NEGLECTED.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2235, 17 May 1880, Page 3

NEGLECTED.

In a recent . issue,-.of the <( Melbourne Argus” appeared, a,letter from, a;correspondent) '“Uv;F ; .' Kj,” 'in which! the writer calls attention'to the .fact'tliat the remains of John Batman, the founder of Melbourne, are. lying..jin?an almost unknown grave. Seven years ago, the writer remarks, he was searching for the.grave of : a friend) in the Old Cemetery when. the caretaker pointed to a stake standing upright in the ground I and .said,. “ There lies ; John Batman.’? The grave was hot enclosed-,; nor -was .there even a headstone to mark the spot where the hardy; pioneer and founder of Melbourne takes; his final'repose. Batman died„it appears, more than 40 years ago, and all Melbourne—such as it was—attended bis funeral.’ Then they forgot him and left his memory to perish. The writer of the letter under notice suggests ‘that Sir William Mitchell, as president of the Old Colonists’ Association, should initiate a movement to erect a suitable memorial to one to whom tho" present generation have reason to feel grateful. The did colonists, it is suggested, might raise the necessary funds amongst themselves; or; says the writer, “ better .still, a shilling subscription, : if properly Organised, would realise an amount more than sufficient for tlic purpose.” 1