THE HAWERA CEMETERY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 5, 28 April 1880, Page 2

THE HAWERA CEMETERY.

In all countries, and in all times, the graves of departed friends and relatives have been looked Tipon as sacred ground ; and the higher the civilisation, the greater the amount of care bestowed upon them, in proof of which might be instanced some of the public cemeteries, in Great Britain, France, Italy, and" Germany. "What a wonderful difference between the nicely-kept flower-beds to be seek in any of the principal cities of Europe and the rude bark coffin of the Australian aboriginals ! It was a matter of some surprise to us, a few days ngo, whilst paying a visit to the Hawera Cemetery, to find some horses and cattle grazing therein ; and it was quite painful to observe the desolate look which the place presented. There was no fence enclosing the portion set apart, for tbe present, as a graveyard, although Mr. Carroll was busily engaged fencing in the seven or eight acres of the reserve which has been leased to him. There is a Maori track through the centre of the two acres set apart for burial purposes, and so long as that continues to be used, it will not be an easy matter to keep tbe' place is. nice order, even if it

were fenced in to-morrow, and gates erected as well. Going into the portion enclosed by Mr. Carroll, we noticed a horse-track, which we were informed was also used by the natives living at the Matangarara pa. Close to Mr. Carroll's outer fence there is a gazetted road, which is a direct continuation of that leading through the township, and generally known as High-street. It would be an easy matter to make either a bridle or cart track along that route ; the former would only cost about i>ls to £25, whilst the latter could probably be formed at an outlay of about £'50 or £60. This would satisfy the natives, we have no doubt, and would be the means of doing away with the two tracks at present in use. Indeed, we have been informed that so anxious were the natives, some time back, to have the line of road indicated formed, that they offered to supply the requisite labor themselves, if the Government would supply the necessary material, and doubtless they would still be willing to do the same. This is a matter that the Town Board and Road Board should take up without much deWy ; and if it is fairly represented to the Government, a large portion of the required expenditure will probably be forthcoming. At all events, the Cemetery, cannot be allowed to continue in its present desolate-looking state, aud if our local bodies will not take steps to properly fence the ground in and keep it in order, then the public must take the matter into its own hands, and do it by means of public subscription. We trust, however, there will be no necessity to do so, but that our Town and Road Boards will co-operate for the purpose of removing a stigma from the town and from the district.