Christchurch Cemeteries.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4788, 4 September 1883, Page 3

Christchurch Cemeteries.

The following report by Dr Ned will was read at the meeting of the City Counoil hut sight :— Ohriatchurch, Sept. 1, 1883. Sir, — In accordance with your instructions, I have the honour to report on the present condition of the cemeteries whioh are situated in Chriatchurcb, with special reference to the effeotß which tbey are likely to exercise upon the h«alth of the surrounding inhabitants. s ho following information I have obtained : — The Ohuroh of England burial ground comprises a block of 23 aoree, only eight aores of this, however, has been set apart for interments. From 1851 up to the end of the first quarter of the present yew, 3693 burials had been made in it. The Wesleyan Oemetery contains about three-fourths of as aore of grouud, in whioh there hare been already 638 sepultures. The Oatholio grave; yard is only about nne and a half acres in extent, the number of dead in which I have aeoertained is 640. The grounds occupied by all the cemeteries Blope towards the river Avon, above whioh they are at their highest parts elevated 10 or 12 feet. The toil consists of peat and sandy olay, and is in spots quite swampy. It has never beou drained, and consequently contains a great deal of surface water. I am informed that in digging graves the ground water is not reaohed at Bft, although in winter time the surface water has to be baled out to enable the grave diggers to reaoh this depth ; but in tome parts of the cemeteries I suspect the ground water is much higher than is here stated. To-day I found a new dug grave where the water came i to within 3ft. of the surface. from the Church of England oemetery I observed that two drains emptied into the river. One is supposed to drain surface water from the unoccupied land whioh lies to the north-west of the graves, and the other the overflow from an artesian well. Ihe water from these souroes as it falls into the river appears perfectly olear and unoontaminated. As there are no drains to catch the rain water, so as to ensure that the soil is kept dry at all seasons of the year, the prooess of decomposition will not be to rapid as it should be, and in consequence the ground will tend to become offensively saturated. The cemeteries being on a higher level than the streets which turround them, complaints have been made with regard to the soakage into the footpaths and side channels, and it has been stated that it largely consists of decomposing atimal matter. I have been unable to discover &ny such nuisanoe. The water, however, whioh issues, from this land is strongly impregnated with iron. It leaves a deposit which smells nasty and looks nasty. To prevent leakage into the footpaths from the Wesley an and Oatholio Cemeteries, the City Surveyor laid a rubble drain between the fence and the footpath, but I am not quite certain it acts as intended. I have not peroeived any unpleasant smells from these graveyards, although I have been assured by others that they have frequently observed them. It is, however, universally reoognised that the air of graveyards is prejudicial to health, and that it is not advisable on Banitary grounds that cemeteries should be situated in towns. It is stated on authority that dwelling-houses should be at the least 600 yards distant from them. The houses in Bowen street are within a few yards of the Oatholio and Wesleyan burial grounds, asd the graves are within a few feet of the foot* paths. In a short time there will probably be a large population living close to these cemeteries. I would therefore recommend that after a convenient period the further disposal cf the dead should not be permitted in the oity. I would further recommend that the planting of trees and shrubs of rapid growth should be encouraged, with the double objeot of absorbing dampness from the soil and noxious exhalations. From ff hat I am given to understand from the Banitary Committee of the City Council, the ground selected for a cemetery at the Bandhills, in addition to being very inconvenient of access, is quite unsuited for such a purpose. The soil consists of sand, and the ground water is less than 4ft from the surface. Bodies interred under such circumstances would be inconveniently slow in undergoing decomposition. For a burial ground a Bite conveniently placed on a line of railway should be seleoted, where the subsoil water is at least 10 or 12 feet from the surface, and where the ground is dry and porous, with a sufficient covering of vegetable mould to assist in neutralising the organio impurities which so plentifully exist in such places. The land, moreover, should be most efficiently drained, so as to permit of its free permeation by air to hasten decomposition of the interred bodies. In connection with this subject I would point out that probably the smells oomplained of in the vicinity of the cemeteries may have arisen from the heaps of refuse and sump f coumulations whioh are being deposited on the banks of the Avon opposite the Ohuroh of England Oemetery. This is a bad place to bury filth, and I would strongly advise the practice to be discontinued. — I am, &0., COTTETNKT NSDWIIL, Medical Officer of Health.