PAEROA CEMETERY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5271, 7 May 1928, Page 2

PAEROA CEMETERY.

OVERGROWN AND NEGLECTED.

DISCUSSION. BY COUNTY COUNCIL.

At Thursday’s meeting of the O'ninemuri. County Council a letter was received from Mr L. Parlby, Auckland, complaining of the overgrown and neglectel state of the Pukerimu Cemetery. Paeroa. If the council would appoint, a committee to go into the matter with a view to having the cemetery cleaned up, the writer stated that lie w'ould be prepared to pay an annual contribution towairds the work, and sure: that others would do the, same. He also mention-* efi- that visitors from far-off distr cts desiring to go to the cemetery on holH days or week-ends were unable to obtain any information' or assistance. The chairman said' that it opened up a big question. The- County Council was certainly the governing body, but he thought the Borough Council should have control. He wished to make it quite clqar that the council could spend on the cemetery o.nly such money as was received in the way of repts and fees. No money could be useh from the county fund. While the council ,was bound to accept a certain amount of responsibility, he thought a greater responsibility reded with those who had relatives buried Liicre. If relatives were prepared to form a cemetery comm’ttee he felt sure that the council would co-operate in every way within its powers. At. the present time there was a credit balance in the cemetery fund amounting to £2.9 18's, and that money could be supplemented by contributions from t'he public and iiecesi sary work carried out under the council’s supervision.

Cr. Hubbard thought that t'he money shoujd be expended forthwith, and pointed out that the whole area was overrun with weeds and that some of the paths, required immediate attention.

Cr. J. B. Morris mentioned that damage had been, donei to some headstones by falling trees, and he thought that overhanging branches at least should be trimmed back.

The chairman said that one of tlie best-kept cemeteries in t'he North I'sland was the one at Te Puke. He understood that it was cared 1 for, mainly by the- school children, w*ho were takem along unijer the control of a teacher. The work was carried out as a less,on. He did not suggest that a similar practice should be Instituted at Paeroa. In his opinion, the publicity given to the discussion might induce, relatives to come forward with c'ontr.ibutions. It would be a good plait Ko defer the steps to be taken for one month. Cr. Jo'hnston considered that it was of little use waiting for the public lb make a move.

It was resolved to reply that the council approved of t'he formation of a cemetery committee, ;and that it would do all it could 1 un- to the extend; of its limited finamce to tidy up and beautify the area.