LATE MR COATES

Grey River Argus, 2 June 1943, Page 3

LATE MR COATES

THE FUNERAL Great Crowd at Matakolie [Per Press Association] WHANGAREI, June 1. A huge crowd representative of i all parts or Northland, as well as Parliamentarians, including practically the whole of the Ministry, local body members, and the general publice assembled at Matakolie Cemetery this afternoon, when the body of Mr. Coates was laid to rest in the family plot, alongside the bodies of his mother, father- and brother. The casket was transferred from a gun carriage a mile from the cemetery and was supported by representatives of the Armed Forces. Floral offerings from all sections of the New Zealand people and many official wreaths from various parts of the Empire were l a feature of the i funeral. At the conclusion of the ceremony at the m'aveside, at which Bishop Simkin officiated, a volley was fired by members of the Maori Battalion. Auckland citizens paid their last respects to Mr. Coates yesterday, when great numbers filed past the coffin as the body lay in state in St. Mary’s Cathedral. x Military bearers carried the coilin into the cathedral, where it was placed on a bier before the altar, and a military guard was mounted. Deep emotion was shown by many who paid their last respects. At 9.30 a.m. a large partv of Maoris arrived, carrying a traditional taua of green twigs. Eulogies of Mr. Coa.tes. who was a staunch friend of the Maoris, were recited in the Maori language and a prolonged Maori ceremonial of mourning was conducted inside the cathedral. An address in Maori was delivered, to which the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) replied in English. The lying in state continued until the memorial service for citizens commenced in the afternoon. Before noon many country people had arrived m Auckland to take part in the city’s mourning. There was a great display of wreaths at the Town Hall during the day from the services and all .sections of the community. Thousands of people who had come to pay their last respects to Mr. Coates lined the whole of the long route from St. Mary’s Cathedral to the railway station. From Parnell Road; to Khyber Pass Road, the , cor ‘ tege passed through almost continuous lines on both sides, with a larger group clustered at every intersection. The same l scene was repeated in Symonds Street and in Karangahape Road. Down Queen Street, from the top to the foot, the line of people on. either footpath was unbroken. Many of those who watched were / ron } shops and offices, which had closed at the Mayor’s request as a mark of respect to’ Mr. Coates. Tram and motor traffic had become diverted to other routes, and the procession moved slowly down the middle of the otherwise deserted roadway, I* or a better view, many climbed to verandahs and the roofs of shops. Nowhere was the scene more impressive than in the closing tributes. athe railway station. The guncarriage and the oilicial cars drew up in a loop of the roadway fronting the lawns, while the remainder of the procession passed by in a last salute, flanked by the Ministerial pall-bear-ers, and followed by the service pallbearers, the Governor-General’s representative, relations, and re P^ e " sentatives of the armed forces. Ihe coffin was then taken at the slow march up th e rampart into the station. from where it was taken to Matakolie.

MESSAGE FROM U.S. SECRETARY

OF STATE.

p.A. WELLINGTON, May 31. The following message, has been received by the Prime Minister. “I have received with great sorrow the news of the death of a farmer Prime Minister, Mr Coates, and desire to express my deepest sympathy to you and the Government of New Zealand. The loss of this distinguished statesman, whom I came to know and admire in the course ot his visits to Washington, will be keenly felt at a moment in which the world so sorely needs outstanding leaders.—Cordell Hull, U.S. Secretary of State.” FURTHER TRIBUTES. WELLINGTON, .May 1. “Words fail to express the profound sorrow of the Arawa Confederation of Tribes at the passing of a great and affectionate tower of human strength in loyalty to the Throne, love to his soldier comrades, and inspiring belief in the destiny of New Zealand in the counsels of the world in peace and war,” says a message received by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, from Mr PI. Tai Mitchell, on behalf ox the Arawa Trust Board, expressing sympathy in the death of Mr Coates. The message added: “To-day the Maori race mourns, but mingled with its tears and grief runs pride that our country is rich in men like Gordon Coates.” Other messages of sympathy received by Mr Fraser include those from the Slavonic Council of New Zealand, Wellington branch of the Navy League, N'gatwai Maori Tribe, Wellington Hebrew Congregation, Canterbury District Committee of the Communist Party of New' Zealand, the Union Steamship Company (including a cabled message from Mr Falla), the British General Electric Company, and several local bodies. • ~ His Excellency the Governor-Gen-eral was represent cd at the funeral of Mr Coates at Matakohe to-day by Air Commodore M. W. Buckley. (N.Z.E.F. News Service). CAIRO. May 31. The political career of the late Mr. Coates is recognised by Anglo-Egyp-tian press, which says that a feature of his distinguished life in New Zealand politics was frank utterances ami a sincere desire to promote the welfare of the Dominion by honest, faithful administration.