THE CEMETERY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 197, 22 May 1914, Page 3

THE CEMETERY.

Putting it in Order.

At Wednesday night's meeting of the Rorough Council the Mayor, on behalf rf the Cemetery Committee, presented the fallowing report:— li Cr Comrie, Rev. Dobson and myself visited the cemetery on Thursday, 14th May. Your committee fird that there are several things that need attention, viz., the path?, the weed?, the plan, the records and the maintenance of cemetery generally. By-laws to wcrk by are requiicd, 'Taths. -The two imin paths ate su rough tl a' people avoid walking on them. Your c. rnmittee recommend that the grass be cut a>'d the paths rolled with the steam roller. "Weed?. Tha blackberries, gorse and brg grass need constant attention. We would recommend that some or 3 fcrts of the "cemetery which are not taken up and will not be required for some years ba let for, say, two or three yeais to some farmer, in value for which fce should keep all the c«metery and trnces i:i good order. We would also iccommend tint Mr Halliday be approached with a view to cutting down the trees on the east side of cemetery. "F1 ins,—The plans prepared some years ago ate practically useles?. The Rev. Dot son, with the as-istance of Mr John Adams, has made a rough sketch plan on which he has marked names of all persons butied ar.d all grsvea fenced in. It will be necessary to have a plan properly drawn on which the information may be recorded, ar.d to put the unties of all p:rsons who have tsken up craves which are neither used ror fenced.

"Fees, etc.—The ch&i\e for burial in Waiakaraka, I'urawa and Waikumcte cemeteries varies from £7 5s to £2. The feC3 at Puk'.kohe are tor a grr.ve 8 feet by 4 feet 15", for digging grave for an adult 12s 6d, for bu-iy 1 of a child 10s. making the fee payable fi.r an aciult £1 7s lid. The exp:riente <f the Board has shown thit this is altogether too small a fee to keep the cemetery in proper order. Your committee therefore recommend that in future the charge for a Bft by 4 feet be £1; thut the fees for digging remain the sarna as at present, viz., 12s Gd lot an adult and IDs for children, but that an lxira fee be charged for ths erection cf a fmce or monument, as follows: for enclosing a grave S feet by 4 feet £1; for erecting a monument, which will include fencing a grave, £2.

"By-la*?. We suggest that the Cemetery Ccmmittee he asked to draw up suitable by-laws and tubmi t siiiiie to the Council for approval at a future meeting. "We als.i suggest that the committee to deal with this matter ard tee preparation of plans, etc., consist of the Mayor, Crs Comrie, Bilkev, Rev. Dobson aid Town Cluk."

The Mayor said the committee owed a great deal to the Rev. F. Dobso.i for the amount ot work he hsd dor.e. Had it not been for the Kev. F. Dubfon and Mr Adams', sexUr, ttie committee would not have krown where h3lf the people were buried.

Cr l'olljck favoured renting the portion of the land not require ! and devoting the proceeds to keeping thy grounds clean. He moved, Tlv.t the eemet-.ry be refurcl anl clea d.

1 r tlurl y seconded the mcti; n which vvns carried.

Cr i'c mi i j pev.p c.e 1 that in > i\ 1; r 1 be alt.led by havkg graves enclosed inst.ad cf fei.ceel, that the Council let the pcru 11 of cemetery not required and that owners be asked t > clear graves. Cr Pollock seconded the rcselulion, which was carried. The repo.f, as amended, was adopted.