Please wait. Contacting image service... loading

Article text

Funeral of the late Colonial
Chaplain.
On Wednesday last the mortal remains of the Rev.
J. B. Wittenoom, late Colonial Chaplain, were con-
signed to the tomb. From the universally high esti-
mation in which the deceased was held, it was ex-
pected that there would be a large attendance upon
the late mournful occasion, but the numbers present
must have far exceeded anticipation. Considering
the necessary limited notice given, it was remark-
able to see so many persons assembled—not, as it
would appear, from idle curiosity, but from a desire
to pay their last tribute of respect and gratitude to
one who had been associated with the earliest and
dearest interests of the colony. Had opportunity of
fered for greater publicity, we have no doubt that
there would have been a still larger attendance; as
it was, a great many came from Fremantle, and al-
together there must have been upwards of four hundred
persons assembled. The two Lodges of Freemasons
with their badges, and the "Sons of Australia,"
as well as the 99th detachment not on duty,
were conspicuous, and it was observable that several
members of every religious persuasion were amongst
the followers to the grave. His Excellency the
Governor was in attendance throughout the ceremony
in full uniform. About half-past four o'clock in the
afternoon, the procession left the late Rev. gentleman's
residence for St. George's Church. The organist,
Mr Curtis, played some appropriate music,
and that portion of the service appointed to be read
in the church was given out by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell.
The mournful cavalcade then made their way to the
Cemetery, and the remainder of the service was read
by the Rev. Mr. Barry, from Fremantle. We should
have mentioned that the different stores in Perth
were closed on this occasion, with very few exceptions
which are not worth particularizing.
Having known the late Rev. gentleman from his
first arrival, we are unwilling to lose an opportunity
of again testifying here to his great worth in the
colony, and the estimation he was held by all classes.
His popularity was well earned, for his sole
object throughout his career seems to have been
to do good and to please all. It would be impossible
for a man, with such constant aims in view, to
sink into the grave without general regret, joined
with a feeling that it will be long before we have
another to succeed him in all his estimable
qualities.
On Sunday last we were very near being without
an officiating clergyman for St George's Church,
Perth. It appears that the churchwardens had very
properly secured the services of the Rev. Mr Mitchell
for the occasion; but, by one of those unfortunate
instances of meddling for which he is noted, His
Excellency the Governor had requested the Rev. Mr
Barry from Fremantle to perform the service. The
consequence of all this was that the Churchwardens
wrote to put off Mr Mitchell, because Mr Barry had
been desired by the Governor to officiate, and Mr
Barry had been told that Mr Mitchell was going to
perform the service, and he need not therefore attend,
it was only at the eleventh hour that this was rectified,
and Mr Barry had to be summoned from Fremantle.
The Rev. gentleman arrived in time for the
purpose on Sunday morning; but it was evident that
sufficient time had not been allowed him to do justice
to the occasion; for there can be no doubt that he
would have delivered a sermon fully worthy of the
theme he slightly touched upon, had more notice
been given to him. As it was, however, a brief and
very feeling allusion was made to our late Colonial
Chaplain, which had its due weight with all who
heard it. We noticed that the Church was decked
in mourning, and very many of the congregation
paid a similar outward compliment to the departed.
The new pulpit and reading-desk in St George's
Church, Perth, are now completed, and look remarkably
well. We think the altar and railing would be
more in keeping if they were polished as well as the
above.
Last Thursday we were visited with a heavy fall
of rain, which, strange to say, at this season of the
year, continued almost unremittingly for three days
and nights. Such weather, we are aware, is not
without precedent during the summer months, as on
more than one occasion, within our recollection, some-
thing of a similar nature has occurred. This unsea-
sonable visitation, although probably tending to lessen
the severity of the summer season, cannot fail to
have been productive of injurious consequences to
the country. Those will have suffered whose vine-
yards are in any degree forward, and to whom the
vintage is now a matter of importance; in fact, under
any other circumstances, we should imagine that
the grapes generally are in too advanced a state to
have derived any benefit from the late rains. We
know of instances where whole vineyards have been
nearly forward enough to be reduced valueless, the
grapes having burst from their advanced state.
Vegetation will have received an unseasonable nourish-
ment, and we should be afraid that our sheep runs
will consequently suffer. In place of the flocks and
herds feeding upon the old keep which remained
after the influence of the winter rains had passed
away, they will be looking after the young f????
which will now spring up, and consequently be un-
fitted for their customary pasture. The only good
we can imagine to have resulted, will have been the
effectual extinguishing of the bush fires which have
been prevalent of late throughout the country, and
filling the pools of our rivers which may have become
somewhat empty. On Sunday morning last the
weather again began to clear up, and summer again
set in; but not without unmistakeable evidence of the
very heavy rains which had fallen during the three
previous days.
$