FUNFRAL OF MAJOR KEMP.

Waikato Argus, Volume IV, Issue 279, 26 April 1898, Page 3

FUNFRAL OF MAJOR KEMP.

e (BY TKIiEOKAI'U—PRESS ASSOCIATION). Wamjanui, Sunday. Thk fm cr.il of the late Major Kemp took place this afternoon. For days previously M.orh h d been thronging into the town fn in all puts of the oo'ony, the Manawatu, Rangitikei, Hawke's B.y, Wairarapa, and Otaki districts l)eing particularly well represented. As a consequence the pn.ee ding* at Fntiki l'.i have I een of an exceptionally lively and i-.itere-ting chancier. Each fresh contingent wis entHUsiastiea ly welcomed in line Maoii fashion, the advent of the new-comers 1 ting heralde I ly th« tiring of gur.y an I tl.e ditneit got lukas, followed ly iho customary foisting. There must, in all have been over 1500 visiting natives present, including the Otaki, Waitotara, and Rauana b:ass banns. The arrangements for the tuncial were carried out by a joint Committ'C of influential Maoris and Europeans, and everything possible was done to insure due honour being accorded to the memory of a chief of great mana, a galiant soldier, and a faithful subject. The body was brought over from the pa at noon on a gun-carriage, specially dent up by the Defence Depart tv.cnt, accompanied by an escort of Alexandra Cavalry and Wanganui Rifles, and a body-guard of 30 Maori warriors in full war-paint. The body was taken to the drill hall, and allowed to lie in state until the time appointed for the funeral, by which time the streets were lined by thousands of people. The traius were run from North and ?'outh, bringing in quite a number of excursionists, while practically all Wanganui and suburbs turned out. The procession, escorted by the Alexandra Cavalry and the bodyguard of Maori warriors, was marshal'ed as follows :—Firing party (Wanganui Rifles), Garrison Band, gun-carriage with coffin, Major Kemp's dinger, the immediate relatives of the deceased, the boys' school cadets, collegiate cadets, Veterans' Association, military olficers, native band, natives (section 1). native band, natives (section 2) native band, natives (section 3), local bodies, judges of the Native Laud Couit and officers of the Department, District and Magistrate's Court officials, and the general public. The pall-beatei-3 included the Hon. J. Carroll, Sir Walter Buller, Mr G lbert Carson, M.H.R., Ensign McKenna, V.C. (sUtionmaster at Wanganui), Captain Nonheroft, S.M., Sergeant Austin, N.Z C-, Major Brasss-y, Captain Lomax, Sir Arthur Douglas, Mr FWaldegrave, ar.d a number of influential chiefs. Kemp's charger was led by Mr Edward Sutherland (who acted as Kemp's aide-de-camp in the Taranaki war) and Tararua TJtlku. The burial service was conducted by the Rev. A. 0. Williams, assisted by three native clergymen, the Revs. Araona te Haua, Eiuera te Ngara, and Hoaue Teri Faerata. The Moutoa flag and the Union Jack were olaced over the coffin.