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THE LATE SIR GEORGE
DAVIES
THE FUNERAL.
REPRESENTATIVE GATHERING OF
MOURNERS.
Amid every token of public and pri-
vate respect and regret the remains of
Sir George Davies, K.C.M.G., M.H.A.,
were yesterday forenoon borne from Rose-
ville, the residence, to Cornelian Bay
Cemetery, and deposited in a temporary
vault, pending the completion of a new
family vault in the Church of England
portion of the metropolitan necropolis.
The mournful occasion called forth a
demonstration of sympathy as widespread
as it was deep and earnest. That Sir
George Davies was esteemed and respect-
ed by all classes goes without saying, but
yesterday, at his funeral, the fact was
fully demonstrated, people of all posi-
tions, public and private, being repre-
sented. His Excellency the Governor
was represented, also the State Govern-
ment, the churches, the Masonic, muni-
cipal, and other bodies and among the
individual mourners all classes were re-
presented, affording a splendid tribute to
one who has had a long and honourable
career as a public man.
Notwithstanding the very inclement
state of the weather, there was an exceed-
ingly large attendance. Including numer-
ous vehicles which drove direct to the
cemetery, the number of carriages and
motor-cars was little short of 100. Before
the cortege moved from Roseville, the
vehicles lined the road from New Town-
road, round Augusta-road, to beyond
Roseville gates, and people had their
blinds drawn almost without exception,
along the entire route of the lengthy
funeral procession.
A short service for the family was con-
ducted by Archdeacon Whitington and
Rev. S. H. Hughes, rector of New Town,
in the drawing-room at Roseville, where
the casquet lay, beautifully embedded in
a great number of wreaths and flowers
and sprays of acacia, the latter being a
Masonic emblem. It was of polished oak,
mounted in silver, and bore the following
inscription: -
''Hon. Sir John George Davies, K.C.M.G.,
Died Nov. 12th, 1913,
In his 68th year."
In addition to the family, there were
several prominent Freemasons and other
friends present. Not only the coffin
and hearse, but also the deceased
knight's pony carriage, and the Hon. C.
E. Davies's motor-car, were laden with
flowers. At half-past 10 o'clock the
coffin was placed in the hearse, and the
procession, which included 50 carriages
and 21 motor-cars, started down Clare-
street, on to the New Town-road and the
cemetery, the rain at this time having
ceased. At the cemetery gates it was
met by a large gathering of people, and
as the coffin, covered with beautiful
wreaths, was borne to the vault, a great
number of Freemasons lined the roadway,
on both sides, many deep. The chief
mourners were the Hon. C. E. Davies,
M.L.C. (brother), the deceased's four sons
- Mr. C. B. Davies, Mr. C. R. Davies,
Mr. Ellis Davies, and Mr. Grahame
Davies - Major A. C. Parker (his son-in-
law), and Mr. Edward Pearce (brother-in-
law). The Premier (Hon. A. E. Solomon),
the Speaker of the House of Assembly,
(Hon. J. W. Evans, C.M.G.), Hon. John
Earle, M.H.A. (leader of the Opposition),
Colonel Clark (Commandant of the De-
fence Forces), Hon. Tetley Gant (Presi-
dent of the Legislative Council),
the Mayor (Alderman Crisp), Sir
Elliott Lewis, K.C.M.G., M.H.A., Mr.
T. Whitesides, Mr. G. T. Taylor,
M. Wor. Bro. R. J. Sadler, M.H.A.,
Masonic Pro Grand Master, Rt .Wor.
Bros. H. L. D'Emden and J. F. Stump,
P.D.G.M.'s were the pall-bearers.
Among those also present were Major
Kerr-Pearse, representing His Excellency,
the Governor; the Chief Secretary and
President of the T.R.C. (Hon. Dr. Butler,
M.L.C.), the State Treasurer (Hon. H. J.
Payne), Captain Drake (district naval of-
ficer), Hons. B. S. Bird, W. B. Propsting,
F. Bond, Arthur Morrisby, and James
Murdoch, Ms.L.C.; Messrs. J. T. H.
Whitsitt, A. Cotton, Blyth, W. F. Fuller-
ton, J. B. Hayes,W. A. Woods, J. E. Ogden,
H. Hays, and B. Watkins, Ms.H.A.; the
Dean of Hobart (Very Rev. J. B. Kite),
representing the Bishop of Tasmania;
Monsignor Gilleran, Archpriest Hennebry,
Rev. F. W. Boreham (President of the
Council of Churches), Rev. G. W. Sharp
(Congregational), the commercial, liter-
ary, and mechanical staffs of "The Mer-
cury" and "Tasmanian Mail," together
with several retired members of these
staffs, who served their time in
the days of Sir George's father ;
several of the alderman, Mr. David
Barclay, Hon. Henry Dobson, Mr.
W. G. Wise, P.M., and several justices
of the peace and members of the legal
profession ; Colonel St. Hill (Warden of
New Town), Mr. F. D. Valentine (War-
den of Glenorchy), Mr. J. Adams (repres-
senting the Master Warden), and some
members of the Hobart Marine Board ;
Mr. L. N. Murdoch (representing the
Southern Tasmanian A. and P. Society),
Mr. W. T. McCoy (Director of Educa-
tion), Mr. G. W. Smith (Commissioner of
Railways), Mr. T. W. Fowler, C.E. (Engi-
neer-in-Chief), and several other heads of
Government departments; Mr. A. F.
Scott (Mount Nicholas colliery), Messrs.
A. McCrea, W. Verrell, and C. Martin,
(official representatives of the Licensed
Victuallers' Association); several mem-
bers of the T.R.C., Hobart Cricket Asso-
ciation, Stock Exchange, and other bodies,
and a great-number of private citizens.
There were altogether nearly 300 Free-
masons present, coming not only from the
city, but from the country districts as
well, and from as far afield as Zeehan,
the lodge there being represented by Bro.
Goldsmidt. Wor. Bro. Oscar Kalbfell,
Grand Director of Ceremonies, had charge
of the Masonic arrangements.
The coffin, with its floral tributes, hav-
ing been deposited by the bearers at the
entrance to the vault, the Venerable Arch-
deacon Whitington read the portion of
the burial service usually taken at the
graveside, after which the Grand Chap-
lain (Bro. Rev. S. H. Hughes) read an elo-
quent Masonic address and prayers. Next
the body was lowered into the vault, and
the Freemasons filed past the entrance,
deposting the customary sprays of acacia
on the coffin as they look a farewell look
at the casket containing the remains of
a much-beloved departed brother.
Wreaths had been sent by the follow-
ing:-Mr. and Mrs. Alec. Boyes, Mr. and
Mrs. C. R. Davies, Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Davies, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Davies
the employees at Lyndhurst, Hon. C. E.
and Mrs. Davies, Mrs. Mayor and fam-
ly (deceased's sister Julia), wreaths from
the literary, commercial, and mechanical
staffs of "The Mercury" and "Tasmanian
Mail," from New Town District Cricket
Club, Mrs. John Pearce and family, Mr.
and Mrs. C. J. Atkins, the Alexandra
Hospital Committee (Executive), Hon.
and Mrs. Tetley Gant, six members of
the Atheneum Club, the Master Wardens,
wardens, and officers of the Marine
Board, Hobart Turf Club and Tasmanian
Trotting Club (J. Weaver, secretary), Mrs.
Nicholas Brown, the President commit-
tee, and secretary of the S.T.A. and P.
Society, the officers and members of
the Tasmanian Union Masonic Lodge,
the Mayor, aldermen, and officers of the
Hobart Corporation, Mrs. Gibson and
family (Stowell), Mr. and Mrs. E. H.
Pearce, the directors of the "Daily Post."
Parliamentary Labour party, Miss Lila
Evans, Miss C. Andrews and Mrs. Price,
(South Africa), staff of the Blind Insti-
tution, officers and brethren of the Zee-
han Lodge of Freemasons, Denison Wo-
men's Division of the Liberal League,
Sir Elliott and Lady Lewis, the Worship-
ful Lecture, Master, and members of the
Masonic Lodge of Instruction, Mr. and
Mrs. John Vail, Mr. and Mrs. H. R.
Hutchison, Minnie and Mable (Rose-
ville), the Masonic Grand Lodge of Tas-
mania, Mrs. Bennison, Gordon and Gotch
Proprietary Limited, chairman and com-
mittee of management of the Tasmanian
Cricket Association, Commercial Travel-
lers' Association of Tasmania, members
of the Civic Club, Mr. and Mrs. Leo.
Bibby, deceased's little grandsons, "Ken''
and "Billy," his little granddaughter
Madge. Mr. and Mrs. S. E. Coulter, Mrs.
and Miss Goscomb, Mr. and Mrs.
S. Goscombe. Wor. Master and brethren
of the Tasmanian Operative Lodge of
Freemasons, Mrs. Geo. Rex and family,
Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Andrews, Mr. and
Mrs. Reid Bell, the Masonic Grand
Master and Grand Lodge officers and Free-
masons of Northern Tasmania, United
States Commissioners, Ministers of the
State, "Mercury" Linotype Chapel, mem-
bers of the Victoria League, council and
members of the Tasmanian Rifle Associa-
tion, players of the late Wellington Cric-
ket Club, matron and staff of the Alex-
andra Hospital, officers and brethren of
the Pacific Lodge of Freemasons, Mr. and
Mrs. Norman K. Ewing, Sir Philip Fysh,
Wor. Master, officers, and brethren of

the Rechab Lodge of Freemasons, Mr.
W. T. Thorpe and family, Suburban
Cricket Association, Mr. and Mrs. W. J.
Adams, Misses Wilson, Tattersall's staff,
Dr. and Mrs. Wolfhagen, trustees of the
estate of the late George Adams, commo-
dore and members of the Royal Yacht
Club, Mr. W. H. Ikin, Mr. and Mrs. E.
J. Whitesides and family, Masonic breth-
ren of the Dorset Lodge (Scottsdale), Mr.
and Mrs. E. J. Rogers, Southern Tas-
manian Licensed Victuallers' Association,
Mr. and Mrs. C. Schwan and others.

The Tasmanian Cricket Association, of
which Sir George Davies was a trustee
and vice-president at the time of his
death, sent a wreath in the shape of a
cricket bat and ball, tied with the asso-
ciation colours. The Marine Board
sent a wreath in the shape of an anchor.

The funeral arrangements were admir-
ably carried out by Messrs. A. Clark and

Son.

During the forenoon the Stock Ex-
change was closed to enable members to
attend the funeral, and Mr. Wise, P.M.,
adjourned the business at the Police
Court till the afternoon.

TRIBUTES FROM MANY SOURCES.

A large number of additional letters
and telegrams conveving messages of
sympathy and condolence were received
by the family and relatives of the late
Sir George Davies yesterday. Telegrams
have been received not only from all
parts of Tasmania, but from every State
of the Commonwealth and from the
Dominion of New Zealand.

The Huddart- Parker steamer Ulimaroa,
which arrived at Hobart yesterday from
Melbourne, had her flags hoisted at half  
mast out of respect to the memory of the
late Sir George Davies. Several of the
river barges in port were also noticed to
be flying their flags half-masted.

A MESSAGE FROM LONDON.

A cable message was received by Lady
Davies yesterday afternoon from the Lord
Mayor London (Sir Thomas Vansit-
tart Bowater), expressing the deepest
sympathy on behalf of himself and the
late Lord Mayor of Melbourne (Mr. T.
Davey), who is now in London, and their
families. Mr. Davey was a relative of
Sir George Davies, and is the uncle of
Sir Thomas Bowater.

MASONIC TRIBUTES.

Amongst the numerous telegrams re-
ceived yesterday was one from the Grand
Lodge of Victoria, expressing the deepest
sympathy.

Mr. H. Williams, the representative
of the Tasmanian Grand Lodge in New
Zealand, sent a cablegram expressive of
the deepest sympathy and heartfelt con-
dolence to the Grand Master.

Messages of condolence were received
from the secretary of the Operative
Lodge, No. 1, and from Masonic bodies
throughout Tasmania.

Amongst the very numerous telegrams
received by the family of Sir George
Davies from Masonic bodies were cable-
grams from the Grand Lodges of all the
States and of New Zealand.

LADY EDELINE STRICKLAND.

Lady Edeline Strickland, whose hus-
band (Sir Gerald Strickland) was former-
ly Governor of Tasmania, and is now
Governor of New South Wales, sent a
telegram conveying the condolences of

herself and the Governor.

FATHER O'REILLY.

Father O'Reilly, of Deloraine, writes:
-"Sir George Davies was a man whom
our small community can ill-afford to
lose, and I feel that to-day he is re-
gretted throughout the length and
breadth of Tasmania - 'a man simple,
upright, honest, and fearing God.' Let
us hope he is now an inmate of his
Father's House, but let us put up our

prayers on his behalf. I shall not forget
him in my poor prayers and when I

stand at the altar."

Father Kelsh, a very old friend of Sir
George Davies, also wrote to Hon. C. E.
Davies, expressing his deep regret.

REV. J. GRAY.

Rev. J. Gray writes:- "Personally, I
feel the loss as that of a friend of fifty
years. Let me say that during that
half a century I never knew him do
either an unkind or a dishonourable act."

A SPORTING TRIBUTE.

"Galteo More," the Northern sporting
writer of "The Tasmanian Mail," writes
as follows: -"Very general and genuine
indeed was the regret felt in Northern
sporting, as well as all other circles in

this end of the island when news came
to hand of the not unexpected but none
the less regretted death of Sir George
Davies. Ever affable, ever alike to rich
or poor, whether met in the city or in
the bush, always the thorough gentle-
man, he was truly a most likable man,
and perhaps no more deservedly popular

man with all classes has Tasmania
known. In all forms, of sport he was
ever honourable, and to him could al-
ways be applied the term 'true sports-
man' in the very best sense of the term.
His ever genial face and cheery greeting
will be missed by many, for he was as
widely known as he was well liked and
deservedly respected. - One of the very
best of 'the boys of the old brigade.' "

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