THE FUNERAL OF SIR JOHN RICHARDSON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 357, 14 December 1878, Page 22

THE FUNERAL OF SIR JOHN RICHARDSON.

(per press agency.) Dunedin, Wednesday. The remains of Sir J. L. C. Richardson were' buried to-day in the Northern Cemetery. The afternoon was generally observed in the town as a holiday, and those thus released from work flocked in large numbers to swell the crowd which congregated in the main streets at about quarter past two. The big bell in the Colonial Bank tower commenced to ring out in half-minute tolls, and shortly after the volunteers, attended by a vast crowd of people of every rank and station, thronged into Waterstreet, awaiting the bringing out of the body, which was screwed down in a handsome coffin, and, was lying on a long table in the main hall of the Supreme Court building. Some time was spent in arranging the procession and getting the men formed, and it was a quarter to three before half-a-dozen of the Naval Brigade lads marched up the steps and proceeded to shoulder the bier. As it emerged from the building every head was uncovered, and the volunteers presented arms. The coffin was then deposited on a gun carriage furnished by the artillery. The coffin was surrounded by immortelles and covered by a Union Jack, on top of which were fastened the Major's sword and insignia of rank as a cavalry officer in the Imperial Army. A moment or two later the,. Fire Brigade bell commenced to toll, and the cortege moved on in something like the following order :—Headed by a mounted constable, the Naval Brigade, Tokomairiro Rifles, Waikari Rifles,. North Dunedin Rifles, and City Guards, all with reversed arms. Then the Railway Band, playing Handel's famous "Dead March," followed by the gun-carriage drawn by four black horses and attended by a contingent of the artillery. Then the mourners, among whom were noticed Messrs. G. F. Richardson, G. H. Maitland, F. Spillars, J. P. Maitland, J. Bradshaw, G. F. Rich, Drs. Datchelor and Smith, and two of the deceased's grandsons. Next came the High School, the City Guards, the Naval and Artillery Cadets, a detachment of police under Commissioner Weldon, the members of the old Provincial ; Council: (of which deceased was Speaker), carriages containing members of the .Legislature, Bishop Moran and the Roman Catholic clergy. Then, on foot, were the professors and students of the University, the members of , the Corporation, Land Board, and Harbor Board, Protestant clergymen, and representatives of nearly every . denomination. After these a string of private carriages and a number of people on foot. The business places all along the route traversed by the funeral put up their shutters, and as Knox Church was approached the bell in its tower was slowly tolled. The march was retarded frequently by. the difficulty of keeping everyone in his appointed station; but at length the Cemetery Hill was reached, and the incline leading up to the graveyard was breasted. Archdeacon Edwards met the mourners, and reciting an impressive service used by the Episcopalians, led the way to the grave, at the mouth of which the coffin was deposited while the religious ceremonies were conducted. When the last prayer had been said the,corpse was reverently lowered, a small quantity of earth was dropped on the coffin, the customary volleys were fired, and the crowd moved silently away. , <