THE LATE EX-PRIME MINISTER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9077, 29 April 1908, Page 5

THE LATE EX-PRIME MINISTER.

FUNERAL SERVICE IN THE

ABBEY

Received April 28, 8.38 a.m. LONDON, April 27

At the first portion of Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's funeral in London many marks of respect were shown.

Members of Parliament and many Peers attended. The House of Commons adjourned for the day. The service in Westminster Abbey was crowded.

The Kaiser and the French President, and the Australian Commonwealth sent wreaths, and the Australian States sent a combined wreath.

The presence of M. Clemenceau, the French Premier, caused satisfaction throughout France ani Britain, and emphasised the good feeling now existing between the two nations.

King Edward was repressnted by the Prince of Wale 3.

The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, Leader of the Opposition, was absent, owing to a chill. Diplomatists and many representative deputations were present, also the Hon. W. P. Reeves, New Zealand High Commissioner, and the Australian Agents-General. SERMON IN ST MARGARET'S.

Received April 28, 8.1 a.m. LONDON, April 27. The Most Rev. H. L. Clarke, Archbishop of Melbourne, preaching at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, declared that Australians mourned the close of Sir H. CampbellBannerman's great and honourable career, so true to the noblest traditions of public life in Parliament and the Empire. What was done by England's Prime Minister, said the preacher, concerns the Commonwealth, as part of the Empire, almost as largely as Englishmen. The services, lives, and characters of great English statesmen were canvassed and discuesed, known and understood, in the Commonwealth perhaps just as much as in the Motherland.

Received April 28, 9.43 p.m. LONDON, April 28. The Kings of Denmark and Norway sent special representatives to the Abbey. All the great Nonconformist Committees were represented. The body was subsequently conveyed to Belmont Castle, many marks of respect being paid on the journey. , The Hon. 11. 11. Asquith (Premier), speaking in the House of Commons, delivered a touching and eloquent eulogy, dwelling specially on the moral side of the late Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman's nature. He described him as an idealist and in politics. The Hon. Akers-Douglas, Messrs T. P. O'Cunnor, and A. Henderson, on behalf of Labour, said tributes of respect..