FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR D. J. McEWEN.

Te Puke Times, Volume II, Issue II, 8 July 1913, Page 3

FUNERAL OF THE LATE MR D. J. McEWEN.

— 9 A DISTRICT'S TRIBUTE. The esteem in which the late Mr D. J. McEwen was held and the general feeling-of regret that permeated the community at the passing of a man who had devoted so great a portion of his life to the public weal was evidenced on Sundav by- the great concourse of mourners that gathered from far and near to pay their last tribute of respect to the deceased. Never before in the history of Te Puke, and but rarely in the district, has there been seen so large a funeral cortege as on the day when he was laid to rest.. It could be truthfully said that almost every household in Te Puke audits vicinity had sent its representative, whilst numbers were present from all the outlying settlements, as well as from Tauranga and Rotorua. From an early hour motor cars, vehicles of all descriptions, in addition to horsemen, continued to arrive in the township, whilst the Maoris, over whom Mr McEwen wielded great influence, were present in large numbers, carrying banners, and wearing their emblems of mourning. In all, it is estimated that upwards of a thousand people attended the last ceremonies.

Members of every local body with which Mr McEwen had been connected were present— the Tauranga County Council, the Harbor Board, the Borough Council, the Bay of Plenty Dairy Association, the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, the Te Puke Road t Board, the local Rugby Union, and numerous other bodies and associations. The Public Works Department was represented by Messrs Morse and Snodgrass, the law by Judge Brown and Tauranga and Te Puke solicitors, , .

The marshalling of the cortege was left in the hands of Mr 0, J. Hodge, Mr Wi Hape assisting in regard to the native mourners. A large assemblage gathered at the homestead at 2 o'clock, the appointed time, and as the coffin was''borne from the house all solemnly uncovered as it passed through their midst. The pallbearers were Messrs Jas. and J. R. Tait, T. P. Lemon, E. Hoyte, R. Mutton, 1 Patterson, H. E. Butcher, and A. Montgomery. No conveyance was utilised, the above-named gentlemen being relieved by relays of Natives, the first group consisting of employees from deceased's flaxmill, under Te Ratima, the others! being under Kihawi, Kokiri, and HenareKingi respectively, whilst | a group from the Ngati tribe, Tauranga, also rendered assistance. As the cortege approached the burial ground a funeral dirge was raised by the Native women, and the weird and mournful sound added to the solemnity of the occasion. The'principal mourners were Messrs Stewart McEwen, sons of the deceased, and Messrs Dalgleish (2) brothers of Mrs McEwen. . At the graveside the funeral service was impressively conducted by the Rev. A. C. Wedderspoon. In the course of his address, he said We meet -to-day on an occasion which has solemnised a whcle community to pay our last respects to the departed one. Death's visit is always a solemn thing, but especially so when it comes with such startling unexpectedness, fas in the case of our departed friend. It is not my province, nor have I the requisite information, to sketch the public career or private character of Mr McEwen, but this great concourse of Europeans and natives speaks more eloquently than words of the place he held in the esteem of this community. Mr McEwen was a man of great ability who truly placed his talents at the disposal of any individual or institution he could help. ,An ardent politician he also took a keen interest in all local affairs, and was a member, and 'generally chairman, of all the important boards throughout the Bay of Plenty, and his tact and courtesy* his wise and sound judgment made him a public benefactor. Asa business man his main characteristic was his enterprise. He was one of that stamp of men who open up the way in the developing of a young colony, and have added to the material prosperity of their district and the Dominion, Our sympathy is warmly extendad to the bereaved family circle, and we pray that they may be sustained in this dark and sorrowful hour. From this sad event we learn these lessons—first, ever to be ready to lend the helping hand to our fellow men, for, no piat-

ter what a man's 'creed, we can all in this respect follow the example of the Master who continually went along doing good; and secondly, to make our calling and election sure, for in such an hour as we think not, the-Son of Man may come for us." Mr Wi Hape then spoke a few words on behalf the Natives, and the assemblage slowly dispersed.