Unknown bodies from Symonds St Cemetery

Source Auckland Star, 7/11/1907

 GRAFTON BRIDGE.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.

The face of the Cemetery Gully has changed considerably since the Ferroconcrete Co. commenced its contract for the erection of this high level bridge.   The line of the bridge, formerly covered with native, shrubs and trees, is now bare of vegetation, and is scarped and scarred by the foundation works, which precede the erection of the huge mass of steel and concrete which will span the ravine. So far all the work put in hand has been of an excavatory nature, the sinking of the foundations of the ten piers which will later support the superstructure. Tomorrow, however, the work of actual construction will be commenced, with the erection of the retaining wall at the Symonds-street approach to the bridge. This wall, which will be erected on the inner line of the footpath, will extend beyond the thirty-six feet included in the width, of the bridge to form a stairway on either side from the level of the street to that of the cemetery. It will, like the whole of the structure, be of re-inforced concrete, laid in a trenched foundation, curving away from the line of the bridge to form a very handsome approach.

Showing the preparation of the pillar
foundations for the ferro-concrete
Grafton Bridge spanning
Grafton Gully.
 'Sir George Grey Special Collections,
Auckland Libraries, 7-A8256'

Up to the present the work has been hampered by delays in arranging the formalities necessary to the exhumation of the six bodies which had been interred on the site of the present piers. The necessary permission was, however, received on Monday last, and the remains were then exhumed and re-interred at Waikumete. It was found during this process that the nature of the ground, assisted by the water soaking through from the surface, had resulted in the complete decomposition of the bodies, all that remained being a few of the larger bones and traces of the wood from which the coffins were constructed.

This necessary work being accomplished, the sinking of the foundations for the piers is now proceeding. There will be five pairs of piers on the Karangahape-road side of the gully in addition to the main supports of the great central span of 340 feet, while on the further side the number of piers is two, each with a considerably longer span than on the town side. The first span from the Symonds-street approach is a short one of 20 feet, followed by two others under 40ft., and then three of 75ft., while the spans beyond, the main arch are 81 feet long. The shafts for the first pair of piers have been sunk to a depth of 60 feet, the last twenty being through the solid sandstone. An excellent bottom has thus been secured, while it has been found that further down the side of the gully the sandstone approaches nearer the surface, so that the remaining shafts will not require the same depth. The piers will be of ferro-concrete filled in with tamped clay, the dimensions being three feet by four in the case of the smaller spans, and three feet by five in the larger. At a spot not far from the bottom of the gully, an excavation fifty feet by-twenty-six feet has been made for the base of the main arch while a similar work is now proceeding on the other side of the gully. Fortunately an entirely satisfactory foundation has been found at a suitable depth, the stratum just below the surface soil, consisting of hard sandstone veined .with clay and very similar to the papa rock met with in the harbour works. A better foundation could not be wished for to take the enormous thrust of the arch. The foundations of this arch will be exceptionally massive, and will extend for seven feet on either side of the line of the bridge, many tons of iron and cement being required for this work alone The construction of the bridge will proceed from both sides simultaneously, and when the junction is effected in the main arch the temporary work used in the filling in of the concrete will have to be sufficiently strong to bear the weight of the structure. This will necessitate the erection of strong supports which will be removed on completion of the work. A good deal of excavation will be necessary to provide a solid foundation for the temporary work, and some difficult engineering will be accomplished before the permanent work is commenced.

Captain Noyes is in charge of the work, and under his direction the progress made has been rapid considering the circumstances, and there is every reason to anticipate that within the contract time, two years, the public will be able to make use of the bridge The work will not be subject to delays due to bad weather, as in the case of harbour works, where the operatives on the punts are frequently unable to work in the winter time owing to the heavy seas raised in the harbour.”


Anglican Division E, Row 6
Plot 1: Unknown Bodies from No. 5 Pier Symonds St Cemetery 4.11.1907 – unmarked

Wesleyan Division D, Row 3
Plot 3: Unknown name from Symonds St 4/11/1907 – unmarked
Plot 4: Unknown 2 bodies ex No. 3 Pier Symonds St 4/11/1907 – unmarked

It appears that very shortly after this article was written it was found necessary to remove 3 more bodies as the following day 3 more arrived at Waikumete Cemetery.

Wesleyan Division D, Row 3
Plot 1: Unknown 3 bodies from Symonds St 8/11/1907 – unmarked