BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY PLANS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31115, 19 July 1966, Page 1

BARBADOES STREET CEMETERY PLANS

Public opinion on the future of the Barbadoes street cemetery will be tested by the City Council for a month. If there is no strong opposition to proposals put to the council last evening, then the parks and recreation committee will recommend their confirmation next month.

Recommendations in a report by the Director of Reserves (Mr H. G. Gilpin) were: All broken headstones and those where inscriptions have disappeared or are indecipherable should be removed. All useless railings enclosing graves, all kerbings and other masonry, provided they are not an integral part of the memorial over any grave, should be removed. This will not apply to graves receiving regular attention by next-of-kin. After the removal of broken headstones, railings and kerbing, the grounds throughout the cemetery should be levelled where possible, graded and sown in lawn. Where practicable more ornamental trees, but not stiff and sombre conifers, should be planted. 1960 Burial Although the cemetery was old, possibly the first in Christchurch, the last interment in it was as late as June, 1960, Mr Gilpin said. For the 10 years before that there were only nine burials and seven were of ashes only. “As there have been these burials in recent years and as a great many of the next-of-kin are residents of Christchurch and its environs, complete removal of headstones could not be given effect to for many years," he said. “No doubt special legislation could be passed to permit removal, but this, for a number of reasons, would not be desirable.

“It must also be recognised that buried in the cemetery are many notable people whose names are associated with the early history and development of the city and province.” Hedge Removal After his recommendations on the grounds, Mr Gilpin said that the Barbadoes street and Cambridge terrace frontages were mainly defined by hawthorn hedges. Along Barbadoes street the ground level of the cemetery was approximately 15 inches above the pavement. He recommended that the hedges be removed and a low concrete block wall only high enough to retain the bank bf constructed. The estimated cost of the work was £3OOO. At the. north end of the western part of the cemetery there was an area in which there had been no burials and consideration should be given to its disposal, Mr Gilpin continued. There was also an area behind the sexton’s home in which there had been no interments. A children’s playground had been suggested within the area, but that was not considered suitable. He recommended that it be retained as it would be an ideal site for a central depot to replace the one at present at the rear of the municipal chambers. Mayor’s Support “If we could get the public behind us the cemetery could become something beautiful and an asset for Christchurch,” said the Mayor (Mr G. Manning), who mentioned cities that had made parks and gardens out of old cemeteries,

while retaining the historic value. Crs. M. R. Carter and H. E. Denton spoke against the proposal to have a council yard in the area. There were about 5000 pioneers buried in the cemetery, Cr. R. H. Stillwell said, and it would be sacrilege to bulldoze some of the beautiful headstones that remained. He thought the reserves committee had reached a good solution. All the proposals envisaged in the report were in accordance with the law, Cr. P. J. Skellerup said.