A POET'S GRAVE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2191, 2 July 1914, Page 8

A POET'S GRAVE

bracken memorial fund.

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—ln reference to the paragraph appearing- m tins morning's Dominion regarding the neglected condition of th'o late Mr loin Bracken's grave, and the proposal to rectify the position, I may say that I have been in communication with the Dimodm Committee for some days, and have, at the reouost of tlra .chairman, agreed to take the matter lip so far as Wellington is concerned I ani issuing circulars to those likely to be interested, but what: I have done will not necessarily conflict with what ■is proposed in yciir columns. There is no reason why we should not aot' in co-operation, and use our united efforts in a direction that I hope will result in a fitting recognition of the late Mr Bracken's poetic gifts. ' The scheme proposed by the Dunedin Committee is t<> raise filfiO, part of which will be spent 'in erecting a memorial stone, the balance being invested—probably, in city debentures— so as to produce interest sufficient to provide a maintenance fund. There are many ex-Otago residents in Wellington as. well as others who will gladly avail themselves or thfe "opportunity of paying a small tribute to the memory, of Bracken.—l am, etc., T. LINDSAY BUICK. ''UNACCOUNTABLE NEGLECT." To the Editor. Sir, —Will you kindly suffer me to. say that T was surprised to see by a local in your issue of Monday that ''no stone marks the spot" in the cemetery at Dunedin where Tom Bracken's grave is alleged to be. To mo such unaccountable neglect seems almost criminal, and it is not to he wondered at that ,he wrote that sublime and matchless poem, "Not Understood.',' It proved to be true during his life; and "now, in spite of the fact that he produced o. poem translated into various languages in many countries, his memory is not revered according to his desserts; While I am loth to institute anything savouring of ail odious comparison, yet I ran assure your readers that if Tom Brapken's grave were in Ashburton it woiild soon have a headstone and accessories in keeping with the demands of genius and the sacred sentiments that sanctify humanity.—l am, elc, W. J. ELLIOTT. Jiino29,l9R