The Late Premier.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3688, 23 June 1906, Page 2

The Late Premier.

THE FUNERAL AN IMPRESSIVE SIGHT.

The funeral of the late Richard John Seddon took place at Wellington on Thursday. Immense crowds of people thronged the route taken by the cortege from Parliamentary Buildings to Sydney street cemetery, where the interment took place. Shortly before eight o’clock in the morning the coffin was removed to the main lobby of the Parliamentary Buildings, where the hundreds of floral tributes received by the family had been arranged. There the representatives of the Maori race, who had assembled from all parts of the colony, held an impressive tangi.

Over thirty thousand people viewed the coffin.

By noon the streets in the vicinity of Parliament House and the Government Buildings were thronged.

The whole line of route to St. Paul’s Cathedral and thence to the site of burial were lined with people, every point of vantage being crowded.

The Garrison Band headed the procession, which included representatives of almost every body in tire colonies, besides numerous foreign representatives.

The burial service was conducted by Dr Wallis, Bishop of Wellington.

A short Masonic service was held at the graveside. The military played a prominent part in the proceedings.

Memorial services were held right throughout the Colony, Australia, and even in St. Paul’s English Cathedral, out of respect for the late Premier.

MEMORIAL SERVICE AT ALL SAINTS’.

Foxton paid its tribute to the departed statesman on the day o f burial. Headed by the Band, the School and Defence Cadet Corps marched through Main street to All Saints 1 Church. All the local bodies were represented in the procession. The Clmrch was crowded, and after appropriate hymns were sung and passages of Scripture read, the officiating clergyman delivered a brief eulogistic reference to the departed soul, instancing the late Premier as an example of an energetic and worthy life. In conclusion, Rev. Wilson appealed to all to realise that we have a part to play in onr Kingdom, and he said, “ God grant that the great example that has just passed before as will bear forth good. 1 ’