Post by NZBC on Feb 22, 2020 9:53:47 GMT 12
LAST TRIBUTES
PIONEER FRUITERER GATHERING OF CHINESE The largest gathering of Chinese seen in Gisborne assembled yesterday to pay their last tributes to a member of their community, Mr. W. Tan, who died in the Cook Hospital on Tuesday. Prior to the service conducted in Cochrane’s mortuary chapel, Williams street, by the Rev. A. J. H. Dow, the Chinese mourners marched in past the casket to the chapel, which was well filled with a representative .gathering of European citizens and friends of the late Mr. Tan.
In paying a tribute to the deceased, Mr. Dow said that Mr. Tan had long been a respected member of the community, and specially mentioned the work 'done by the deceased for the Presbyterian Church, in association with the Rev. J. Grant. The speaker also 1 expressed his sympathy with the Chinese community in the trouble being experienced in China. The European service at the graveside was conducted by Mr. Dow, while a Chinese service was conducted by Mr. George King. There was a lengthy cortege, and l numerous beautiful floral tributes were received.
The pall-bearers were Messrs. Charlie Mervg Yee, Willie K. Willie, thingy Mun, Wong Kong, Charles Tung and Ching Hugie.
POVERTY BAY HERALD, VOLUME LXVI, ISSUE 19889, 17 MARCH 1939 paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/PBH19390317.2.25?items_per_page=100&query=willie+wong+gisborne&snippet=true