MEETING HOUSE AT NUHAKA

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 7

MEETING HOUSE AT NUHAKA

“Removal .Betrayal Of Maoris” ROTORUA, Dec. 30. An allegation that the -removal of the carved meeting house at Nuhaka to Hawaii by the Mormon Church was a betrayal of Maoris in the North Island is supported by Mr John Taiapa, of Rotorua, a carver, who helped in the creation of the house. His elder brother, Mr Pine Taiapa, of Tikitiki, the artistic designer, said the removal of the house, to Hawaii was also a betrayal of the men who died in the last war and of those to whom the meeting-house was a memorial. “It is true that the Mormon Church contributed most of the cost of the meeting-house, in 1949. but to my knowledge about £4OOO was also given by the eight main tribes in the North Island.” said Mr Pine Taiapa. “I directed the workers in the carving and other decorative work at the meeting-house. Yet I, and other members of the Ngati Porourangi tribe were never consulted about its removal.”

Age is bothersome only when you stop to coddle it.—Maurice Chevalier. Your every voter, as surely as our chief magistrate, exercises a public trust.—Grover Cleveland.