FUNERAL HONOURS
PAID TO LATE MR COATES many mourners pass body LYING IN STATE. IN VESTIBULE OF PARLIAMENT BUILDINGS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. From just after midday on Saturday till the start of the funeral procession yesterday afternoon, the body of Mr Coates lay in state in the vestibule of Parliament House. It was a fitting resting place before his last journey from the building in the capital city where he had scent many years of his active life, taking a leading part in the counsels of the nation. On top of the casket were the New Zealand flag and a Maori mat. , j f For the whole 26 hours a guard ol four sentries with bowed heads and arms reversed kept watch at the catafalque. It was representative of the three arms of the armed forces, and comprised two soldiers a pakeha and a Maori—-a naval rating and an airman. A change of guard took place every 15 minutes. The change-over at 6 o’clock on Saturday was seen by Mrs Coates and her daughters, who also inspected the many beautiful wreaths. All classes of people, humble and great, availed themselves of the opportunity to file past the catafalque and pay their respect to the dead statesman. Throughout Saturday afternoon there was a steady procession of people, but in the evening the numbers slackened off a little. Again yesterday morning, however, hundreds more came. Members of the armed forces, both men and women, were well represented, and the first to file past on Saturday were two girls of the W.A.A.F. Before withdrawing they gave a smart salute, as did others in uniform.
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Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1943, Page 2
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274FUNERAL HONOURS Wairarapa Times-Age, 31 May 1943, Page 2
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