BOLTON ST. CEMETERY

Evening Post, Volume CXXVII, Issue 126, 31 May 1939, Page 11

BOLTON ST. CEMETERY

IMPROVEMENT PLAN

INTEREST BY CITIZENS

There is a movement afoot among a small band of public-spirited citizens in Wellington to do something to beautify the Bolton Street Cemetery and generally restore it to fitting order. A brief inspection of the cemetery was made on Saturday, and, as a result, the group has formulated a number of suggestions.

The party made a traverse of the main paths, leading from the three entrances—Bolton Street, Sydney Street, and the top of the hill which abuts on to Anderson Park. They found that the entrance from Anderson Park is in fairly good order, maintenance work having apparently been concentrated on this part and with good results. f

It is ielt that much could be done to improve the surroundings by tree planting at vacant corners and to hide rough banks and fill in other spaces. This work, it is considered, should be put in hand without delay, in view of the approach of the tree-planting season and because of the very favourable conditions existing at the present ', time. The suggestions cover the planting of shrubs that will make a brave show of bloom, of climbing plants such as gezania, ivy, and roses for the banks, and the provision of a special area of New Zealand trees, of which there are ' already a considerable number growing well. For the corners they propose j hydrangeas of varied colours; lilies, arbutus, tamarisk, holly, laurel, hedge' plants, and others that will flower.j readily, and in the native section berry- j bearing trees and shrubs that will j [attract the birds. j i Those interested in the project con-j sider that the plots where lie the rei mains of many who came to New Zealand in the first ships call for the earliest attention. Among these is Edward Gibbon Wakefield's grave andj memorial. Near this plot it is sug-1 gested that a little grove of native shrubs would be most fitting. Much | I good work could also be done in cleaning up graves and headstones, manyj of which have decayed or have fallen, j In a number of instances inscriptions! are indecipherable. It is felt that hen the attention of relatives of early! settlers is called to the work required in this connection there will be many who will be prepared to give their assistance. A great deal of general clearing and cleaning up is needed, and this, it isj considered, should be tackled in its proper relation to the other necessary work. There is also the question of; restoring some of the oldest graves,; some of which have almost disappeared. For this work the help of the City Council records and the plan of the cemetery will be needed. There are, too, several pathways almost covered up with growth of various kinds; these pathways are the only means of access to a number of graves. | THE OLD CHAPEL. j | Another area of special interest is the Maori section containing the graves of leaders of the Native race who were loyal supporters of the British in early troublous days. The little chapel (not far from the Bolton Street entrance), a historic building because it was St. Paul's Church in the early days, is showing the urgent need of paint on the roof and walls. If the painting is put in hand at once it is felt that expense in renewal work will be saved later. Not far from the chapel a lusty specimen of the horntail borer was seen at work in an old stump, andthe presence of such a pest, constituting a menace to the chapel as to U adjacent residential wooden' buildings, is regarded as being another strong reason for immediate work on the cemetery.

These briefly are the items of work those interested consider are needed to make a transformation of this historic area. It is an area which it is felt lends itself to beautifying and improvement. It has a great deal of natural beauty. In order that the work may be started at the earliest possible moment to be in time for this year's planting season, it is hoped that the authorities concerned will give permission without delay.