., 't.h'ey -mingled >withi, the, crowd,, leaving the Masons to conduct" the burial cere" frn'oniesfortlfeir deceased, Master, r, "Ibe Ma'sbns -met together ,at,..the.. Masonic, ■fl'all, ; and held -lodge burial- service. About 3,-o'clock -they, fprmed, a*.,processib'n, marching, to theJat.e residence ;.of J - y ir\. Donald. .-. Ther.e, :>:ere ra bout 80 Slaspns, including* several .of theißoyal Arch of ; each- lodge,,, r who ?;follovyed separately. ...The .procession ,was ; condiict'ed ,by. the .Victorian *,LLode;g c; (English;; constitution), under .which ..Sir. Dorikl d held . his a pppi n tin en t as . Dis trie t- ' o rand M aster,, and , the whole !was under the. management - ,of,',', acting* AAW^A Brother ; Alexander .... Kennedy. The ' body was carried in a hearse, preceded by ' the- mourners, : Dpiig*] a s- .JVPLean(Sir. Donald's t son) being* „the, the chief mourner. A mong. others, present "were , Captain M'Lean (Sir. Dpnald's brother),,. Mr Arch. M'Lean^ and, TWr- Ormond;'; A great many Maoris were presentalso several-, influential .chiefs., These, as well as many, others,- availed-, them-" selves of : the opportunity , to see the body, which was. lying .in "state prior/to removal for burial. , Friends * and the V} X W° generally- followed * : the procession There was a large concourse of" people in the cemetery,. "and .on.all. ihe; elevated "ground surrounding. ,It is* generally considered about 3000 persons .witnessed the ceremony. - After* 'an .impressive service by' the Rev; Mr Sidey,' the Masonic service was' read' by- the .Rev. D'Arcy Irvine; principal master of the Grammar School, and chaplain to- the Victoria ; Lodge. Tt was* very solemnly rendered, and listened 10 -with profound ' attention by all. =-** After the concluding prayer, the Masons 1 marched in procession back to the Masonic Hall, and closed' the Lodge.