THE LATE WRECKS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2853, 17 May 1882, Page 3

THE LATE WRECKS.

BURIAL OF THE RECOVERED BODIES.

After the inquest this afternoon, a few persons were admitted to the room in which tho now coffined bodies were lying, some of them being friends of one of tha deceased and others in the hope of then being able to recognise the body which was supposed to be that of Martin Bates. After those on the former errand had looked their last upon the face of Emmanuel Neilson, those who were desirous of making sure of the identity of the unknown were admitted and made an examination of him as he lay in the coffin. The prevailing opinion however was against it being Martin Bates, and after every effort at identification had been made fruitlessly, the coffins were carried out to the hearses that waited without. The appearance of the chamber in which the coffins were was very noticeable. The bodies bad been carefully and tenderly prepared for the grave, and wreaths of beautiful flowers were placed in profusion in and around the coffins. We are informed that two or three ladies, on being asked for flowers for the coffins, at once placed their gardens at the disposal of Mr Poole who, under Mr Wallis, superintended the arrangements for the interment of the bodies. A considerable number of persons had assembled in the vicinity of the Melville Hotel by three o’clock, and a very few minutes after the appointed time, two hearses drove up to the door, while a large number of vehicles took their places ready to fall into the line of the. procession. The Freemasons mustered in good force, D. McLean being a brother of the craft. Several persons have remarked upon the fact that the Freemasons following the bodies of the drowned men who were yesterday recovered frotn the sea (one or two of whom were brethren of the craft) did not wear regalia, as at the funeral of Captain Mills. In explanation of this we may mention that it is a standing order of the fraternity not to wear regalia at a funeral without a special dispensation being first obtained granting permission. A dispensation was obtained for the purpose of following the late Captain Mills, but there was not sufficient time to admit of the same beind done for their late brethren.

There were many in the crowd whoso eyes were dimmed as the body of Neilson was brought out. His kind and gentle nature was grateful!}' remembered by many to whom he had done acts of kindness.

A little gathering of shipmates sadly followed McLean, the carpenter of the City of Perth, There is no one else here to mourn ' his loss, though a wife and family at homo are as yet in ignorance of his fate. When all was prepared the sorrowful procession moved slowly down the hill. No band heaclcdlit; it wen£in silence, but a more affecting scene one could hardly conceive. There were several Foresters, though they did not attend officially, and a largo number of citizens attended to pay tho last tribute of respect to the memory of tho brave departed. As the procession slowly passed down the street the aspect of the onlookers indicated their deep sorrow that the lifeless forms of gallant men were now being borne for ever from their sight.

The' disaster has aroused generous sympathy throughout the whole colony. His Worship the Mayor (in addition to Messrs Sargood, Son, and Ewen’s telegram offering aid) has received the following

From Mr Kuddonklau, Mayor of Christchurch “ Will accident cause distress among families of those lost ? If so, will start subscription list." From tho Hon. W, Rolleston : ,e Please put my name on the subscrip tion list for five guineas." ■ Mr LeCren, Manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, received a telegram from Mr J. 0. Firth, of Auckland, tendering his deep sympathy with us in our terrible disasters, and requesting to have Ins name put clown tor five guineas towards tho widows and orphans fund, at the same time congratulating us on our Breakwater having stood tho severe test so well.

Per tho Press Association wc received the following messages from Dunedin last night:—“ Subscriptions are already being received here through tho Press to any fund that may be raised in aid of the families of the victims of the Timaru disaster.” *‘To-night at the City Council a resolution of condolence was carried re Timaru disaster, and £23 subscribed to the fund by the Councillors." From the Secretary to the Orphan Home, Parnell. Auckland : —“ Happy to receive two or three children of sufferers by the late calamity, if under nine years, and forwarded here.” From Mr Henry daggers, Mayor, Invercargill:—“ The Mayor, on behalf of himself and Councillors, and inhabitants of Invercargill and surrounding district, desires to express sincere sympathy with the relatives of the men who have lost their lives by tho recent calamitous wreck at Timaru.” From Mr J. L. Coster, Chairman of the New Zealand Shipping Company “The Directors of tho N.Z. Shipping Company desire to express their sym pathy.with the inhabitants of Timaru in the disaster and very sad loss of life which has recently occurred at your port, and they have forwarded to tho Mayor of Christchurch a cheque for fifty guineas, in aid of the fund which is being raised for the relief of the farnilies of those brave men who lost their lives.’’ From Messrs Joubert and Twopenny, promoters of the Christchurch Exhibition :—“ Having arranged to devote half the gross receipts at the gates of the Exhibition, on Wednesday night, 31st May, to the relief of families bereaved by the recent disaster, we shall be glad if you could arrange with the leader for the Timaru Band being present, in order to assist us in getting up an attractive programme.” Oamaru, May 17. A subscription list has been opened in aid of the sufferers by the Timaru disaster. The Volunteer Band announce a concert in aid of tho fund.