SOLDIERS' GRAVES

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 49, 26 August 1922, Page 11

SOLDIERS' GRAVES

WORK TO BE DONE.

Inspections of old soldiers' and historical graves, which now total -1000, have been carried out in the majority of cemeteries in the Dominion; this work being done in conjunction with inapeo tions of war graves iof the Great War (states the-report of the Internal Af-. iain Department). Where, necessary,' suitable arrangement* have been made for the maintenance <of the graves, and photographs have been .taken for record purposes. ... There are 1668 war graves in the Dominion, on approximately 400 of which permanent work has been completed by the relatives, and the Government will therefore have to provide headstones for the balance, plus those graves on which relatives desire the universal headstone to replace the existing stone. The total cemeteries containing war graves is 290, all of which have'own inspected, with ( the exception of those north of Kaikohe, North Auckland,-' and -arrangements made for upkeep - where necessary.. Pending the erection .of the universal headstones, temporary crosses (wooden) are being erected, and 1050 such crosses have been placed in position. - The universal headstones,1, which are of the same design as those being erected over the graves of New Zealand soldiers buried abroad, will be of Coromandel granite, and the contract for the supply of 1200 stones within three years has been let. The first constructional work at the Soldiers' Cemetery,' Feathers ton, where there are 182 war graves, has been completed. The headstones for Featherston will be erected before the close of 1552, and headstones will also be placed over the graves in Palmerston Nojth* Cemetery. In addition* to the two memorials, the "Cross of Sacrifioe" and the "Stone of Remembrance," to be erected in soldiers' cemeteries at Auckland, Feather - ston, Wellington, Christcburch, and J)unedin, special memorials to those members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force buried at sea/between Kgypt and New Zealand, and' between Europe and New .Zealand, will ;be erected -at Auckland,;. Wellington, ■ Christ-; church, and Dunedin, bearing the names' of the men from the .' respective ■■' provinces. The names of other soldiers buried at sea will appeal on a- memorial at. Gallipoli. On the recommendation of the N.Z.E.F. War Graves Committee, it has been decided to letter'ages on the headstones where relatives so desire.