Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER IS, 1921. THE OLD CEMETERY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2343, 18 October 1921, Page 2

Manawatu Herald TUESDAY, OCTOBER IS, 1921. THE OLD CEMETERY.

A CORRESPONDENT asks us to explain wlint the real position is in connection with the ownershij) of the section of land at the rear of the old cemetery, referred to in last issue as having a prolific growth of noxious weeds, and used for grazing purposes. We have previously referred to this matter. The position is as follows: The area, upwards of an acre, is divided into two sections, the front portion beisg the old cemetery, recently beautified, and the' hack portion used as a grazing paddock. The- title of ownership or succession was, or is, held by four Natives, viz., Mesdames W. Aparaima and McMillan, and two others. The owners consented to vest the old cemetery portion in the Borough Council, but in defining the area of transfer, the back instead of the front portion was indicated in the transfer. So that, until the title is altered, the Borough Council is the nominal owner of the back portion, instead of the front. We are informed that it will require a, short enactment to rectify the mistake. The School Committee is anxious to acquire the section wrongly vested in the Borough Council for a swimming baths site, and were well advanced on the basis of a transfer when the mistake was discovered. That’s the position at present. As the matter stands, the Borough Council cannot collect rates from the property, nor has any revenue been collected from any portion of the area in the past. The Borough Council is committed to a limited sum re cost of transfer, and probably will take the necessary steps to clear up the title and afford an opportunity to the Educational authorities to secure the vacant lot for school swimming baths.