Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1919. THE OLD CEMETERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 2006, 24 July 1919, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1919. THE OLD CEMETERY.

IT has boon suggested that the old Maori Cemetery, near the school at the north end of the town, should be acquired by the Borough Council and beautified. It Inis also been suggested that the site would serve admirably for the erection of a soldiers’ memorial in the shape of an obelisk on the lop of the hill. The Borough Council made enquiries re the ownership of this land, about half an aero in area, with a view to its acquisition some years ago, and ascertained that it was claimed hy a daughter of Ihakara, a deceased Maori chief. We are informed that (he owner would he prepared to transfer (lie property to (lie borough on condition (hat the townspeople erected a monument thereon to the memory of her father. So far as we are able to ascertain, the ground was set aside in tlie early days by the Maoris as a burial ground, and the remains of numbers of Maoris lie buried there, as well as Europeans. From the Maori point of view the ground is tapu, or sacred, and according to their traditions cannot be used for ordinary use. At present it is unattractive, whereas with a little expenditure it could be converted into a beauty spot. We hope the Mayor will be able to arrange the transfer of the property, and carry out such improvements as will lie satisfactory to Maoris and pukehas alike.