IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 665, 18 October 1933, Page 5

IMPRESSIVE FUNERAL

AN EXCEPTIONAL GATHERING Auckland, Tuesday. Over 200 taxieabs and private cars constituting the longest cortege seen in Auckland for anany years t'ook part in .the funer^l of Mr. James Hunter 31air who was found mufdered inhis taxi-cab on Sunday. His colleagups on the taxi rahks and the general public unfte'd in paying_a most impressive tribute to the memory of the dead inan.- Hundreds stood bare-headed an'd silent as. the coffin, draped with the Unfon Jack and adorned with wreaths, w'as borne fro'm the residence. Long lihes of taxis disposed along the neighb'oiiring streets, mov'ed quietly into ,the ftrocession as the heafse turhed ihto New North Road, the vehicles being grbllped according to the taxi ofgahisations represented. On the ra'diato'r cap of each cab fluttered a strip of black ribbon. It is estimated that the prOcession was over two miles long. At all the main points along the route erowds had collected to pay their respects .to the victim of the murder the brutality.of which has aroused wide public indignation. At the cemetery, there was another large assemblage. Mr. Blair was buried in the soldiers' sectioh of the graveyard. The service was eonducted by the Rev. Evan R. Herries, of St. Jahles Presbyterian Church, who, in "the course of an eloquent grave-side prayer, referred to the tragic nature of Mr. Blair's passing. He said : "Thou knowest, Oh L6rd, hoW our hearts are stirred to sympathy and to indignation. We are mindiul of the frailty of life and of its subjection not only to disease but to h'atred and to crime. An en'emy hath sown tares where Thou hast sown wheat.- We remember that the Devil was a murderer from the beginning. We thank Thee for the mag'nificent tribute. paid to our brother at this grave-side. Have compassion upon his wif e and daught- ( ers. We pray that our mind'smay be freed from thoughts of .pefson'al revenge. Help us to commit our cause t.o Him who judges righteously. Give us grace to pray even for him wh'ose hand has done this foul deed that he .may be brought to penitence." Representatives of the Returned Soldiers' Association then stepped forward and cast into the open grave replicas of the red popjfies of Flanders.