PORT CHALMERS CEMETERY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21774, 13 October 1932, Page 6

PORT CHALMERS CEMETERY

REMOVAL OF TREES A DIVIDED ISSUE The prevailing topic.of discussion at Port Chalmers at the present time is the question whether or not the trees at the cemetery should .be cut down. Since the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening, when, on the motion of Cr Anderson, it was decided by six votes to four to cut down all the pinus insignis trees skirting the cemetery, the matter has aroused a great (leal of interest at the port, and. public opinion is very sharply divided on the issue.The council is separated into two factions. One of these, headed by the Mayor (Mr John Watson), is strongly opposed to the trees being cut down, rnd the other, led . by Cr Anderson, holds a directly opposite view. ■ A further development has now taken place in the shape of a notice of motion given by Cr Luun—‘‘That all resolutions carried at the last meeting of the council in reference to the cutting down and removal of all trees in and about the cemetery be and are herewith rescinded.” This notice has evidently been given to counteract the operations of the General Committee, which apparently issued instructions after the mooting on Monday night for the immediate removal of the trees, and ns a result of this four councillors have signed a notice calling for a special meeting to bo held 1.0-morrow night. AESTHETIC v. PRACTICAL. The argument is the old one of the aesthetic versus the practical, although in this case the latter has a touch of tin sentimental, and from observations made by a Daily Times reporter who visited the cemetery yesterday it appears that it is hardly necessary to take such a drastic step as to cut down ail of the trees. Councillor Anderson's chief argument in favour of the removal of the trees was that they were causing damage to the graves and tombstones through falling cones and wandering roots. In several instances the glass cases enclosing artificial wreaths on the graves have been broken, and although most of these also contain a quantity of pine needles there is little to suggest that vney have been broken by tailing cones. The roots of trees on the ehst side of the Cemetery, however, have definitely bad the effect in some cases of cracking the concrete work of the graves. The damage resulting from this source appears, aowever, to be confined to that portion of the cemetery, as on the other sides the treos arc too far from the graves for their roots to have much effect, and it is only reasonable to suppose that before graves are difg in those portions something could be done to cut back the roots. It is also a question whether it would be necessary, to prevent the roots from •spreading, to cut down the trees which

at present arc menacing tbc concrete work, since root-pruning has given very satisfactory results, and there seems to ho no reason why it should not be carried out in this case.

The cutting down of the tress would no doubt be a very drastic step, since they provide the only shelter to the cemetery from the prevailing north-east winds, and, according to the Mayor, were planted for that special purpose (50 years ago. Their removal would also detract very much from the appearance of the cemetery, which, without them, would be a very bleak and desolate spot indeed. Another argument for the cutting down of the trees is that a considerable amount of scrub or similar material is necessary for the work of reclaiming Mussel Bay, and it is contended that this could most suitably be obtained from the cemetery, but the Mayor stated yes terday that there was any amount of such material available without resorting to the cemetery. There the position stands at present, and the next development may be expected after the meeting to-morrow night, which, it is expected, will be very lively.