A GREAT FUNERAL

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10299, 31 July 1911, Page 5

A GREAT FUNERAL

THE LATE MR T.E TAYLOR.

PROCESSION TWO MILES LONG

By Telegraph — Press Association

I CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. In the presence of a great gathering of Christchurch citizens, the mortal remains of the late Mayor (Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P.) were to-day laid to rest-. Around the marshalling area, along the line of route, and outside and inside the cemetery gates, the people •were massed, all anxious to have a part in paying tho la.?t great tribute to tho departed head of the City. The morning was overcast, and soft rain fell, and the general air of sadness Avar, most pronounced. The cortege was perhaps the largest of its kind yet seen in Christchurch, but the coinnlete arrangements made enabled tho different sections to bo marshalled 'and placed in their proper positions with every dignity, and without confusion. Tho head of the procession left at half-pafit two, and the Sehvyn Street cemetery wan reached three quarters of an hour later. The service at the graveside brought to a close a most solemn civic function.

LYING IN STATE.

Early this morning the casket containing the body of the lato Mayor was brought from Cashmere Hills" to the City Council building, and there placed on a black draped table in the big Council Chamber opposite the Mayoral chair, and within the horseshoe area, bounded by the table used at the Council's meetings. The inferior of tho Chamber was draped in black, while all around on tables covered with white cloths were arranged the multitude of wreaths, which since Saturday morning had poured into the office. At half past ten the main gates to the building were opened, and tho big crowd assembled outside commen- , ced to file quietly and steadily in. As they reached tho top of tho stairs, the people entered the Chamber, filed round the body within the horpe-?boe area, viewed the casket and the wreaths, and left by the small door at tho south end. The long stream of citizens continued without interruption throughout tho whole of the morning, and right up to one o'clock, when the doors were closed.. ..■■.'-.-.■•. i ■■.'■■ A: change was. made,in the> method of to deal more effectivelv with the * concourse of citizens. The main entrance gates were closed, and the people were admitted by the door at the south end of "the Cfantrber, reached by" \<r small staircase from the outside of the building, the exit being through a door at the rear of the structure. By this means any chance of congestion inside the Chamber was avoided, for ! previously it was found that peopls { could enter faster by the big door than they could leave,by the small door, and there was the risk of the Chamber being overcrowded.

THE WREATHS. Shortly' after one o'clock the last person had left, and preparations were then put in hand-'for the funeral. All the cards were taken from the wreaths and collected together'by the Assistant Town Olerk, to be hande.-l later to Mrs Taylor. The wreaths were then removed from the Chamber and placed on n special hearse outride, that hearse following immediately behind the coffin. Such wreaths as could not be placed, on the special hears© were arranged' on the lamp brapkets of the carriages behind.

BEFORE THE PROCESSION. By £wo o'clock all the carriages in tho official section of the procession were in position. > • The choir and the .Lin wood Band were stationed on the east side,of the" l terrace opposite the Council offices, and the units composing the head of the procession wero in their places. Outside the barricades, the people crowded. At twenty, minutes past two the Band played tho tune of one of MiTaylor's, favourite hymns, "The T)ay •Tliou'(Save^Locd'i^Ended^'and the ; assembled choirs, uroder the leadersliip of Mr Sinipson (leader o„f the, St. 'Alban's Methodist Churchchoir) sang the hymn through accompanied by 'the-baiidV > ■ •.'<. -,. .., i? .;.,.; : A : f^y : 'minutes laterr..4he ; j-bornfe-.'by >*TpeM\&t&. o£ ; eil, was brought down from the Chamber through the main entrance and placed on the open hearse. Then the choir sang a second hymn, the late Mayor's favourite. "O Lord, Who By Thy Presence Bast Made Light," and at the„clpso of this hymn, the long cortege moved off, the prevailing silence being broken only by tho slow tolling of church bells. THE PROCESSION. The procession was about two miles long. | In the carriages in the official secI lion were members of the family of the late Mr Taylor, the Acting-Prime Minister, and other Ministers, and members of the Legislative Council and House ; of Representatives ; also the'full membership of the City Council, and repreaentetives of practically all the otb«r; Io«kl bodidsvarid different: organisations.A striking feature of the procession was the presence on foot 'of about 2000 men belonging mostly to Trades Unions, all the local unions having representatives. His Excellency the Governor was

• also represented at the funeral. All along the line of rout-o the people crowded, and there was anoth-v----big crowd in the locality of the cemetery outside the gates; but the utmo;t orderliness prevailed throughout the whole of the marshalling and |vn.gress of the procession, the excellent arrangements made by the DeputyMayor (Mr J. J. Dougall), Mr R. 'J. Bishop, S.M., and Police Inspector Kiely, contributing to that end. About 150 wreaths were sent, ad these made a striking display in the Council Chamber while the body wa, s lying in state. AT THE GRAVESIDE. At the graveside the scene was most solemn. Prominent amongst those present, in addition to the members of Mr fa v. lor'<s family and relations, were Sir James Carroll, Hon. G. Fowlds and Hon. D. Buddo. The service was conducted by the Revs. L. M. Isitt, C. H. Garland, C. H. Laws, and S. Henderson. | "Lead Kindly Light," another of,j Mr Taylor's fa%'ourite hymns, was | sung, and the Rev. C. H. Laws offered j up an appropriate prayer. I A FUNERAL OVATION. | The R«v. L. M. Isitt, in a funeral ! ovation, referred to the outstanding I features of the life of Mr Taylor. He' said the lesson of his life was that they should struggle on for Christlikeness in word, thought, and spirit. Addressing Mr Taylor's comrades-in-arms, ho urged them to greater efforts, so that the hope of Mr Taylor's life > should bo consummated, and the peo- \ pie of New Zealand freed for ever ' from the degrading influence of strong ' drink. !

MOTIONS OF SYMPATHY

By Tplcgraph—Press Association

WELLINGTON, Last Night. At a. meeting of the City Men's Brotherhood to-day. Messrs Edward Tregar and A. W. Hogg, M.P., made feeling reference to the loss occasioned to social reform by the death of Mr T. E. Taylor. A resolution was passed cbndoning with tho widow and family. and regretting the loss of a capable and self-sacrificing man. A resolution of regret and sympathy was passed yesterday at a meeting cf the Seamen's Union.

MEMORIAL SERVICES

By Telegraph — Press Association.

.:•■; ASHBURTON. Last Night. A memorial service held 1n the Theatre Royal this afternoon under v auspices of the Ashburton No-License Council was largely attended, all sections and creeds of the community be--ing-represented. The Mayor and Borough Councillors were officially present, and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. W. J. Elliott.

A Wangauui telegram states that feeling reference to the death of Mr T. E. Taylor, M.P., was made in the churches yesterday.

AT MASTERTON,

Feeling references to the late Mr Taylor were made in several of the Masterton Churches yesterday. Space prevents their being given a lengthy notice. At the Congregational Church in the morning, the Rev. A. Hodge paid a glowing tribute to the deceased gentleman, and said that "He being dead, yet speaketh." The Rev. S. J. Serpell also preached an eloquent memorial sermon in the Methodist. Church in the evening.

A NATIONAL MEMORIAL

By Telegraplv—-Tress Association

CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night:. A meeting attended liy ■ representatives of all sections of the community was held yesterday afternoon, to cnnsider'the question of starting a memorial fund to the late Mr T. E. Taylor Mr H. W. Bishop. S.M., who presided, stated on the authority of the late Mr Taylor's solicitor, Mr C. E. Salter that Mr Taylor's mother was practically penniless, and his wife, findaughters and ono son, were not sufficiently' well off to raise them above the worry of .educational . and. othco:; '?eonstdera,ti6hsr' It decided'thit <:t'. memorial 'fund should 1 be : initiated to ,the late Mayor of Christchurch•<■ - (Mi; T. E! Taylor, M;P.) for the benefit of those dependent on him. It;is intendfetl to th»i sina raised:in trustees? 6> be/ appointed. Subsequently. A nunii*erous?- coMmftfiße^-o^Bißisting - . not? ■ b.iiy•: of prominent public men in Christchurch, but also in other parts of the Dominion, was set up. Subscriptions to the fund will be received bv the Town Clerk of Christchurch (Mr H. R. Smith), by the Treasurer of the fu'id' (Mr C. E.'Salter), and by the Secretary (Mr J. McCombs). There was a collection made in the room, and i isum of £267 was subscribed. The Labour representatives present stated that they intended contributing, through their union. The Farmers' Union also intends to 'subscribe through their various branches.