CENTRAL CEMETERY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1281, 27 April 1878, Page 3

CENTRAL CEMETERY.

Tho adjourned meeting of the conference with, respect to the establishment of a Central Cemetery, took place yesterday. In accordance with a resolution passed at the former neeting, imitations to attend had been sent o representatives of tho City Council, Borough Council of Sydenham, Avon Eoad Board, Heathcoto Eoad Board, Eiccarton Eoad Board, Spreydon Eoad Board, Church of England Cemetery Board, Presbyterian Comoery Trustees, Wesleyan Methodist and United Free Methodist Trustees, Baptists, longregationaiista, Eoman Catholics, and tho Hebrew Congregatiou. The meeting took place in the Provincial Council Chamber. The following were present — Hon. John Sal!, Sir Cracroft Wilson, Eevs. Penny, Watson, and 0. Fraser, Messrs J. T. Brown, [j. Caro, Eolleston, E. A. Loughnan, W. Harris, J. B. Sheath, and J. P. Jameson. On the motion of the Eev. C. Fraser, the Hon. John Hall look the chair. The Chairman said it would put the matter r or which they had met that day more clearly jeforo them if ho road to them the circular which had been issued to the gentlemen now issembled, which covered the resolution jassed at tho former conference. [Bead,] Ho thought it was only necessary for him to lay a very few words on the subject of a cental cemetery, because the necessity had become patent. In the days of Provinjial Q-overnments, some steps were taken in this direction, but the untimely end of all Provincial Governments prevented anything iurther being done. Since then, mainly swing to the exertions of Mr Eolleston, who had taken the greatest possible interest in die matter, £SOOO was voted for cemeteries in tho last session of the Assembly. Of this, 61500 had been allotted at tho Conference recently held for the purposes of a central cemetery, and had been placed the bauds of the County Council. They, in order to arrive at some conclusion on tho matter, had invited the present committee to meet and decide upon the important questions to be submitted to them. Of the necessity for a central cemetery there could be no doubt, so that they need not discuss that point. The next point which arose was a most important one, and that was the selection of a site. They would have to ascertain whether any Crown lands were available and, if not, that held by private owners. The only remaining question was-that of finance. He felt that, looking to the fact that the city and suburbs were largely increasing every day, the sum of £ISOO was very small, but still it was all that in justice to other districts the conference could allot. Ho thought it probable that tho Eoad Boards and municipalities might contribute something, besides which the allotment of sites to the different denominations would bring in something. Mr Eolleston was present that day, though not representing the County Council. Had Mr Eolleston been present at the meeting, he (the chairman) felt sure he would have been elected as representing the Selwyn County Council on the committee. However, it had not been so, but he could assure Mr Eolleston that they would only be too glad to have the benefit of his his assistance and advice. The whole of the business was now before the committee. They it was upon whom tho responsibility rested of expending this £ISOO which had been apportioned for a central cemetery, and the committee was tho body in whose hands now remained the management. He had before him the Cemeteries Act, which was passed last session, and which provided for the appointment of guardians of such cemetery by any religious denomination. It was also provided that on application to the trustees it was competent for them to set aside a portion of the cemetery for tho interment of any denomination. Mr Caro inquired whether the Government had intimated any intention of closing the present cemeteries ? The Chairman said that ho had no positive information on this subject, but no doubt so soon as the population grew up round them, they would for sanitary reasons close the existing cemeteries, under the powers given them by the Act. Eev. C. Fraser said that tho townships and" Eoad Boards who were supposed to make use of the cemetery would include nearly half of the whole population of the provincial district. Now ho desired to point out that the distribution hardly appeared to be very equitably arranged. They must recollect that the central cemetery would be used by persons from all parts of the country where religious denominations had no particular cemetery of their own, they would be sure to come in to the central cemetery. The Chairman said he desired to point out that the whole sum voted by the Assembly was £SOOO, and this was divided into twothirds for north of the Eangitata, and onethird south. This was again divided into appropriations for various districts, and he must say that he thought the central cemetery had been liberally dealt with, when it was considered what the amount at tho disposal

of the conference was. Sir 0. Wilson supported what had fallen from Rev. C. Fraser, and instanced a case where the funeral had been brought from Rangitata to Christchurch. Mr Rolleston said that the Provincial Government had called for tenders for a site, but were unable to get one as the tenders i were all too high. He might say that his i idea was to have one large general cemetery, ■ and if possible so situated with regard to raili way facilities as to encourage inexpensive funerals. Rev. C. Fraser pointed out that the money > in hand would purchase about seventy-five > acres. ’ Rev. Mr Watson said that the course fol- • lowed in the other colonies was to allot certain i plots in the cemetery to different deromina- . tions, but the trustees did not then by lose r the supervision of the cemetery. If the i various denominations were supposed to keq) 5 a staff of sextons, gardeners, &c., it would be 3 found very costly and inconvenient. What ) ho wished to see was that the various douomit nations made a charge for ministerial duties s only, an allotment and not a sole to the n to being made. e Mr I j. Caro said that if the body ho repro- • * gepted had to give up their piece of land now

occupied by them they would bo in the position of giving up a freehold for a leasehold. Ho therefore could not agree with the last speaker. Rev 0. Eraser pointed out that the Church of England Cemetery Board was precisely in the same position, but he supposed that some compensation would be made to bodies who were compelled to abandon land for which they had paid. Mr Rol lesion said that the timo_ had now arrived when the religious oedies might make up their miuds that the sanitary authorities would very soon step in and compel the present cemeteries to bo closed. course, he would bo an advocate for exercising this power with as little severity as possible. Rut still the time was fast approaching when it would be necessary to close tire present cemeteries. Rev. Mr Penny agreed with the remarks which had fallen from Mr Watson. He felt that it would bo far better to allow of the cemetery being managed by a Board of Trustees, leaving the religious denominations simply to provide the religious services. Mr’ Harris agreed with Mr Rolleston’s remarks as to the necessity of closing the present cemeteries, and to provide a general cemetery open to all. He desired to point out that it would be necessary to get an adequate quantity of land, so that provision might be made for the future, Mr L. Caro enquired whether Mr Watson would bo in favor of having the general cemetery managed by a Board of Trustees representing all denominations ? Mr Watson said personally he had no objection to this being done, but ho hardly considered it desirable. Ho desired to point out that the Church of England hud no more interest in this matter than any other body. All that they bad to do was to provide their ministerial duties, taking an interest of course in seeing that the cemetery was kept in proper order and well appointed. Mr L. Caro said that be desired to point out that it was only right, if the cemetery was to bo managed by trustees, that all the religious denominations should be represented, all having an equal interest in it. Mr Roileston said that the best thing they could do was to decide upon appointing a sub-committee to consider the question of a site, and obtain all information relative thereto.

Eev. 0. Fraser would move —“ That it is desirable a Bub-committee bo appointed to enquire and report upon tho site which could be obtained for a central cemetery in the neighborhood of Christchurch, and the probable cost of tho same ; also, upon the manner in which tho necessary funds for the purpose should be raised.” Mr Caro seconded the motion. Mr J. T. Brown said that what tho committee should consider was to secure a site far enough removed from the centre of population to ensure safety from a sanitary point of view, and yet not far enough to prevent those having relatives or friends buried there from visiting tho graves. Ho might say in conclusion that he quite agreed with tho suggestions of Mr Watson, that tho management of tho central cemetery should bo vested in trustees, which would bo far more economical and efficient. In reply to a question from the Eev. Mr Penny, Tho Chairman read an extract from the Cemeteries Act with reference to tho erection of mortuary chapels. Eev. 0. Fraser thought that the ministers of each denomination should have the control of the mortuary chapels attached thereto, and therefore they should be vested in them by some means. Mr Caro said that it would be necessary for the Jewish body to have the entire and solo management of the funeral rites, and it would also be indispensable that they should have a building erected on their portion of the cemetery over which they should have entire and exclusive control. Mr Jameson said, as regarded the financial portion of the question, he might say that he should be in favor of purchasing a large silo and allowing tho payments to be spread over a series of years, ilia experience had been that tho fees for interments more than paid the cost of keeping the cemetery in order. Therefore, lie thought that they might recoup the borrowed money by the fees received from interments. The Chairman pointed cut (hat, in the Act there was no provision for borrowing money, but perhaps this difficulty might be got over. Tho resolution, after a slight discussion, was then put and carried unanimously. Mr Eolleston said that three points had arisen in his mind whilst tho discussion was going on. The first of these was the position; next, the extent of the laud'; and [thirdly, its proximity to the centre of population, by means of railway communication ; and lastly, the quality of the land. Ho had embodied these points in a resolution, which ho would suggest should bo moved. Eev. C. Fraser said ho would move the following resolution, viz.—“ That the conditions to be attached to the acquisition of a site should, as far as possible, embrace the following points: (1) Proximity to the principal centres of population, say within a radius of about eight miles from Christchurch; (2) proximity to a rad way station, securing cheapness of transit; (3) sufficiency of ground, say 200 acres; (4) a suitable quantity of soil, capable of being readily dug, and also fit for planting.” These, he should be passed as the conditions upon which the committee could work.

Sir Cracroi't Wilson moved, as an amendment, the substitution of sixteen miles for eight. The amendment was lost, and the clause as moved passed. On the second clause some discussion arose, but it ultimately passed. On the third clause miking the land to be purchased, Mr J. P. Jameson moved—“ That the words ‘ not less than 100, nor more than 200 acres,’ be inserted.”

The amendment was agreed to, and the clause passed. The fourth clause was then put and agreed to. The resolution, as a whole, having been seconded by Mr Harris, was then carried unanimously. Sir C. Wilson moved—" That the following gentlemen form the sub-committee as above, viz,, Hon. John Hall, the Mayor of Christchurch, Eeva. H. C. M. Watson and C. Fraser, Messrs llolleston and J. P. Jameson. Three to form a quorum, to report within one month.” Mr Brown seconded the motion, which was agreed 10. Rev. C. Fraser gave notice of motion for next meeting as follows;—" That in the opinion of this committee one-half of the ground secured should be reserved for an absolutely public cemetery, and the other half bo divided among the religious denominations or sects.” The committee then adjourned until Friday, 21st May, at 10.30 a.m.