Fire in historic building

Press, 8 September 1976, Page 10

Fire in historic building

PA New Plymoth A historic meetighouse at Hikurangi ’a, Taumarunui, has been estroyed by fire. Only a shell remains of the Wharepuni, believedto have been built in te early 1900 s. The cerre pole is the only supprt for the charred roof. The meeting-house ws being prepared on Satrday for a team of uncr--16 rugby players fum Kaikohe. Mattresses wre laid out but instead tie boys were taken to he Athletic Rugby Cib rooms for a meal befre they unpacked and setfcd in at Hikurangi for he night. But when they eturned to the Pa, he meeting-house was ablse. Fortunately, their gar was not in the house ad they lost none of tfeir personal possessions. The team continued an to Te Kuiti where it spnt the night. The meeting-house is believed to have had else ties with the Maori Kig movement. It containet a sacred scroll, tapu to ill but leading tribal elders Firemen were able to retrieve the scroll, built was badly scorched ad fused together by the hit.