THE CEMETERY QUESTION.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 937, 14 February 1890, Page 30

THE CEMETERY QUESTION.

THE KARORI SITE SELECTED. The Town Clerk reported to the City Council on Monday that several offers of sites for a new cemetery had been received. Messrs Baker Bros renewed their offer of portion of the Brooklyn estate (about 25 acres) for LISOO. The offers by Messrs Bethune and Co. of part of the Trellisich estate, 50 acres, within 5 minutes’ walk of Crofton ; and by Mr 11. Howorth of part of the Ngatoto block, were also renewed. The Melrose proprietary forwarded an offer of two sites —the first of 50 acres adjacent to Island Bay, at L 55 per acre, and the other of the Central Valley, about 100 acres, at L 35 per acre. Special attention was directed to the last-men-tioned site, which starts about 2-f miles from the Post Office. It was described as a valley sloping toward the sea, with no property owned by other persons in sight, so that there could be no question about drainage. A stream runs through the valley, which, it was pointed out, might easily be made ornamental. A road would be r-equired for a distance of about 30 chains to connect with Russell-terrace, at an estimated cost (by the City Surveyor) of LIOOO, toward which the Melrose proprietors would give L 250. Messrs McKenzie Bros., proprietors of the Karori site, wrote, with reference to their offer of a site, stating that since their last communication considerable interest had been shown by Karori residents in obtaining better means of communication with the Thorndon end of the city, and preliminary surveys were being made by Mr Anderson, C.E., with the object of endeavouring to get a loan under the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act to make a road to Karori from Thorndon, and also to make the Polhill’s gully-road. Seven routes had been laid off from the Karori deviation to the head of the Tinakori road, although only five were worthy of being entertained. Three of them reduced the distance to Karori by about a quarter of a mile, with grades of 1 in 19. Another route (No. 5) would complete three-fourths of the proposed Polhill’s gully-road, and would be wide'enough to admit of. a tram line being laid. The cost c-f this road would be L3OOO, and the cost of the three first alluded to was respectively L 3500, L2BOO, and L3IOO. . Messrs McKenzie had further ascertained that No. 5 was likely to fall in with the views of the

Botanic Governors, a 3 part of a road scheme through the gardens long contemplated by them. The Council considered the matter in committee, and eventually reported the following resolution, which was carried on the voices :—“ That a site for a cemetery he taken at the property of Messrs McKenzie Bros, at Karori ; that the price to be offered for the property be L4OOO, subject, however, to satisfactory arrangements being comp eted for the making of a road between Polhill-gully and Baker’s-hill as an approach to the said site, toward the cost of which the Council will contribute L 750.” The size of the block is, we understand, 95 acres. Councillor Andeison gave notice to move at next meeting, That the Cemetery Trustees be requested to hand over the reserves [of the present cemetery] for a recreation or playground for the city.