THE LITTLE CHURCHYARD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22805, 12 August 1937, Page 15

THE LITTLE CHURCHYARD

Sir, —Taking a walk on Sunday after-, noon, wo wandered into Parnell Park and down into Judge's Bay, and, were surprised and delighted to see what reminded ns of a little bit of Cornwall at Home. There, 011 the beach, were boats crowded together, and cliffs and trees, and my friend, who is also English and who lives in the district, remarked how she loved this little bay and the little old churchyard close by. Then we walked up the path leading to the little churchyard, but what a dreadfully sad sight-met my gaze, for here is one of the most important cemeteries in the North Island, frightfully neglected and just left to rot away. How terribly pathetic it all looked, so desolate, sp sadly forgotten. I tried to conjure up in my mind if it was a storm or vandalism, or what, that had smashed and battered some of the headstones and protecting rails round the graves, and when I road some of the names on the stones I realised that hero lny some of the founders of Auckland; tho bravo nnc'l wonderful pioneers who laid tho foundation to make Auckland what it is to-day. I write this ,in the hope that some good people will answer the call of the little church and cemetery on the hill and preserve it for the generations to come as a monument and a reminder that here are some of the bravo who battled in tho early days to help to make New Zealand whatsit is to-day, and who laid a stone in the foundation of»this Empire of ours. A country -without tradition is a hopeless sort of place, and so we build our tradition by helping to preserve history.. And these words occur to me: — "\e who stand by, the dead have a right to speak! " ' .Violet D'abcx; Jones.