The "Tararua" memorial at Fortrose.

It will be remembered (says the Southland News) that some of the bodies washed ashore from the wreck of the Tararua were interred in the cemetery at Fortrose, and in a number of cases it was impossible to ascertain the names of those to whom burial was given. For some time past these, as they may be termed, unowned graves, with others in the same “God’s acre,” have lost their neglected appearance, and have shown evidence of being attended by loving hands. Flowers have taken the place of weeds, and other means have been adopted to beautify the last resting place of those upon whom the green sod presses. This will be pleasing news to surviving relatives but the most gratifying fact has yet to be told, which is that the work has been done by the children of the Fortrose school, who have for some time past devoted to it their midday play-hour.   -Patea Mail, 29/11/1882.

The Cemetery. — Our respected teacher, Mr D. Wassell, met the children as usual at Sunday-school yesterday, together with the superintendent, J. E. Attwood who, after the duties of the morning had been conducted, reverted to (words missing) late kindness in devoting some of their recreation time to planting flowers &c in the cemetery and mentioned that Mr Wassell had a very pleasing duty to perform in connection therewith. Mr Wassell stated he had received a communication from a friend of one of the late sufferers by the Tararua disaster, in which the writer enclosed £5 to be spent on the cemetery. The children were then asked what should be done with the money, and the proposition of a little girl that a tablet should be erected was carried. A consultation was than held as to the best plan to adopt in order to carry out the children's desire. It was finally proposed that the £5 received by the children of Fortrose school be the nucleus of a children's fund, and that all other children attending the district schools of New Zealand be invited to unite with them in their truly laudable effort to raise a tribute of sympathy and regret to those poor sufferers who lost their lives by that lamentable disaster, the wreck of the Tararua, some of whom are buried in the cemetery at Fortrose, and some in the Tararua Acre. It was also decided to ask the editors of the Otago Witness and Southland News to kindly undertake the reception of any sum forwarded to them by children, through their teachers, for the above object; also the editor of the Wesleyan and Mr J. Wassell. All sums, however small, will be gladly welcomed and acknowledged.   -Otago Witness, 6/1/1883.

Our Fortrose correspondent writes that a marble memorial stone has been .erected in the Tararua Acre, Otara, and also one in the cemetery at Fortrose. The entire cost has been defrayed by the children's subscriptions, which were set on foot come time ago, and in which about 30 district schools joined in aiding the efforts of those attending the Fortrose School. The total amount collected and expended upon the stone, cost of erection, cartage, freight, &c. amounted to upwards of £40. The following inscription has been put upon each stone: — "Erected by the children of the Fortrose District School, assisted by the children of other district schools, to the memory of those who perished by the wreck of the s.s. Tararua. April 29,1881."  -Otago Daily Times, 20/6/1884.

Fortrose Cemetery.