SHEEP TO GRAZE IN DERELICT CEMETERY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30065, 25 February 1963, Page 7

SHEEP TO GRAZE IN DERELICT CEMETERY

Last resting place of Ohoka’s early pioneers, a derelict cemetery will now be used to graze sheep over graves, identification. of which has been lost with the passage of time. Popularly known as the “Mandeville shingle pit,” the burial ground must be maintained as a public reserve in perpetuity. An adjoining property owner, Mr J. Sanders, of Bradleys road, Ohoka, has been appointed honorary, unpaid custodian by the Eyre County Council. Last Used in 1925 Neglected and overgrown, the closed five-acre cemetery, which saw its last funeral in 1925, was described as “just an area way out nowhere” by the county engineer (Mr G. A. Hansen). In his opinion the area could easily be cleared with the bulldozer and used for wintering stock, he told the council. Under section 78 of the Cemeteries Act the council would not be allowed to

lease, sell or divert it to any other purpose than that of a cemetery. The only legal way open was to appoint a person to maintain the public reserve by his own means, he said. Cr. C. H. Tyson asked how long ago anybody was put there and Cr. C. M. Harman said he attended the last funeral in 1925. The burial, including the headstone, cost £BO, he added. No Headstones When he went through with the grader he found one lot of three graves together, fenced off, and another- smaller grave also fenced, said Mr Hansen. “There were no headstones —nothing.” There was a plan of the cemetery but they did not know where the graves were, said Cr. J. E. Mannering. He was not altogether happy with the idea of allowing a landowner the use of the land by appointnig him custodian. Personal Links Unlikely

It was. reasonable to graze sheep on the cemetery to keep it tidy, said Cr. D. J. Blakely. Cr. G. Ward said it was un-

likely there would be any personal connexions with the cemetery still remaining in the district. “You never know when someone may come from Australia looking for grandma, or something,” said Clr. Blakely. Area To Be Cleared Cr. Mannering suggested the engineer be instructed to, clear the cemetery and take all possible precautions to avoid disturbing existing graves. Cr. Ward: It’s the sensible thing to do. Cr. Harman: The cemetery is vested in the council. Why they ever started one there Heaven only knows. I don’t think there will be any arguments about it.

Woman Injured.— When a station waggon and a car collided at the comer of Bealey and Fitzgerald avenues about 5.55 pm. on Saturday Mrs Bertha Minogue, of 132 Emmett street, Shirley, suffered leg and head injuries. She was treated at the Christchurch Hospital. Both vehicles were badly damaged about the front.