Funeral of the late Premier.

Manawatu Herald, 2 May 1893, Page 3

Funeral of the late Premier.

: -* The late Hon J. Ballance -was buried at Wanganui on Sunday afternoon. The procession left his late residence on the morning at seven o'clock for the Railway station. The Wellington Rifles marched in open order and with. arms reversed. They were followed in turn by the City Guards, the City Rifles, and the D. Battery ; then the Petone and Wellington Navals, and the man- o'- war's men frqin H.M.B. Katoomba, the Garrison .Band, and a detachment of the Eermatienii Artillery, with the gun carriage containing the coffin, which was covered with a pall overlaid by the Union Jack. The carriage was drawn by a couple of horses driven by two artillerymen. In close attendance upon the coffin walked the pall-bearers, with heavy mourning bands depending from their hats. They were the Ministerial colleagues of the dead Premier, all of them being present. At the head of the procession which followed were the Speaker of the House of Representatives and various members of both Houses, Captain Hunter-Blair and Mr Clayton (representing the Governor), the foreign consuls, officers of H.M S Katoomba, heads of Government departments, the Mayor and City Councillors, as well as representatives of the suburban boroughs, the Chairman and members of the Harbour Board, and the President and Council of the Chamber of Commerce, and private friends. The train, which was in waiting, consisted of two locomotives, a couple of vans, and eleven long carriages, including the. dining car. As soon as the gun carriage arrived at the gate, the coffin was born upon the shoulders of the undertakers' men into the van, and a profusion of beautiful floral wreaths were heaped up on top of the pall, while the Union Jack covered all. The wreaths numbered about 150, and were mostly composed of chrysanthemums. The first carriages contained Mrs Ballance and other relatives of the deceased, Lady Buckley and Mrs Beeves, the colleagues of the deceased Premier and Sir Robert Stout. In the last carriage of all were about 40 men of tlw Permanent Force under Major Messenger, who were selected to form the firing party at the grave. The train steamed away from the Government Railway Station at 9 o'clock, and about 15 minutes later the train which had been laid on for the convenience of the general public departed from the Manawatu Company's Station, but did not carry many passengers. On the arrival of the train at Wanganui the funeral procession got under way about five minutes past 8, and began to pass the post office a few minutes 'ater, wending its way slowly up Victoria Avenue until Guy ton street was reached, i when it proceeded along that tborougbiare to the main entrance i to the cemetery, just inside the gates of which the remains of the poeple's Premier were to find their last earthly iesling place. At the head of the cortege were two mounted constables, followed by the firing party, composed as follows :— Wanganui Collegiate School Cadets,

Albert Rifles, Wangdtiiil fiificfej Wauganui Naval Artillery, Permanent; Artillery (under Major Messenger and Lieutenant Hume), and the Garrison Band, the officers of tbe various corps following, with Pdiotiei foH, M setlior officer* bringing tip the rear in accordance with the rule which prevails at Military funerals; Next followed the town band and the diiaki Mtib'ri Brass Band, the members of which wore white feathers in their hats. The Freemasons were strongly represented, and following behind the gun carriage were the chief mourners and a large number of personal friends. The members of the Wanganui Borough Council* Harbour Board and River Trust came next, then members of the ll&rald staff representatives of the N.Z. Journalist's Institute} members of the Civil (Service and dther loßal bbßie3j The funeral service was Masotliti and was not concluded till five o'clock. The scene afc the grave was very affecting, strong men being forced to tears. The funeral was the largest seen in this Colony. Peace be to iris ashes»