Thousands of New Zealanders on Monday paid their last respect to Edmund Hillary, the first man to conquer Mount Qomolangma, ahead of his state funeral in Auckland Tuesday.
Hillary, who died on Jan. 11 at the age of 88, will be lying instate at Parnell's Holy Trinity Cathedral through the night, with an opportunity for people to pay their respects until 0800 am Tuesday (1900 GMT Monday).
The casket was placed on a catafalque, which will be guarded overnight by defense personnel, in a brief but emotional and solemn service.
The casket was covered with a large bouquet of flowers and a mountaineer's ax.
Governor-General Anand Satyanand led the wreath laying ceremony and laid a wreath on behalf of the Queen.
Prime Minister Helen Clark took part in the official ceremony to carry Hillary's casket into the cathedral, which she said it was a special and sad occasion. She was visibly upset as she spoke of her personal respect for the mountaineer, saying she knows how hard it is to climb 6,000 meters, but he climbed further than that and with the technology of 1953.
Clark said she can understand why there has been an extraordinary out-pouring of public feeling. She said people in her generation grew up with the fame of Hillary's achievements, and his legend has kept building throughout his 88 years of life.
Members of the Nepalese community placed white scarves over one end of the casket while representatives of the Indian community lit candles and placed a garland of flowers around a large oil painting of a young Hillary, near the casket.
People of all ages, races and backgrounds waited patiently in line to go inside the cathedral, many huddled under umbrellas, with a somber atmosphere.
Source: Xinhua
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