THE NEGLECT OF CEMETERIES.

Auckland Star, Volume XIII, Issue 3644, 15 April 1882, Page 3

THE NEGLECT OF CEMETERIES.

(To the Editor,)

Sib,—Aba visitor in this city, after an absence uf two ycarß, I was mnoh pleased at tho numerous signs of prosperity, fine buildings, etc, bui upon passing tha Cometery, waa astoniehod at. the lack of oare evinoed, and, in fact, iho utter nogloct of so important a portion of uny olty, as tho burial place of our dead. This I tako to bo a standing disgrace to one and all, and trust you will allow me space to offer one or two suggestions for its immediato removal. First, that somo influential gentlemen, sayf. P. Piorce, £M)r, kindly call a meeting of tho ministers of all chnrobes and cnapels in and around Auckland, whom he inieht ask to request a layman from each of their congregations to assist In forming a committes tor the lmpiovoment of tho cemetery, aeoond, that a house to house vlnita tlon should bo made by authorised collectors and wninh I am sure will be nobly rosoonded to by the general public, for is there a houae in which there has not been one dead, and if so how long may it to before somo loved one may be tatton? Tho different sooloties — Froomaaons, Oddfellows, Good Tomplars—l am sure would gladly contribute, and, if the collections wero set about energetically at onco, a largo amount of money might bo gathered in a fortnight. The committee oould then appoint an experienced gardener, who ehould bo empowered to employ a sninclont stuff of men, by whom the whole Cemetery could bo olearod and planted within the next three months. Wot shrubs and plants, Messrs Mpson, McDonald. Wren, and other large nurserymen, miuht oaoli be requested to spare a few, aad there are many gentlemen who would gladly order Mieir gardeners to supply, not only cuttings, but some shrubs and plants from their overstocked gardens, at thia season o( the year, and an advertisement might be inserted requosting donations howover small, from any or every garden, receivable on certain days at tho Cemutery ; and this also. I »m sure, must meet with heany response. lam awaro that if the work in commenced It will require a large snm. but lam certain that it will be found readilys and, after it has been onoo placed in order, a small subscription from aU who havo friends interred there, uathered regularly, as Orphan Homo subscriptions are, would be BUfnolent to Keep it up. Contribution boxes might be placed at each ttate, and strangera walking Ithrongh would drop their mite in to assist. I mußt apologise for the length of my letter, but the aubjec* is one that should be dear to all. I bog to hand you a trifle towords the first collection, and will gladly piy it regularly every year, wishing it were more.—l am, &0,, Vr OMAN. [We acknowledge receipt of the subscription mimed herein,—Kd. X.8,1