NEGLECTED CEMETERY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19383, 19 July 1926, Page 12

NEGLECTED CEMETERY.

WELLINGTON'S GOD'S ACRE.

' A DESECRATED CHAPEL. WHERE BISHOP SELWYN STOOD. "What guarantee had the relatives and friends for the conservation of tho tombs and graves ... or that they would not be desecrated? . . . Was the care which the provincial and local authorities had shown in their management of the town of Wellington such as to inspire increased confidence m their management. . . V Almost prophetic words these, uttered on the night of September 16, 1873, in the Legislative Council by the Hon. Robert Stokes, says "N.J.8." in the New Zealand Times, in the course of his almost fierce denunciation of those legislators of his day who, by means of the Wellington Burial Bill, sought to close the town's original cemetery; and, nnder the Public Reserves Act, wished to remove from office the existing trustees, who had fenced it in; planted it with trees, and otherwise beautified it with walks, etc.

When Wellington was founded in 1840, and the site of its first burial ground was agreed upon, all denominations selected certain fixed areas, the public area being also defined. Bishop Selwyn consecrated the Anglican portion. Trustees were appointed and a lodge for the sexton was built. The present mortuary chapel, so much desecrated to-day, was removed to the cemetery. This mortuary chapel was Wellington's first Anglican Church, in which Bishop Selwyn and other notable early divines preached. Destruction by Trees. Time and time again attention has been publicly drawn to the imminent dange:r of unsightly pinus insignis trees causing further destruction to grave plots and memorial stones in the cemetery than they have already done, by being accidentally undermined, or by gales overt, thrown.

One originally beautiful memorial, consisting of twin lonic columns, now almost in ruins, is worth recalling. It is more than five years since its partial destruction, as a result of a huge pinus insignis crashing down in its vicinity, since when —is evidence of the City Council's indifference—it still makes them, in particular, its pathetic appeal. In its issue of April 27, 1874, the Wellington Independent said:—"Saturday, April 25, witnessed an event which has long been looked forward to by a portion of the community, the unveiling, with Masonic ceremonies, of a monument which has been erected by Captain Stafford, of the barque Camille over the last resting-place of his late friend and sailing master, Captain Tucker. . .. Cut out of solid stone procured from Ravensfield, it has been erected under the superintendence of Mr. Chandler, of Newcastle, whom Captain Stafford brought over from New South Walea for the especial purpose." An Old Sailing Master. Captain Henry Tucker was born on December 21,. 1832, and died on April 2, 1873, and Captain Edwin Stafford, who erected this fine and symbolic memorial to his old sailing master of the Camille, was Iborn at Bristol, England, in 1822, and died at Wellington on July 19, 1885. Both share the same grave; both are long forgotten! Even the fine feelings, and the ra.re sentiment which, in Captain Stafford's case, denoted his own perception of how the dead should be venerated by the living, is turned to poorest example, by no attempt whatever being made to restore one of the most beautiful memorials in Wellington's picturesque old burial ground, to even somewhat orderly shape..