DEATH OF COLONEL PITT

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1937, 20 November 1906, Page 3

DEATH OF COLONEL PITT

PRESS ASSOCIATION

Christchurch, yesterday.

Toe immediate cause of Colonel Pitt’s death was not the operation itself, but general weakuess, which prevantod him rallying from the shock to the system. He had been run down for soma time before the operatioD, and simply failed to rally.

Mr Ball-Jane* sent instructions for the Tatanekai to be put into commission, and the vessel will arrive to-day.

A guard of honor of the Permanent Artillery at Lyttelton came to town yesterday, and the body was taken at 10 o'clock last night to the mortnary chapel of the Barbadoes street Anglioan cemstery, where the burial servioo will be held this afternoon. At 3.45 the cjffia will be taken from the chapel and the prooession will move to the railway station. The body will go to Lyttelton by special train and be pl&cad on board the Tutanekai, which leaves for Nelson on arrival of the secoad express from South. The interment will be held at Nelson on Wednesday. Sir Joseph Ward and the Hon, Millar arrive at Obristchurob by the second express to-night and leave by the Tutanekai, to represent the Government at the funeral with Messrs McGowan and MoNab. Mr Hal-Jonss remains at Christohmcb.

Mr Hall-Jones, interviewed by a re* porter, said: Following 3loaely on the death of my old ohisf, Oolonel Pitt’s death is particularly painful to me. New Zsaland has lost one of her most able men—a dear friend. I never met a man of more kindly and courteous disposition, or one who had more consideration for others. He was one of nature’s gentlemen. Lcoal members speak in similar terms of the deceased gentleman. The civil sitting of the Supreme Court was adjourned till to-morrow, owing to Oolonel Pitt’s death. Judge Denniston and Mr Joynt, an old member of the bar, paid high tributes to the deceased states' man’s ability and oharaoter. The Exhibition will be closed for one hoar this after* noon daring the funeral obsequies, and the afternoon conoert has been abandoned for the same reason,

Dunedin, last night,

Before commenoiDg the criminal business at the Sopreme Court Judge Cooper passed a eulogium on Colonel Pitt. Auckland, yesterday.

At tbe opening of the criminal sittings of the Supreme Court, Judge Edwards said that wherever Colonel Pitt was knowa he was regarded with feelings of admiration, respect, and aScotioo. He regretted that he was unable, owing to the exigencies of the public business, to permit of on absolute adjournment of the Court. He adjourned tbe business after giviDg bis charge to tbe grand jury and sentanoiog eoma prisoners. Mr Tole, Crown Prosecutor, on behalf of the Bar, also paid a tribute to the memory of Colonel Pitt. Ho said as a colleague of the deoeased gentleman in the House twenty-one years ego, be felt regret, wbioh was shared by all sbades of political opinion. At the Police Court sp e’al reference was made by Mr Dyer, SM, and Mr Martin.

Napier, yesterday,

On the re assembling of the Arbitration Court ibis morning sho President, Mr Justice Chapman, paid a worthy tribute to tbe memory of tho deoeased etatcemaD. He said: '‘ln the person of the late Attorney General we oil rcoognisa a man who fulfilled the tradisions of that cffioi by commanding tho honor and respect of fats fellow members. I need bardly add that I feel tho country has sustained a loss, a very grave loss, in the death of the Hon. A. Pitt. The members of the Bench and tbe members of thß Bar looked upon Mr Attorney General Pitt as a bigh-minded, honorable man, who always sustained the best traditions of the profession.”

Wellington, yesterday,

Before the Supremo Court criminal sessions opened to day, Mr Chapman, on behalf of the Bar, expressed regret at the death of Colonel Pitt, and paid a tribute to bis services. Tho Chief Justice also said a few words in a similar strain.

THE SAD CORTEGE,

BODY BEING CONVEYED TO NELSON.

PEKSS ASSOCIATION',

Ohristohurob, last night. The body of the late Hon. A. Pitt was this afternoon transferred from the Mortuary Chapel, in the Barbadoes street oemetory, where it has been lying since yesterday, to the Government steamer Tutanaekai, whioh leaves to-night direct for Nelson, on arrival of the late express from the South, by whioh the Premier end the Port. J, A, Millar are travelling.

At 8.80 p.m. the mourners began to assemble in front of tbo tiny Chapel, and shortly before 4 o’clock tho oortego moved

off for tbo railway station, whoro a spooial train was in readiness to oontinnu tbo journey to Lyttelton. Thoro wore present at tho funorai tbo Hon. W. Hall Jones, Hon. G. O. Bowon (Speaker of the Legislative Oi’uueil), Hon. E. O J. Stevens, Hon. 0. Louisson, Mr A. Long-lon (British

representative at the Exhibition) Me H, J I Soots (South Australian Commissioner) IMr G 8. Munro (General .Manager) I Irout.-Oalonc! Bauohop (Officer Com I mantling She District), and other officers Mr T. W. Stringer (Grown Prosecutor) Mr G. Pa.vlnig (D.pniy-Mnyot), Mr 11, I U. Smith (Town Oletlt), Mr A. D. Dobson I (City Surveyor), and representatives of [ the banks and Government Departments, Lyttelton Times, Press, Pro s Association, and Hansard stuff, together with a number of privaio friends. Dean Hatpor o.tnduolod a short servioo at the Chapel, and tho full burial servioo will be given at tho iutormont at Nelson on Wednesday.

MINISTERIAL TRIBUTE.

PER PRESS ASSOCIATION Auckland, last nigh l

I Referring to tbo death of tho Hou. A. I Pitt, tho Hon. G. Fowlds said to a Star reprssentativo tc-day : 11 Ho was an exceedingly floe spirited man, with a very high s.nss of public duty. Ho possessed a keen, o ! oar, legally trained mind, but at tho sum., ticuo was able to take a praoiical view of every question that arose. He was also a m.n of en turr, a polished speaker, nnl always considerate of the feolingH of others. The death of suoh a man will bo keenly felt by his colleagues, and his place will be very difliouls to till.”