AN OVERGROWN GRAVEYARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14345, 15 April 1910, Page 6

AN OVERGROWN GRAVEYARD.

SYMONDS-STREET IMPROVEMENTS

A transformation is now being effected at the Symonds-street cemetery. For years this burying ground has been a reproach to citizens owing .to the overgrown condition into which it had been allowed -to fall, but the City Council has initiated a work which should go far to remove this blot on the* fair = name 'of Auckland. The caretaker of the ceme-. tery (Mr. B. T. Black well) and five men ; commenced .a. few days v ago, under the: supervision of Mr. T. Pearson, curator of city reserves, to clear away the undergrowth. Operations ; have been commenced near the caretaker's • cottage, and good progress has been made, but it seems impossible that the men can do anything but a .small part of the cemetery in the time (three months) for which ' they have nominally been put on. The Council will, no doubt, sanction whatever; expenditure is found to be necessary to tidy up the whole, cemetery. «„ _._-;...'..„_:.- .\ . ;,

The object of the men who are engaged on the work of clearing is to leave the graves tidy without destroying anything to which the sentiments of the friends of the departed may cling. The young oak trees are being removed, and the blackberry and other noxious growths cut down. The ground is then being dug over and will be sown in grass. All headstones which have. fallen are ; being reerected, And where anything, even if it be but a few shells, is found on the grave it is carefully replaced after the ground is cleared. : ■ •.■':''■■.^--y-.-. : .■.-'.'. 'r^'-.-U V'.-U,.."'. j

It is gratifying that the friends of some of the dead have been encouraged by the Council's work to make an : effort to restore the graves, and already, in the portion of the cemetery cleared,;men are employed painting some of. the railings and washing tombstones. '.'! V

The curator hopes, after the cemetery is put in order, to be able to improve the gully below by forming , paths, making a few rustic bridges, and - forming' a few shallow ponds. , , p '. ....-.'■