OLD CITY CEMETERIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19032, 1 June 1925, Page 11

OLD CITY CEMETERIES.

SYMONDS STREET AREAS. HISTORY „AN 0 FURPOSES. THE STATUTORY RESTRICTIONS. NOT AVAILABLE FOR BUILDING. Many areas have been suggested as a site for the proposed civic centre and those who arc in favour of the Market Square adjoining the Town Ilall being utilised for the erection of commercial buildings have been at some pains to indicate an area capable of being developed as a civic square when the ratepavers of the city decide that such a feature is necessary. The members of the City West Ratepayers' Association were strong in their opposition to the ,establishment of a civic square -with administrative building and art gallery on the Market Square. At a meeting last Wednesday the chairman, Mr. A. G. Jarrett, stated that the proper situation for the civic square of the future would be in Symotids Street, adding that the sites of the old cemeteries would fall into the hands of the City Council in the course of a fewyears at practically no cost. It was clear from his remarks that lie contemplated the erection of buildings on portion of the cemetery property, but a perusal of the Act which vested these lands in the City Council shows that the council -is specifically prevented from encumbering the property except a small portion of the area on. the corner of Karangahape Road and Symonds Street for which special provision is made. Ibis would seem to indicate that the employment of a large area as a civic square is. out oE the question. The Symonds Street cemeteries aro nowi definitely under the control of the City Council arid-a short recital of the history of the properties may prove of interest. They represent the burial-places of five distinct denominations —the Anglican and several non-Episcopal Churches on the eastern side of the street, and the Hebrew, Presbyterian and Roman Catholic on the western side. These cemeteries were dedicated in the very early days of Auckland, but as the city grew around them it was considered best, in the interests of public health, to regulate burials and after a certain time to close them altogether. Closing of the Cemeteries. By an Order-in-Council issued in 1885 the cemeteries were closed as from September 3, 1886, hut under the Cemeteries Act of 1882 the burial of ay/ husband, wife, parent, child, brother or sister of any deceased person, provided they were interred in the same piece of ground as that in which their relatives rested, was permitted.This privilege was availed of up to the end of 1908 when the Auckland (Symonds Street) Cemeteries Act was passed definitely closing the cemeteries and vesting the property in the Auckland City Council as from December 31, 1909. It was, however, provided that any survivor of a person already buried there who at. December 31, 1909, had attained the age of 50 years and was within the degrees of relationship of husband, wife, parent, child, brother or sister to that person could bo buried in the same plot of ground with that person. It can readily be seen that any person included in that proviso would now be at least 65 years of age so that the time is not far distant when burials at Symonds Street will definitely ceasq. The future control and use of the property was contemplated and provided for iri the same Act. In referring to the whole of the Symonds Street cemeteries the Act laid it down that the City Council " shall not make use thereof for any purpose except in maintaining and keeping up the said part of the said cemetery as a public reserve, nor shall the said body corporate, charge, encumber or alienate such lands, or any part thereof, by mortgage, sale, lease, or otherwise.'' The One Exception. Exception, however, was made in regard to tho eastern portion of tho Jewish Cemetery on the corner of Karangahape Road and Symonds Street. This area of 2 roods 21.67 perches was to be held and maintained in good order as a public reserve open to the public, and by a further clause the council was empowered to use this area " for the purpose of the erection, maintenance and use thereon of pnblic baths and as a storage reservoir for water." No baths were ever erected on the land but a small reservoir was erected for the storage of salt water for street-watering purposes. In recent years the City Council has beautified this corner and it is now one of the most attractive" spots in the city. Provision is also made in the Act for the preservation find maintenance of the graves, stones and monuments in the cemeteries and the right, title or interest of any person in the burial places, headstones, etc., together with the right of entry, is conserved, showing that it was not contemplated at the time of tho passing of the Act that the property should bo regarded as anything but a burial ground.