AN HISTORIC CEMETERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19495, 26 November 1926, Page 12

AN HISTORIC CEMETERY

AREA AT JUDGE'S BAY.

OFFER TO THE CITY COUNCIL. GENERAL SYNOD TO CONFIRM. A proposal that the old St. Stephen's Cemetery at Judge's Bay, now in a very untidy state, although containing the graves of many notable early pioneers of Auckland, should pass into the possession of the city was made at the meeting of the City Council last evening. The city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, reported that he had met members of the General Trust Board of the Church of England and discussed tho matter. Glanville Terrace, portions of which were still unformed, had been inspected as well as the cemetery at the end of Judge's Street, and property belonging to the board fronting Judge's Bay and Judge's Bay approach, containing in all approximately If acres. The board had proposed that it should transfer to the council the If acres as a public reserve, as well as tho cemetery, provided the council would undertake to put in order and maintain the cemetery as an historic site, within a reasonable time lay out the area so transferred and form, kerb, channel and metal the two portions of Glanville Terrace at present unformed and accept dedication of the terrace as a public street. The engineer mentioned that the offer was subject to confirmation by the General Synod at its meeting next August. He added that the cemetery was at present not in a very good state but contained St. Stephen's Chapel, which was quite historic as it was there that the constitution of the Church of England in Now Zealand was ratified by Bisnop Seiwyn. The property proposed to be transferred to the council would make a very tine addition to the Parnell Park. He recommended the council to agree to the proposed arrangement. His estimate for tho street work proposed was £2200. Mr. C. F. Bennet said the engineer was to bo congratulated on the outcome of these negotiations and if the proposals were brought to fruition it would a proper setting for the historic building. The church property had a frontage of about 400 ft. to Judge's Bay, and if the arrangement were completed the council would gain possession of the beautiful crescent slope above the bay from Parnell Park to the Parnell Baths.

Continuing, Mr. Bennett quoted a letter from Archdeacon Simkin, secretary to the General Trust Board, in which it was stated that the proposals contained in the engineer's report met with the general approval of the Board, with one exception. The board could not recommend the General Synod to agree to a proposal which would take out of the control of the Church a building of such sacred and historic associations as St. Stephen's Chapel. The responsibility for the maintenance and upkeep of this building was one, in the opinion of the board, which should be borne by the Church. That the cemetery and the surrounding land, the former containing the graves of many of Auckland's illustrious pioneers, should form part of the Parnell Park was a suggestion which the board would feel justified in recommending the General Synod to accept.

The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, charactersed this as a very fine scheme. Tbproperty, when cleaned up and treated on park lines, would prove a very fine addition to the locality. The recommendations of the engineer were adopted.