THE LATE MR. STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 December 1922, Page 4

THE LATE MR. STRATFORD.

TRIBUTES AT THE FUNERAL. In the presence of two hundred of his young scholars, the brethren of the Masonic craft, ex-soldier comrades, and a large gathering of friends, the funeral of the late Mr. H. A. Stratford, headmaster of Central School, took place yesterday morning. The measure of the affection in which Mr. Stratford was held may be gleaned from the representative gathering which attended to pay the last tributes, The funeral cortege was headed by a firing party of returned soldiers, and following the band of the 4th Battalion Wellington Regiment marched representative brethren of Lodges Ngamotu, Egmont. and De Burgh Adams, and the Paritutu Royal Arch Chapter (New Plymouth), Lodge Moa (Inglewood), Lodge Stratford (Stratford), Lodge Eltham (Eltham), and Lodge Sir Donald McLean (Waitara), each carrying a sprig of acacia in conformity with ancient custom. On either side of the hearse, wherein the casket was enshrouded with the New Zealand ensign and surmounted by a .buckled belt and sword and steel helmet, were army comrades of equal and higher rank and the pall-bearers, the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), representing the borough of New Plymouth; Mr. J. Sutherland (borough of Inglewood and Lodge Moa); Mr. *S. G. Smith, M.P. (the chairman of the Central School committee); Mr. R. L. MTlroy, (New Plymouth schools); Mr. A. L. Moore (Technical School and Paritutu Royal Arch Chapter), and Mr. P. Stainton (Lodge Ngamotu). Following Mra. Stratford, of Auckland (the deceased’s sister-in-law) came the aoldier comrades, representatives of the R.S.A., the Education Board, the North Taranaki Cricket Association and other sports bodies, and a boat, of private mourners on foot and in cars, the cortege reaching from the Masonic Temple, in Robe Street, to well past Currie Street. En route to the cemetery at Te Henjii, the cortege was joined by the senior scholars, many carrying small posies of remembrance, and the committee of the Central School. The service at the graveside was read by the Ven. Archdeacon Evans and the Rev. E. H. Strong, and then followed the service of the Masonic craft, delivered by the Prov. Grand Master (Wor. Bro. W- N. Ewing) and the chaplain of Lodge Ngamotu (Bro. R. H. Rockel). The firing of the funeral volleys, the haunting notes of the Last Poet, the depositing of the sprigs of acacia, and the wreaths and posies from the school children, the R.S.A., Niger House comrades, and his numerous friends comprised the final scenes.