‘Otahuna’ sold again

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33062, 1 November 1972, Page 1

‘Otahuna’ sold again

“Otahuna,” Tai Tapu, the historic home of the late Sir Robert Heaton Rhodes, has again changed hands.

It has been bought by a group of Christchurch people who plan to use it as a centre for Christian living. The homestead and 46acre property has for the last 11 years been in the hands of the Christian Brothers, a Roman Catholic order of teachers.

The brothers initially bought it as a juniorate, or

training house, for boys intending to join the order. But with the phasing out of iuniorates within the Church, the brothers have decided to sell “Otahuna." “Otahuna” has changed hands three times since the Rhodes family sold it. The Boyd family bought it after Sir Heaton Rhodes died in 1956. It was a guest house for about five years before it was sold to the Christian Brothers in 1961. The new owners are a group of families who are forming an incorporated society which will hold title to the property.. Mr David Payne, a mem-

ber of the Christian Family Movement, said that two families would live at “Otahuna” as soon as they obtained vacant possession. In due course the property will be used as a centre for groups of people interested in meeting on a family or other group basis.

“Otahuna” is one of the most desirable properties in Canterbury. It is widely known for the beauty and peaceful nature of its surroundings and the outstandi ing quality of its gardens. I Many Christchurch people •have flocked there in springJtime to see the daffodils in I flower.