THE LAST RUES.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 828, 28 May 1910, Page 3

THE LAST RUES.

AN UP-TO-DATE UKDEIiTAKING BUSINESS. 1 There is always Uio bust way to .do everything; that; there arc others is unfortunate, but tlisy do exist a.5 everyone knows. The necessary business of undzrtalc !ij» Hie solemn' last rites to those near and dear is an iinp.prtani one, and that it should be done in the best and most ex;>c<litiuus manner, consistent with that ■reverence for the dead inborn in the race, is beyond all question.

With some such I hough ts a reporter cnUeil in at the establishment of Mr. E. Morris; of Tarauaki .Street, seeking lcnowlciis.' thai is usually korconod from Iho world. That he was ORrcfably surprised by the methods employed is expressing his feelings mildly. 'JT.:-re, in 'the new brick buildings (on the site occupied so long by the iirm) is a mortuary chapel, which is u-xd nearly every clay. There is accommodation tor twenty or thirty people, and n raised dais, with lectern fur the use of the clergyman, should the relatives desire a short service prior to l.ho funeral. The advantage of this is that in many cases when strangers to* Wellington die here, friends and relatives nt a distance aro often nonplussed what to do. This is whero Mr. E. Morris may ho of service. It only needs.a word, and all is done that should he done. There are patterns of caskets koptou the premises. Iran the highly polished oak or rimu to the plain black" cloth-covered type. The polished, casket is much preferred in these times, and that they aro now within easy reach is proved by Hie fact that they can bo obtained for the price pcopio were asked to pay for t-h'ose covered in black cloth ten years ago. Caskets may be obtained in polished oak, walnut, kauri, rimu, or any other English, American, or New Zealand wood, and may bo chastely elaborated with most 'artistic fittings', \of which there is an extensive range to select from. A peep into the factory shows the resources, of this up-to-date firm. Every device uecfissary for turning out the best work on tho shortest notice is provided. Tho machinery, the whole of which is driven by electricity, includes a "Eobinson" pianing machine that will plane from one-eighth of an inch to eight inches; a sand-papering machine, which contains a fan for the disposal of dust, which otherwise might clog the machine, and a boring and a bulling (polishing) inachine for dealing with metal plates. Perhaps the most ingenious machiuo is an American engraving machine, by which the plate-engraving is done. Anysized letter can, be engraved on metal by tracing- with an attached needle a set pattern of letters belonging to tho machine. As the lines and curves of tho letter are traced . they art- repeated mechanically on the plate above. _ A clever adjuster increases or diminishes tho size of the letter, without altering the pattorn. Below is the stable and hearse-house— a model of cleanliness and order. Mr. E. Morris has a splendid equipment in this regard. Vehicles of every description are kept, from the impressive dresshearse, with embossed-glass sides, and surmounted by draped urns, which is~ drawn by four horses, adorned with 'valuable plumes of black ostrich feathers, and the comfortable mourning coach. Landaus are also kept on the premises for the convenience of clients. Each hors» has its own stall, with its name over the feed-box, and each of the. drivers a cupboard whero his black livery and silk hat are kept. x That Mr. Morris keeps right up to date is evidenced by the interest he is taking in cremation. One of the first to recogniso the value of cremation, he devised a small casket—sinoe perfected— in which the iishes of a deceased person may be kept in the home, tho church, or "below the ground. Mr. Morris be lisve-s that cremation will slowly become more popular as a means of disposing of the dead as the peoplo get used to the idea, and already ho has had an indication of what the trend in tho matter might be. In the case of a stranger dying in Wellington, it might be found to bo v<jry inconvenient and expensive to send the liody a long journey, whereas in cremation all that is mortal is reduced to a few ounces of ashes, which can bo placed in a small polished oak, walnut, or rimu casket, and sent to any part of the world at a trifling cost. These .littlo caskets are beautifully made,-and would hardly be out of place anywhere. A complete embalming plant is kept fin the promises, and the finest selection of Parisian immortelles aro stocked. No telephone call to 03" is too late or too early—Ad vt.