ONEHUNGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7660, 10 June 1886, Page 3

ONEHUNGA.

PUBLIC MEETING ON THE CEMETERY QUESTION. A largely-attended meeting of the burgesses of Onehunga was held in the Public Hall on Tuesday night, to consider the purchasing of a cemetery site. There were present on the platform the Mayor (Dr. W. G. Scott), Messrs. Yates, Sheldrick, Tapp, James, Robinson, Hills, and the Town Clerk. The MaTOK, on being voted to the chair, said the local body had for some time past been trying to purchase a cemetery site, but without avail. The Government had given different sections, viz., the One-Tree Hill reserve, which was withdrawn in favour of a Mangere reserve, which was also withdrawn, Hardington's farm being substituted for it. Sir G. M. O'Rorke, after » deal of labour, obtained the latter site because it was required by the borough, and in his telegrams from Wellington he informed them that the Government could not grant another site, nor money to purchase one. He (the speaker) considered, as the law provided that no new oemeteries should be opened in the borough, that the easier matter would be to revise that particular section debarring the same. If that meeting considered that the site already given was not useful, there were others to be purchased, viz., 7 acres offered by Mr. Courtney, and another piece of 14 acrea offered by Mr. Moran for £900, adjoining the Gasworks, but unfortunately that would necessitate a loan of £1000. The one offered by Mr. Courtney was, he thought, the most suitable, being clear and level and close at hand. A third piece of seven acres near Mr. Stevenson's wae offered for £180, but the objection Wfte it was in a very wild state. Seeing the difficulty that might be felt in getting a vote of the burgesses, he thought the meeting should give an opinion as to which site should be purchased.

The Kev. Mr. Miller said he was under the impreseion that 47 acres had been given to the borough for rifle-range, recreation ground, and cemetery. The two former were used for the purpose given, but the latter (cemetery) site was strongly objected to ; and why ? He noticed a vast improvement in the town the last two years ; the streets had been lighted with gas, and good roads and footpaths were being made; and he thought, if money was to be raised, it should be for the purpose of further improving the town. Under the ciroumstances, and having already a cemetery site, he would move, " That, instead of borrowing any sum ot money, we use the site granted, and that the Government aocept the responsibility." The motion was seconded by Mr. Root. Mr. Goldsborough said that at a former meeting this vexed cemetery question had been fully discuesed, and it wae agreed that the site given was a very unsuitable one. (A Voice : " No.") He said yes, and urged them to provide for the future by looking forward. Near the site given they had already a woollen factory and a tannery, and it was very probable other industries would be established near the same place, and if a cemetery must be had let it be outside the borough, as the Act provided. Under the present difficulties in the Waikomiti cemetery site, he considered that numerous applications would be received from Auckland I people for interment, and therefore if money was raised to purchase a site, it would be easily paid back. He would move as an amendment, "That this meeting ia of opinion that Moran's section is the most luicable, and that it be purchased."

Mr. Yates said about two years ago, when he took a seat in the Council, two great questions were raised—the extra rate and a cemetery site. The former was easily dispensed with, but the latter, although the Council had used their best endeavours to bring it to a climax, was unsuccessful. Hβ had consulted men of high standing, and was informed that the site given could not be used as a cemetery. The Council should have been present at a meeting held at Epsom, and urged that the One-tree Bill reserve should be used, and that a petition be prepared and forwarded to Government, praying for the same. He was opposed to purchasing a cemetery site out of the burgeseeß, money, and had he not occupied the chair (in the Mayor's absence) at a former Council meeting it would have been carried, but his casting vote saved the burgesses being saddled with such an expense. The Council had received a telegram from Sir G. M. O'Rorkb, informing them that he could not ask Government for a sum of money to purchase a cemetery site, as his argument was, when he got the 47 acres it was for a cemetery. Various sites had been offered, and he (the speaker) thought that a poll should be taken to borrow £1000, and purchase Moran's 14 acres of suitable land. Two acres could be fenced off to meet present requirements, and the rent accruing from the balance would more than provide interest, and he would move, if Mr. Goldsborough would withdraw hie amendment, that "In the opinion of this meeting, the Mayor should take apoll of the ratepayer*, in conformity with the Municipal Corporations Aot, 1876, to levy a special rate of one penny in the £ to secure the sum of £1000 from the Government, to purchase a cemetery site, interest and sinking fund to be paid out of the income of recreation reserve."

Mr. Jackson, who rose and seconded the motion, said, haviag been mixed up with the cemetery question, and Slaving been alluded to that night, he should reply. There was no doubt that ten acres bad been granted for a cemetery site, but legislation prevented it being used, and when Sir F. Whltaker was applied to he raised great objection to it being used for the purpose, as he considered that in time the apringa would be affeoted, and in winter it would be impossible to dig a grave five feet in depth, owing to the flow of water. During his (the speaker's) term as mayor he had taken legal advice from Messrs. Hesketh and Richmond, who stated that, under no circumstances, conld the aite granted be used for a cemetery. Mr. Robinson criticised the speech of the Mayor very severely, and was of opinion that he attended for no other purpose than to assist in violating the Act. He should oppose that very strongly. Mr. Rout said it appeared to him the burgesses were in a position to use the site granted, and he thought it better to use it than saddle the ratepayers with a heavy debt. Mr. Sheldrick also spoke on the advisability of securing a site rather than violate the Act. On the amendment for the Id rate being put to the meeting, it waa carried by an overwhelming majority. The meeting then terminated at eleven o'clock with the usual vote of thanks to the chairman.