TWO FUNERALS

Hokitika Guardian, 23 November 1933, Page 4

TWO FUNERALS

VICTIMS OF PLANE TRAGEDY. A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE. The funerals of the two victims of the aeroplane tragedy (at Mt. 'JL'uriwhate on Monday afternoon—Janies Daniel Lynch and Jack Bertram Renton—took place this morning to tile Hokitika cemetery. " ; Shortly before 11 a.m., a plane flew over Hokitika, and landed at the Aerodrome. The pilot wag Squadron-Leader G. Steadman, pilot-instructor to the Wellington Aero Club, who represented the Club at the funeral. Flight-Lieut. M. W. Buckley and Flight-Sergeant Smpson, N.Z. R.A.F., Wigrain, arrived in Hokitika by car last evening. V The extreme depth of sorrow which the community has been plungod, and the eminent regard in which both men were held by on e and all was reflected hi the township where business was suspended for four hours. Tile quiet of the streets during this period, . ’ the absence of rush and traffic—in all, the unusual week-day peacefulness was in fitting accordance with the reverence |of the day. . , , 1 The funerals took place conjointly, • the Cottage leaving the residence of the parents of the late Mr Jack Renton at South Hokitika, shortly after 11 i o’clock. The casket was placed on a carriage and wa s headed by a military firing squad, the pall bearers being memi bers of the local Aero Club and visiting airmen. Two large motor lorries were utilised to carry a wonderful number I of beautiful floral tributes. The chief mourners followed,,and then an assemblage on foot, numbering several hundreds, wa s followed by a string of motor cars, the length cf the Hokitika river bridge. Additions were, made to the cortege at the north side of the bridge, where several hundred had gathered, and where a large number of car s had been held up from 11 o’clock. The cortege moved on to St. Mary’s Church. ; .>v On arrival at the iChurch, the second casket, that of, Mr James D. Lynch, w’s added to the cortege. 'Earlier, Requiem Mass had been celebrated in St. Mary’s Church,,' the Rev.- Father Anderrson being the celebfan;, while Rev. Fathers Finerty, Long, Houlahan and 'HeSeman were assisting." While the remains of the, late Mr Lynch were being conveyed from the Church to the hearse outside, the Dean March was played on the organ by Miss A. Daly. s ’ There was a further large addition of mourners from th; s -point-, -the essemblage being now augmented to record dimensions. Fully six hundred mourners were on foot, - and in addition there were well'over one hundred motor cars in the procession which, when the-’’ head wa s going up Cemetery Hill, had ; not turned out of Hampden SU’oet into Fitzherbert Street,

The gathering was one of the most representative of the West C°asfc ever seen here. All the local bodies were -represented—Mayors end Borougn Councils, H-rboiir,,.Boards, Savings Bank and nranv others, from n'r the towns Greymouth,* Kumara, Hokitika, Boss, the County Councils of Grey and Westland and many other bodies of ■,.every description. . \ (

At the cemetery, the service at the grave of the late Mr Lynch. was im-_, nress’vely conducted bv 'Rev. (Father Finerty, his colleagues who h'd . assisted at the !ReT|in° i m M.°r-s earlier als? being present. The grave-ide was covered with a huge mass of beautiful flowers, a great tribute from sorrowing •friends’ from all parts of the country.

The first ceremony having be°n concluded. the cortege moved off to the irraves’cle. where the interment of the Lte Mr .Tack Bcntcm took The Rev. G-. A,l Naylor - conducted the impressive service of the Presbyterian 'Church. At the conclusion. ’ the military ,sound composed, of local Territorials, fired three volleys, .and Bandsman L. Boss sounded the “Last Post.” The grave was covered with floral tributes of a beautiful description, having come from every quarter as far apart as Invercargill and Auckland.

A flood. of telegrams and messages of compliance has been received by the members of the Renton family, a cable having come to hand from as far away as England. Telegrams numbered well over 500' last night and there were innumerable other imessages.

A touching note was added to the wealth of floral tributes, many of the wreaths being formed from the wild mountain flowers which bloom on Mt. Turiwhate, and which were gathered by several qf the searchers.