MR. MASSEY’S DEATH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 2882, 12 May 1925, Page 2

MR. MASSEY’S DEATH.

WIDESPREAD RED RET

SYMPATHY FROM THE KTNG. INTERMENT AT POINT HALS WELL. The following' ‘“Gazette Extraordinary” w;i- published by (lie-* Govyesterday morning: “Ministers, wit!i siirnnv, announce !11 < * dea 111 of Hie Prime Minister, tbe Right Honourable William Ferguson Massev al tbe Prime Minister's residence. Tinakori Road. Wellington, on Sun day, tlio lot!i May. 1025. at 5.-10 |i.m. Directly I hi' news of |he dealli of Mr Massey was received, a meeting of Ministers was summoned for 8 o'clock on Sunday night in flic Mon. Sir Francis Hell's room at Parlia- :■ ••■ M 1 Buildings. Tbe only absenlee was the Minister of Lands (tbe lion. A. I). McLeod), who was away it 1 lie W'airarajia. \fler the meeting it was announced I bal a private burial e-round for tbe bite Prime Minister will be eons! l! nlcd bv If is Excellency's Warrant. A small part of the Defence Reserve at Point ITaiswell. overlooking Wellington TTarbonr. lias been sjiceiallv set apart for that purpose. The body will be interred tbere. tbe funeral service borne- conducted by the Rev. George Miller, Moderator <d' the Presbyteiian (leneral Assemblv who will come from Dunedin for t lie duty. THE KIND'S MESSAGE. Tbe following- message from Ilis Majesty the Kin.iT was received by .Mrs. Massey this morning:— The tjueeii and T join in tbe sorrow which ha.-, befallen you by the dentil of your dear husband. The Dominion will mourn the loss of a Prime Minister who held that ofjiee with honour and distinction before, throughout. and since the (Ireal War. Wo heartily sympathise with you. your family, and the people of New Zealand, and I'eei sure that these -cutiments re shared generally ihrougoui Ilo* British Empire. — (Signed) GEORGE R.I. MRS. MASSEY'S THANKS. Mrs Massey yesterday cabled her thanks to the King for his sympnth \- as follows: — "My heartfelt thanks for your .Majesties' most gracious and sympathetic message. The knowledge that \-oiir Majesties join in mir sorrow is ;i solace to me and mv lauhlv in our bereavement'. We are proud o! the unblemished record ol service to the Empire and honoured b\ such reeognit ion by our King ami < t )ncen. —Christina Massey." AT THE HEDSIDE. Although so verv seriously ill. Mi Massev was conscious until the e'osing' stages, (In Saturday and Sunday, however, he was m an ex- ; i emel v low condition. and. the end came peacefully, in the presence ol the whole family, those in attendance at the bedside being- Mrs. Massey, and three sous, Messrs, Walter W. Mn-sey. of Mangere, .). Norman Massey, id' Pmti (Pukeko(i e). F. (leol'ge Massev. of Auckland, the two daug'htin's, Mrs (I. Lawrence Tailor, of Auckland, Mrs L. W. Salmon, of Wellington, and Mr. Massey's hrother, Mr. ,lohu Massey farmer, of Maiigcj'e. LOCAL ARRANGEMENTS. I'h ll rsilax will he observed as a Rank holiday. News of the Premier's death reached Poxlon at ti. 1.0 on Sunday e\cuing, and local minister- made feeling' reference to Mr Massey's death at the evening' Church services, and briefly spoke on the great statesman's life. It has been decided to observe Thursday a.- a close holiday locally as from 1 p.m., and a Uni led Church service will he held in the i own Hall al -Hi) o'clock, to which a heart v welcome is extended by the Mayor (Mr M. E. Perreau) to all local residents to attend. The local Silver Hand will parade Prom ht,e Post (Mice to the Hall prior to the i". rcmoiiy, and the "Dead March’ will lie played. A meeting- of local ministers and those interested m the, making' of arrangements for Thursday’s United Church Service to be held in the I'myn lUiU will lie held in the rest room ui 7 o'clock litis evening. The Railway Department insert an advertisement in this issue, imtii \ ing special reduced lures lor I ihiirsday. Wreaths will be carried free of charge on the railways. Children ai the local State School were assembled yesterday morning', as usual, and alter an address appropriate to tile occasion i,\ the head master (Mr U. Mason) end the living 01. the Union Jack .half-mast, school was dismissed lor the day. Flags al the Post Office mid local business premises wore niso llowu hull!-mast, and will remain so until after Thursday.