WEST TAIERI CEMETERY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18754, 6 January 1923, Page 6

WEST TAIERI CEMETERY.

TO TUB EDITOR. ?IR,-- Tile deplorable state of the West Taieri Cemetery has so grieved mo that I fool it, is time something was .done to put the place in repair. As a person enters Iho gate ho wades knee deep in grass. Many aged people are debarred from visiting the graves of their relatives during this wet season, as the grass is very high, and is usually hanging with wafer. Standing at tho gate-one sees, on looking around, *tho tops of beautiful marble and granite stones that are hidden by broom, thistles, and uncut grass. Some of the graves have deep rabbit burrows; others after a burial lie for weeks and months unlinishod. and it is quite common to see a grave sunk 12 or 18 inches. Nobody seems to feel it his duty to attend to this work. The charge to <lig a grave is now £2. Surely at (bat price the Cemetery Board should see that the grave is levelled when the earth settles. Tho hedge at tho side of the cemetery is in an unseemly condition, not having been cut for many years. I have been wondering if anv of your readers could inform me end many others interested how this condition of affairs could be remedied. T always try to keep my section in order, but the surroundings seem to lau"h at it. They remind too of Solomon’s words, “I went by the field of the slothful, and, 10, it was all grown over with thorns.” A sculotor who was working in the cemetery a few weeks ago told mo that 1 1 is work took him to many country cemeteries in Central Otago and as far south as Clinton, and lie had never seen one so neoleeted and overgrown with broom, etc., as West 'laicri. Yet if a little money were spent, on it it could no doubt be made one of the most beautiful snots in which to lay the remains of our departed friends. Will yon please answer the following questions: — 1. Who appoints the members of a cemetery board, and arc they appointed for life? 2. What are the duties of a cemetery board? (a) Should it not endeavour to keep the paths passable? (b) Should it, see lluiti the graves arc filled in? (c) Fhould it, see that broom. Canadian thistles, and oilier noxious w orals are cut out? (d) Should it arrange to have the grass cut? 3. To whom is (be board responsible? 4. From what source does the board derive its revenue? 5. Should an annual balance sheet be presented lo the public and to sectionholders, showing what the board has done with llie money received? I am sure Hint the other seciion-liolders. like myself, would be willing to give an nnmuj subscription if it were necessary to keep the cemetery in order.---! am, etc., Douiii.e Pr.OT. [To answer our correspondent’s questions would necessitate a transcription of the provisions of (he Cemeteries Act.— Hd. 0.D.T.1