The Chaslands Heathfield Historic Cemetery was designed by the Department of Lands and Survey in 1899. It had an unusual circular plan consisting of 200 plots. The last burial was in 1941 and the Cemetery was officially closed in 1969. Taken over by DOC in 1992.
It was identified in 2016 for a tidy-up by Catlins Historical Society member Mike McPhee during his and wife Anabel's research for their book The Catlins and the Great War 1914-1918. Researching the book, they discovered the site buried beneath undergrowth, and wholly inaccessible.
Since then, the society joined forces with Catlins Promotions, the Owaka Lions, the Department of Conservation, Clutha District Council, the Otago Community Trust, and several neighbours and local volunteers to clear and reform a 250-metre path and car park, and clear the cemetery itself of the huge amount of gorse and broom, leaving the mature stands of the rare South Island tree Olearia lineata (twiggy tree daisy) to shine in the landscape.
In October 2019 the Cemetery was officially opened again to the public. Descendants from across New Zealand attended.
TO FIND THE CACHE YOU NEED TO SOLVE THE 2 STEPS OF THIS MULTI
1st Stage: Start at the posted coordinates and solve the following to the 2nd Stage
S46 35.ABC E169 20.DEF
Thomas Chambers, farmer died 21st July 19A1
James Wilks died of Brights disease 192B
Norman William Croft died aged C months
Mary Kirkland, widow, died aged 8D years
Caroline Henrietta Hourston buried 14th April 18E8
William James Wybrow sawmill hand aged 1F years on 24th July 1938
2nd Stage: to solve final coordinates:
S46 35.A4B E169 20.C5D
A: The local factory produced settlers milk. How many gallons a day?
310 = 49
270 = 60
180 = 65
B: Who was the settlement Manager in 1894?
Robert Young = 56
Sylvester Poff = 40
James McMaster = 42
C: When did the Mill close?
1972 = 42
1958 = 52
1966 = 34
D: How large was each farm block?
75 acres = 58
120 acres = 65
100 acres = 52
Cache is a micro containing logbook, please BYO pen and replace back in hide. If any maintenance is needed please contact CO do not attempt to maintain yourself, thankyou
Credit to wombat1234 for the puzzle idea on stage 2.
This was Granville86a's 50th and last cache placement. The cache page was completed and the cache placed before he passed away on 12th December 2019. Granville's family have agreed to the publication of the cache in recognition of Granville's contribution to Geocaching, particularly in the Southland region.