Occasional Newsletter No.3
June 2004

In this issue:
Wellington - An echo from history
Dunedin - Conservation Plans
Action in Lawrence
Christchurch
West Coast Concerns.
Cromwell Old Cemetery
New Zealand Society of Genealogists
Port Chalmers Cemetery
Stories in Stone

Wellington – An Echo From History
Back in the 1850’s a civic minded family by the name of Stace gifted to the community a burial ground at Pauatahanui, north of Wellington. Just off the Paekakariki Hill Road access to the land is now only possible through the road that leads to the St Alban¹s Church.

The land was owned and administered by a trust with some exclusive constraints about who might be interred in the cemetery. Unfortunately the expectation appears to have been that the trustees would live forever and no provision was made for the ownership of the land when the last of the named trustees died.

All the burial plots were allocated to members of the Stace fairly or pre-purchased by other persons who were non-Roman Catholics. Many of the pioneer families are represented in the burials that have taken place but with no further income from the sale of plots there is no money available for continuing maintenance.

The historic significance of the cemetery is recognised and the need to preserve and protect the site is agreed. The Pauatahanui Residents Association and the Porirua City Council have begun consultation with a wide range of interested parties with a view to having the Council take ownership of the site through a Private Bill of Parliament.

The intention is that should the process be completed the Council will take responsibility for oversight of maintenance, with the help of local volunteers, securing and protecting the records and facilitating the necessary ongoing administration. top of page

Dunedin - Conservation Plans
Work has begun on the preparation of the conservation plans for Dunedin’s historic Northern and Southern Cemeteries. The principals of Musecape, Chris and Margaret Betteridge, have spent a week in the city recently doing a preliminary survey of the sites and making contact with stakeholders.

Chris and Margaret expressed enthusiasm for the task before them and a measure of delight at the high level of co-operation they were receiving.
The first draft of the Conservation Plan will be available for public discussion and response later in the year before the final form will be presented to the City Council.

In their opinion, the two cemeteries are items of national significance to New Zealand. In making this assessment, both Chris and Margaret consider that the landscape setting of the cemeteries within the Town Belt, the decorative quality of the late Victorian and Edwardian carved monuments and ironwork and the rich record of Dunedin's family history to be significant.

In addition to the many hours spent on site in the cemeteries, the consultants visited the major archives and libraries in Dunedin seeking out documentary information and historical photographs of the cemeteries. The information they gathered will help to analyse why the cemeteries are important to Dunedin, and to the people of New Zealand.

Both Chris and Margaret were impressed by the strength of the archive collections of local history, and by the willingness of staff to assist them.

They were keen to point out that the public perception of cemeteries as "dead landscapes" has undergone a radical rethink in Australia where cemeteries are increasingly valued as rich resources of documentary evidence of living history.

Both Margaret and Chris acknowledged the work of Dunedin City Council for managing the cemeteries and their settings and were impressed with the level of public support for the work of the HCCTNZ. top of page

Action in Lawrence
The town of Lawrence, once a centre of major gold discoveries and extensive mining, straddles the highway between Dunedin and Queenstown and is today often a comfort and coffee stop for travellers.
Not surprisingly there are significant historically interesting graves in the local cemetery. Local interest is high and plans are in hand for cemetery tours.

A willing and able force of volunteers drawn from a wide range of interests has determined to restore the dignity and appearance of the cemetery, to conserve the fabric, and its historical links with the region. top of page

Christchurch
A declaration that ‘cemeteries are an important part of our city’s landscape’ reflects a positive attitude to the historic and social value placed on the twelve cemeteries controlled by the Christchurch City Council.

As with all old burial grounds the Barbadoes Street cemetery, the oldest in the city, has suffered from vandalism but the local Preservation Society has actively cared for the grounds for many years and undertaken some restoration of headstones.

Local volunteers are assisting the Council also at the Linwood Cemetery and the Sydenham Cemetery has been adopted by the Somerfield Residents Association. top of page

Addington Historic Cemetery
Addington Cemetery was established in 1858, when the Scottish Presbyterians of St Andrew’s Church purchased land for a cemetery in Selwyn Street, Christchurch. It was Christchurch’s first ‘public’ cemetery, “being open to all persons of any religious community” and allowing the performance of any religious service “not contrary to public decency”.
The cemetery was used up to the mid-1980s, with only a few burials since then.
In the 1950s the St Andrew’s Church trustees passed control over to the Christchurch City Council, which has maintained the cemetery as one of the city’s recognised ‘green spaces’. top of page

Addington Cemetery Enhancement
Addington Cemetery is one of five cemeteries listed as protected heritage items in the City Plan. Any changes to the layout and plantings of the cemetery, and the conservation and maintenance of individual headstones and plots, are subject to resource consent requirements.
The cemetery is noted for its traditional cemetery layout and axial plan, as well as its many large memorials and established trees. A large number of iron railings to the plots also help to give the cemetery its special character. top of page

Proposed Enhancement
• Rose Garden proposal
Research on the cemetery in its original appearance has been undertaken. It is believed that the cemetery would originally have been laid out by an architectural designer, and that it would have been the responsibility of relatives to plant individual graves. No overall planting scheme for the cemetery is thought to have ever been established, and one can only speculate as to the types of plants that were planted on individual graves.
It is proposed that a large number of heritage roses be planted on grave tops and other areas within the cemetery, as well as grown on bowers, pergolas and climbing frames. The roses proposed are to be restricted to those varieties available prior to 1910.
• Plaques
Plaques and castings of quotes from authors or other people buried in the cemetery, we believe, would have no negative effect on the heritage significance of the cemetery, and have the potential to enhance understanding and education about the early settlers of Christchurch buried there.
• Seating
New seating is identified in the centre circle area.
• Maintenance and repair of headstones and planting of plots
Repairs need to be carried out on the cemetery monuments, as well as stabilisation of the headstones, which will ensure their future preservation and discourage vandalism.
• Existing tree and shrub species
The proposed removal of trees and shrubs causing damage to monuments is strongly supported in terms of heritage preservation principles. In some cases on site, it is obvious that tree roots or branches are intruding on a monument or plot and causing damage. In other cases planting may be causing shady conditions which can exacerbate moss growth on headstones and cause damage.

At present some tree work has to be carried out. Funding of $10,000 for four years has been obtained, as well as a $15,000 grant from the Spreydon/Heathcote Community Board.

For further information please contact:

Anne Cosson
Parks and Waterways Area Advocate
Christchurch City Council
Tel. 03-941-5111
Email: anne.cosson@ccc.govt.nz

Craig Benson
Landscape Architect
Email: infusion.design@paradise.net.nz

West Coast Concerns.
From the history-rich West Coast of the South Island Bruce Bertram reports that for five years he has been trying to have the tree-sized gorse cleared from the Okarito Cemetery at the Sandspit but the good intentions of the Westland District Council have not yet affected the invading weeds.

The cemetery at Dunganville appears to be lost forever although the Greymouth District Council are clearing and signposting the old gold mining cemeteries in their area.

Is there a cemetery at Seddonville in the Buller district? Bruce is trying to find out.

The Nelson City Council is poised to take responsibility for the cemetery at the site of the Boy’s Orphanage at Ngawhatu. top of page

Cromwell Old Cemetery
The Cromwell Lions Club have constructed a cairn consisting of a concrete base overlaid with natural stone upon which a granite slab will be placed. The base will incorporate a 700 x 400 map of the cemetery, and the granite slab will show details relating to each burial within the cemetery. The Club proposes that this will be
Stage 1 of an ongoing improvement project.

Stage 2 of the project aims at constructing a low level plaque approximately 1 metre square. The plaque will be set in concrete with a mowing strip and will contain a record of family names only of those interned at the Litany Street Cemetery. This plaque will be located within the new cemetery that is currently being used (opened in 1886 or thereabouts).

It is understood that the Club proposes further improvement work in the future which includes fencing and headstone maintenance.

New Zealand Society of Genealogists
The May/June issue of The New Zealand Genealogist features a major article on the work of this Trust. Gravestones are a rich source of family history details and are much prized by genealogists and other researchers. top of page

Port Chalmers Cemetery
A start has been made on wilding vegetation control at the ‘new’ Port Chalmers Cemetery. Dunedin North Rotarians and Port Chalmers Lions made a marked impression on a recent Saturday morning.

We are planning in conjunction with the Port Chalmers Museum tours of the cemetery featuring early mariners and related persons. top of page

Stories in Stone
The Otago Daily Times are now carrying each Saturday a new series of articles featuring stories from selected gravestones in local cemeteries. This is very pleasing and feedback is very positive.

Conservation Tip of the Month
Sandblasting and water blasting should NEVER be used to clean headstones. Both processes do incredible damage to the surface of the stone and will blow out any lead-lettering. Soft brushes and plenty of water are recommended. In some cases spraying with Moss Kill (NOT bleach based) may be advisable but moss will always come back so constant attention will be required.
We recommend – if possible DO NOTHING. top of page