ERECTION OF HEADSTONES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26027, 15 December 1945, Page 8

ERECTION OF HEADSTONES

ANDERSON’S BAY CEMETERY TRIAL OF NEW METHOD The present method of erecting headstones and memorials in the new portions of the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery has been reviewed by the Reserves Committee. In its report which will come before the fortnightly meeting of the City Council on Monday night, the committee states that under the existing arrangements each owner makes his own arrangements for the work which consists of the construction of a concrete base at the head of the grave and the erection of a memorial stone. This method, the report continues, has several disadvantages, principally (a) The individual foundation becomes a source of danger when later burials take place; (b) some owners do not construct memorials, thus leaving a gap which is difficult to maintain owing to growth of grass and weeds that cannot be mown with the remainder of the plot; (c) grass and weeds grow up between the headstone foundations; and (d) the headstones are constructed at different levels, thus presenting an irregular and haphazard appearance. The committee states that with a view to overcoming these difficulties, the superintendent of reserves has been authorised, as a trial, to lay out a block in the cemetery with the concrete foundation for the headstone laid in one piece down the centre of this block and finished in smooth plaster ready for the erection of the headstone. The work of construction will be let by tender. A similar method is adopted in the soldiers’ section and has proved most satisfactory. It is proposed to increase the price of plots in this block to meet the actual extra expenditure but the addition will not be ascertainable until the tenders are received. The Finance Committee will report in connection with the same matter that' an urgent request has been received from the Reserves Department for the provision of additional finance to enable the department to complete necessary levelling work at the cemetery for the purpose of providing additional burial space. A commencement on this work has been made by Messrs Contract Cultivation, Ltd., on an hourly basis and as the work develops it appears desirable from an economic point of view to complete the levelling in one operation. The funds provided in the current year’s allocations are insufficient for this purpose and a further amount of £4OO will be required. The committee will recommend that a supplementary vote of £4OO be approved.