ASHES DEPOSITED IN SEA

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 62, 7 December 1926, Page 8

ASHES DEPOSITED IN SEA

V MASTER MARINER’S LAST REQUEST Dominion Special. Christchurch, December 6. That after his death his body be cremated and that the ashes be then taken charge of by members of the Lyttelton Kilwinning Masonic Lodge, who were to deposit them ten miles off the Lyttelton Heads upon the ocean where he had spent so many years of his life. This request was made in the will of the late Captain William Palmer Collins, an old master mariner of Lyttelton, who died recently at Wellington. He was for many years in command of vessels belonging to the Union Steam Ship Company. His bodv was cremated at the Karori cemeterv and the casket containing the ashes was brought to Lvttelton. during the week-end, and deposited in the Kilwinning Masonic Lodge Hall. Later the casket was taken on board the s.s. John Anderson and conveyted to a spot ten miles off the Lyttelton Heads, where it was deposited in the sea. Chaplain Bro. J Clow officiated. Aliout sixty members of the Masonic Lodge witnessed the ceremony at sea. So far as can be ascertained this is the first instance that such a request has been made in New Zealand.