The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.) SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1874.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 232, 19 December 1874, Page 2

The Standard AND PEOPLE'S ADVOCATE. (PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY AND SATURDAY.)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1874.

“ We shall sell to no man justice or right: We shall deny to no man justice or right: We shall defer to no man justice or right.’ :

It would be a source of great gratifica-

tion to all interested in the affairs of this district, and especially to those whoso relatives and friends lie buried in the Gisborne Cemetery, to know in what position that burial ground stands at this moment—its condition is, admittedly, a disgrace to the district to which it is supposed to belong. Some time since we drew public attention to this matter, in the hope that something might be done for the purpose of preventing a sacrilegious molestation of the last resting place of the dead. It was explained to us that the Church authorities would represent the matter to the Government, ■with a view to the land being made over to Trustees, and so placed under proper supervision. It was also to have received “ a local habitation, and a name,” which, at present, it has not got, unless we recognise the uneuphonious appellation of “ Government paddock” as a fitting designation ; but, as far as we can learn, nothing has been done. That, indeed, it ever bore testimony to the bestowal of Christian care, is due to a gentleman, who, from motives of pure philanthropy, and at his own expense, had the ground surveyed, and plotted, so that a decent uniformity should be observed in laying out the graves; and thus it now remains :—The fences are broken so that cattle stray in and out for pasture ; the corner pegs to the grave plots are strewn about the ground; the iron railing encircling the martyrs’ monument has been ruthlessly injured; the sacred privacy of the grave enclosures is being invaded; a general desecration is apparent, and desolation

reigns. The rapid augmentation of our population, coupled with the existence of four distinct denominations of Christians —three of whom at least, are represented by clergy —in the Bay, loudly proclaims it is quite time that the matter should be taken in hand ; it is to them that we look for the furtherance and protection of the

common rites of humanity; and we trust uow that attention is drawn to subject, and as the days of universal cremation are not at hand, that a movement will take place at once. It will, also, be necessary, now that the General and Provincial Governments are treating the remaining portion of the ■“ paddock ” in a “ dog in the manger ” sort of style, that the desirability of enlarging the present burial ground should be forcibly represented.