REMOVAL OF OLD SOLDIERS' REMAINS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 3120, 20 January 1908, Page 3

REMOVAL OF OLD SOLDIERS' REMAINS.

To the Editor. Sir,—At last thoee of "Britain's dead" who have lain for close on half-a-century in the old Courtenay street cemetery, with perhaps a head-board canted sideways, or, more likely, nothing at all to ■ark the "soldier's grave," are to be nnovad to when their last resting plaos can be .decently looked after. Everyow who take* an interest in the events si the old days will be pleased that this ■to be done. Well, Sir, on reading the authority for the removal given by the Minuter of Internal Affairs in your istM of yesterday, I was astonished to tßdthat after he mentions the remains of Sr. Mac Andrew and Sergeant Fahey, he states "and of three other persons, lamp unknown, but who are believed to have belonged to, the Imperial or ColoKttl Military Forces." This adndision only speaks: volumes for ths scant tatmtt in respect of (he departed aoldien for all those years. Bat sorely there are those in New Plymouth who an give some particulars as to the ocnipants of the three graves is ikrabt. Wata a small boy, I saw two of the victims of the Wairau ambaseade burled fa the Courtenay street cemetery, and as I have never heard of the removal of their remains, I think these two will ae(Ont for two of the three graves in question. It wfll be remembered that sewsa »C the Stth Kegtaeitt fell at ths natetanate Wairau affair. As a soldier's mm, I have a pretty clear recollection of the great funeral accorded these seven "Die-hards." The procession marched from the hospital ground* (now the prison site) to St Mary's Church yard, where it baited while five of the seven , Mere carried in and laid in one large grave. These were Dr. Hope, Lientene est ftmgett. Sergeants Hill and Elian, and Private Banks. As eoon as the firing party had fired ths three volleys, the proeeasMM re-formed aod marched to the Boms Oathoßc cemetery, Courtenay street, where Private Flynn and McCarthy were laid in separate graves aide by aide. These two graves were in the eastern corner of the ground, on the side * the railway line. Are these two of the three unknown? Flynn was the ostly married man, I think, of the seven victims. Be left a widow and two little girls. The widow (now long dead) married Mr Matthew Watson (one of the old "Die-hards," also), who is still living at Oakura. THs old soldier ought to be consulted in respect to the three unknown graves. My object ia troubling you ia that if it can be shown that the two 1 mention, aecount for two out of the three graves, then these two will be —tttlsd to the military funeral with the othem, and their final resting place will not again be so easily forgotten. I . aMlt add that in this old cemetery two - dßEim of the late Sergeant Dunn , .(inay years in charge of the local polka) were buried in about the year 1881 . It a time when diphtheria carried off a (Teat number of children.—l am, etc., V J. HALL. n Albert road, January 17, 1908. " [We should be pleased to receive further contributions on this subject from early settlers.—Ed. News.]

THE iIUNIOPAiiITV AND ITB ADMLMBTRATION. To the Editor, feir, —1 noticed a letter in your issue of the 17th inst. under the heading "Band Rotunda,'' and signed by "West End," containing the usual sample of Borough Council twaddle on the band rotunda. "West End"' takes you to tuk for what appears to him to lie an iseooaiitpney on your part. He is wrong—totally wrong—in making the charge. I would recommend him to read jronr leader a little closer and he will then see that your article is absolutely consistent and much to the point. The burgesses are tired of the "keep-the-mattor-in-riew" style of municipalorium, and "West End" » right when he asks tie question, and no doubt expects an affirmative answer, "Are we going to wake up soon and get the work in t hand?" The Councillors arc wry tired i just now, anil the walk up th l ' r-tair* to the Council office telU it« tale. IVr- j tonally, 1 would be in favor of putting i off holding any further Council meeting i until our municipal representative* could ! walk intothe Council room in tb-* Car- | negie Library, which, of muw. would be oa the ground floor, and thus give oar representatives a chance of getting 1 into the Council room in a state of activity rather than In that tired style as at present when walking up the 27 steps. "West End" states that our wise and far-seeing Councillors had some remarkable object in view when, they greeted the Band rotunda in -wnd and scrub. Ves; they had a few railway accidents in view, no doubt, and with tbe

big railway traHic to the harimr it : s j froridential that tlie a«-ulent« in ami j around the rotunda on the evening of concert* are not numbered I>y the j down. Wine and tar-weing Councillors! | Stand hack from the luunicipaloriuni: "TCnt End," in conclusion. says "it ia fir more simple to reclaim the wilderopts than to shift the rotunda." a»jr renowned friend, it is far more rirnple if gnw»i happen- to prow mi the roof of your bouw to take up a c»w to rat If than to bring the gr*«* down! Ti« cruelty to load a falling l*>dy. «o 1 will refrain from further remarking on the wise and far-seeing inuncipalorium. *-I am, «te., W. ¥. MIC'AWBKR.