THE CEMETERY.

Cromwell Argus, Volume V, Issue 242, 30 June 1874, Page 5

THE CEMETERY.

To the Editor of the Cromwell Argus. Sir, —I do not wish to trouble you beyond what I am obliged to, but I feel compelled to write a few lines in reply to Mr Or. Jolly’s letter of 22nd inst., in re above subject; and as I desire to avoid a newspaper war, I shill not go into personalities more than I can help. Cr. Jolly “ regrets” that 1 wrote a letter, in which the management of the Cemetery Trust, as contrasted against that of the Corporation, certainly placed the latter in a discreditable position. But Cr. Jolly goes rather too far in saving I have attempted “to raise their {the Trust’s) standard of excellence by traducing the Council, as being guilty of the vilest misdemeanours, and having the presumption and impudence to dare to do their duty in the administration of the town. ” I, as Secretary to the Trust, cannot allow Cr. Jolly, or any other man, to misconstrue or “distort” my letter in this manner. In the first place, I beg to refer to the cemetery. The management has hitherto given satisfaction to those parties who have had the misfortune to lose those nearest and dearest to them, and even the Council do not allege any cause of complaint against them, i.e., up to the present time. Why, then, should the Council wish to remove the control from those gentlemen, who have honourably, and without fee or reward, but not without some inconvenience, fulfilled the requirements of such Trust ? Is it because the Corporation is jealous ? Or is it that they require the cemetery to bury their Public Works, Financial, or Sanitary schemes in ? But ere the Corporation do get the cemetery under their management (?mis—), I shall endeavour toreview a few of their schemes. For the past few years, every candidate soliciting municipal honours comes to the front with the cry of “Water, water.” And where is it yet ? Still running to waste in the River Clntha. .And what have we for use? A town-race certainly, wherein the birds of the air and beasts of the field lave ; and this they onlv do without and beyond the municipal boundaries, and where the water is comparatively clean, leaving us townspeople to put up with the said water after being so defiled : to sav nothing of the other .'ibominations which are bound to collect in an open race (? sewer), —although we do our best to filter it. However, I do not wish to pursue this nasty subject any further, and beg to refer your readers to Professor Black or Dr Coughtrey for further information thereanent. In re sanitarv afibirs. I believe the Council have a Public Works, a Legislative, and a Finance Committee, an Inspector of Works, and an Inspector of Nuisances: altogether a tho-

roughly organised officialdom. But alas ! they could have existed but in name, otherwise Cromwell would never have become a bye-word and reproach amongst the towns of Otago. And not being satisfied with the existing nuisances, they have created a new one, —viz , a manure dep6t within the boundaries of the town, and whereon all night-soil and other matter is to be deposited and buried at a depth of say two feet, always providing that one of their Inspectors be alongside, and that it will pay the contractor to do so. Altogether, reviewing the whole mntterquietly, I and the majority of your readers must come to the one conclusion. The Cemetery Trust have so far done their duty in a manner that challenges crjficism, and one single complaint having beep made against them ; whilst the Corporation, hiving either failed in, or sadly mismanaged, their water, sanitary, and financial sch-mes, have no right to endeavour to secure the Cemetery as a new field in which to try their ’prentice hands in legislating for the dead. I am, &c., John Mai:an. June 29, 1874.