MAORI HALL OPENED

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23232, 20 January 1941, Page 7

MAORI HALL OPENED

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL AT MORVEN

After many years, the Maori people of Morven and Glenavy*have achieved their desire in the erection of a hall at Morven, which was officially opened on Wednesday afternoon. Mr J. Heath, who presided, and who is chairman of the Maori people of the district, extended thanks to all who had helped to bring about the erection of the building. Mr E. T. Tirikatene. M.P., said that calling the hall a centennial memorial portrayed 100 years of brotherhood between Maori and pakeha. He said that the Maoris had fought in the South African' war and in the Great War alongside their pakeha comrades, and how now they were again both in the jaws of war to win peace, goodwill, and freedom. The hall opened that day was a true monument of brotherhood. and although small alongside some of the pakeha halls, it meant much to the Maori people, and more particularly to the people of Morven, whp had one of the best pas in the South Island. . , _ Mr G. Dash (Mayor of Waimate) praised the work of the women’s committee, which had done so much to make the hall a reality. He looked with great admiration on the Maoris in Waimate, and referred to the great help they had given during the celebrations of the eightieth anniversary of the arrival of the first white settler. The Maoris had made a treaty with Michael Studholme, and through all the years they had stood by thqt treaty. “We hold in respect the Maoris of this community, as thenword is their bond,” he concluded. Mr H. Wixon, the oldest member of the Maori race in the district, officially opened the hall and handed to the builder, Mr J. Scoringe, a greenstone memento. , . During the ceremony, two of Mr Tirikatene’s small daughters sang m Maori a song dedicated to the opening of the hall, while bouquets were presented by other small Maori girls to Mrs Dash, Mrs Tirikatene, Mrs Hera Selwyn (the oldest living Maori woman in the pa), Mrs T. Jacobs (sister of Mrs Selwyn), and Mrs Heath. VOLUNTARY LABOUR ON BUILDING Several commendable features are attached to the building of the Maori Centennial hall at Morven, which was recently opened. One was that the task of raising the money was undertaken by a committee of women. Mrs J. Heath (chairwoman), Mrs W. Tumaru (secretary), Miss S. Selwyn (treasurer), and Mesdames W. Thomas, R. Scoringe, T. Heath and Miss R. Tumaru. The builder, Mr J. Scoringe, gave most pf his labour free. In explaining why he did so, Mr Scoringe said he found pleasure in building the hall, as he was a member of one of the few original families. He had been told that one of his ancestors had built the first grass hut in the district about 100 years ago and he had now built the Centennial Hall. He .also mentioned that at one stage four generations of his family had been working on the hall. The hall is 45 feet long and 20 feet wide, with plasterboard inside. A feature of the ceiling is that the rafters are left standing out below the lining. The hall contains a kitchen, cloakrooms and conveniences. The cost of erecting the hall was £422, and helped by a centennial grant from the Government, the debt remaining is only £122.