Tuapeka Time AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1875. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

Tuapeka Times, Volume VIII, Issue 438, 27 February 1875, Page 2

Tuapeka Time AND GOLDFIELDS REPORTER AND ADVERTISER. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1875. "MEASURES, NOT MEN."

There is a subject which has been before the public for some time, <\ r hich demands some attention and some consideration : we refer to the subject of "Funeral Reform." We have associations in these days for almost every object. We have our associations for the suppression of intemperance, for legislation on the liquor traffic, our benevolent associations for the benefit of released prisoners, &c, all of which have done, and are doing, good; and one perhaps, as much needed as any is an association for funeral reform. As matters have stood, there is, perhaps, no class of customs that have acted with greater tyranny than those which have been connected with the so-called decent disposal of the mortal remains of loved friends. These have riot pressed so hard upon the poorest of the community as upon those jnst a shade above them. There is a class whom custom has enthralled into a certain style of living. For these, in certain professions it has been considered the correct thing to maintain a certain style. Moreover, to maintain it, their means have been at perpetual war with their notions. Their supplies have been fiom hand to mouth ; and, throughout their lives, the struggle has been a hard one. To such people, when death overtakes the head of the house, decency is supposed to demand certain observances. On this subject, the undertaker is the person usually consulted. He has his standard, and that involves many things very superfluous to .the decent disposal of the dead, though gainful to himself. At such a time when the heart is vent by bereavement, and it finds its consolation in lavishing on the -effete remains the love it can no longer render to the living man, it is easily betrayed by the plea of custom into an expenditure far beyond means, and what prudence would dictate. If reform is needed, and it is admitted that it is, it should not be left to those parties to lead the way who are overtaken by bereavement ; the proper parties to do it are the living and the healthy. With such, sentiment can exert no undue influence. A public opinion is formed under the best circumstances, when a dispassionate judgment can be arrived at. It is with pleasure, therefore, that we hail th.c

report of the sub-committee appointed in Dunedin to consider in what direction funeral reform may be carried out. The very fact that public opinion is at work in this particular direction, will have its use in bringing about reform. We should like to see matters' carried further, and associations actually formed and a membership actuall} enrolled to carry out the reform. A certain standard of expense in that case will be fixed by the parties • whom membership pledges, and it will have its weight on the community at large. Not much has as yet been done in the formation of associations. What has been accomplished has mainly been preliminary, and may be summed up in the following paragraphs from the report of the sub-committbe in L»unedin previously referred to. It consists chiefly of the supply of needed information and of suggestions as to what might be done : — The Committee find that a decent and appropriate funeral for an adult can be had for £4 10s, exclusive of cemetery charges, if the hereinafter-proposed Association supplies a carriage for the conveyance of the coffin. The conditions of membership in the Sydney Funeral Reform League embrace a declaration to the effect, " that the members of the Association will, as far as may be possible, dispense with all decorations upon coffins, except the inscription-plate and emblems of faith ; discontinue the employment of mutes, abolish the use of palls, scarfs, and bands, and discontinue the providing of gloves ; that the hearses Bhall not carry plumes ; that the horses shall neither wear clothes, plumes, nor trappings : that funerals should move at the present slow pace ; that processions should no longer be formed at the residence of deceased, and that the friends of the departed shall join the profession at the mortuary or cometary instead ; that ordinary attire should only be worn, with a black band across the arm of the males in the case of a friend, two black bands in the case of a relative, and three black bands upon the loss of a wife or parent ; and that females should also wear their ordinary attire at funerals, with bands as above, and with or without a black veil, with one, two, or three black falls so as to show their relation to the deceased."

That any person subscribing the sum of 2s 6d per annum towards the funds of the association be a member thereof, and entitled to the benefit of any contract entered into by the Association, and to the use of its conveyance for the funerals of any of his or her household.

A public aiEEEiNG of the residents of the Tnapeka 1 district ia called for next Wednesday evening, to take into consideration the state of the roads leading to and from Lawrence, and the desirability of forming Road Boards for the district. We think this a step in the right direction ; indeed, we have been much surprised something in this way has not been done long ago. The Provincial Council voted money for two years past for the formation of part of the road between Lawrence and Waipori via Bungtown — a road which, if constructed, would make the journey to Waipori not only an easy one, but would materially increase the traffic between the two places. But although the advantages of the road have been known to many, and money actually voted for the work, no person seemed to take the initiative towards the carrying of it out. Another road, too, that has been much talked about, and would really be a boon to Lawrence, is the road by Clarks Flat to Tuapeka Mouth. So long as teamsters have to encounter Breakneck, the road to Tuapeka Mouth will he practically closed, whereas the road by Clarks Flat would be one of easy gradient to the leading tange, from which only one creek requires to be bridged, and not a hill of any extent i*equires to be climbed. The necessity for this road is now more imperative than ever, as several settlers have taken up their quarters on the land recently leased between Breakneck and Greenfield Station, and this road to them would be a most convenient one. We understand that 1 here is no difficulty in the way of the road going by Clarks Plat. A difficulty was presented some time since by one of the settlers, but we believe he is now quite prepared to come to terms with the Government. Then as to Road Boards, the Tuapeka district is far in the background. The Taieri and Tokomairiro districts receive several thousand pounds every year by way of subsidy for the maintenance of their disti'ict roads, and there is nothing whatever to hinder the settlers in this and the Waitahruna districts from participating in the Government subsidy, if they will only have themselves duly constituted into Road Boards. . The matter is one of great simplicity, and we trust that the meeting covened for Wednesday next will be productive of some good in the direction we have indicated.