FUNERAL OF THE LATE R. T. BATLEY.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 20 July 1917, Page 5

FUNERAL OF THE LATE R. T. BATLEY.

The interment of the late R. T. Batley took place at Moawhango on Wednesday last. The large assembly present conveyed some conception of the esteem in which the deceased was held. Friends from far and near, of ail stations in life, came to pay their last tribute of respect to one who will long be remembered with kindly feelings, and to join with the deceased’s family in the final earthly rites. The casket containing the deceased was laid cut in the private chapel erected by him to the memory of departed members of his family. This beautiful little chapel, situated close to' his late residence, was ever dear to Mr. Batley, and will always be associated with sacred memories of him, anU a standing monument to his sympathetic regard for the spiritual welfare of everyone about him. Long will be remembered the earnestness he and the members of his family displayed- in the services held in this chapel. Fitting was it that this sacred edifice, erected Toy himself, should be his last resting place. The chapel was filled to overflowing with mourners. /

An impressive service was conducted there by the Rev. A. 0. Williams (Superintendent of the Maori Mission for the Wellington Diocese) and the Rev. W. F. Stent (of St. Margaret’s, Taihape), during" which two of the deceased’s favourite hymns — ,n O God, our help in ages past,” and “Fig-ht the good fight” —were sung. '“Fight the good fight —how ably this illustrates the whole of the deceased's life. At the conclusion of the service in the chapel, to the strains of the “Dead March” and the tolling of the bell, the remains of the late R. T. Batley ■were borne on the shoulders of men closely associated with him during life, and laid in his final resting--place, alongside departed members of his family and amid scenes and surroundings that had been dear to him during the greater part of his welllived life. -