BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25303, 1 October 1947, Page 10

BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY

Sir, —I express indignation at the City Council’s plans to make a playground of our cemeteries. What next? What an outrageous insult to our pioneers of blessed memory! My grandparents, the late Thomas and Mary Wigley (nee Moorhouse) are among those buried in Barbadoes street. I am their only descendant in Christchurch, and their grave to me is sacred. I had hoped to be buried with them some day. Why are the plots and headstones not the property of the families who paid for them? Auckland has cemeteries in the heart of the city much older than ours, but has no thought of desecrating them. Our council is hopeless—judging by the slum-like apartment houses, insanitary backyards, snd other neglected conditions. It seems efficient only in squabbling about the Mayoralty and grabbing suburban areas. Rouse up, sirs, give your brains a racking Or sure as fate we’ll send you packing. —Yours, etc., MARY WIGLEY. September 30, 1947.

Sir, —So the Anglican Church is handing over to the City Council the control of its diocesan cemetery and also the funds belonging to it. Has it the power to do this? I wonder what the owners of plots think of this action. I hope the matter will be brought up at the session of Synod this month, and thoroughly thrashed out, so that the position may be made clear.—Yours, etc., ANGLICAN. September 30, 1947.

Sir, —The Christchurch City Council has decided to take over the Church of England portion of the Barbadoes street cemetery and the Presbyterian cemetery at Addington. There are nine tombstones in the Presbyterian cemetery at Addington, which have been erected to my relatives. I emphatically protest against the removal of any of these tombstones. If the City Council wants two playgrounds for children there is land all around Christchurch which it can purchase for the purpose. I would like to know why the Christchurch City Council is not taking over the Roman Catholic portion of the Barbadoes street cemetery.—Yours, etc., NINE TOMBSTONES. September 30, 1947.