Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1921. THE OLD CEMETERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2271, 3 May 1921, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, MAY 3, 1921. THE OLD CEMETERY.

YESTERDAY Ihe fence enclosing the'old Cemetery was removed, thus leaving this sacred and historic enclosure open to wandering sfocla We were informed that the fence, or what remained of the so-called structure, was purchased from the' Native owners. The • by-laws provide that sections on roadways must be fenced by the owners —although this by-law lias been disregarded in certain cases. This reserve, however, bv reason of its historic character, should be securely enclosed. The local Beautifying Society at a recent meeting unanimously decided to spend not more than £3OO in beautifying and laying out this centrally situated and elevated reserve, which expenditure included an ornamental concrete fence. Eor some years the Borough Council has endeavoured to get . a transfer of the properly from the Maori owners, and have at last succeeded in obtaining the signatures of all interested, except one. From it strictly legal point of view the transfer is not complete until this signature is obtained. I his however, -should not preclude the Borough Council from giving authority to (he Beautifying Society to go on with the work. This reserve lias always been looked upon as a cemetery reserve, and the remains ol both pakehas and Maoris have been interred therein. It lias been neglected for upwards of half a century, and in recent years lias been used for grazing purposes. In the original Government plan of the township it is set down as a cemetery reserve, but for some reason or another it Ims never been brought under the jurisdiction of the Council. Neither has it ever been included as a rateable area. There is a possibility that if the history of the area was impaired into it may have been included in the land grant made to 1 tie Government by llmkara. or hi any ea.se considered tapu, according to Native custom, by reason of Maori burials before the advent of the pakelta. There is no reason to doubt the latter. The of this historic spot could not therefore be objected to by the Maoris, even if there should be a hitch in the transfer. To leave it as at present is a scandal. We hope the Council will give consent to the Beautifying Society to transfer the present eyesore into a place of beauty and in keeping with its sacred nature.