Imperial Visit to Merano and Funeral of Former Mayor Haller

Austria.

Innsbruck, 31 March. His Majesty the Emperor, accompanied by His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Rudolf, will pass through here tomorrow morning on the usual mail train without stopping, on his way to Merano. a Merano, 28 March. (From Court.) The arrival of His Majesty, our most gracious Emperor, will now take place on the evening of 1 April, according to the supreme disposition. The stay here will last 10 to 12 days, after which His Majesty will undertake the return journey to Vienna accompanied by the Crown Prince and Archduchess Gisela, while the Empress with Archduchess Valerie has decided for the time being to remain here until mid-May. As is known, Her Majesty is then to travel from here to Bavaria and, according to the latest reports, spend a few weeks at Herr Maffei's Villa Feldafing near Munich, in the vicinity of which is also the villa occupied by the Neapolitan royal couple. Crown Prince Rudolf will arrive here at the same time as His Majesty. It is reported that during his current stay, the Emperor will undertake an excursion to the Passeier Valley, the home of our patriotic hero Andreas Hofer, and to the Vinschgau. Her Majesty has also long expressed the supreme wish to visit the former valley and the birthplace of the Sandwirt during the finer season, as well as to make a spring excursion to Ulten and to Mitterbad, most honorably known throughout Tyrol. – In the near future, it is heard, Abbot Haneberg from Munich is expected at the court here. The imperial family enjoys the best of health, and Her Majesty seems once again to find visible pleasure in the idyllic seclusion of Trauttmansdorff. Her supreme countenance is very cheerful and pleased. Unfortunately, today our world-famous March wind, which had been extraordinarily slack so far this year, seems to remember its task of tormenting us poor mortals once again.

* Merano, 29 March. Yesterday, the earthly remains of former mayor Herr Josef Valentin Haller, who passed away on the 27th of this month, were laid to rest in consecrated ground. The funeral procession appeared almost endless. All government and municipal authorities, the Imperial-Royal High School with its faculty and the other Benedictines residing here, the Capuchin convent, and numerous clergy from here and the surrounding area, the town's boys' and girls' schools, and almost the entire citizenry paid their last respects to the deserving man. Many people from the countryside, especially very many relatives from Scena and even some from the Passeier Valley, also joined the escort. The deceased, although suffering for years, reached an age of more than 79 years. Herr J. Haller held the office of mayor of the town in the most selfless manner for 37 years; he always devoted his annual salary of 100 fl. Austrian currency to good causes. He was a special benefactor of the local educational institution. The deceased was a holder of the Golden Cross of Merit, the Knight's Cross of the Royal Württemberg Order of Frederick, and the Royal Prussian Order of the Red Eagle 4th Class. As is well known, the King of Württemberg and the King of Prussia stayed in our health resort for a considerable time; Herr Haller was personally acquainted with them and rendered essential services to both during their stay. Today, the solemn funeral services were held in the local parish church.