Big gifts for Chch marae

Press, 26 July 1978, Page 14

Big gifts for Chch marae

A $5OOO cheque from the Maurice Carter Charitable Trust has been given to the Maori marae project at Cuthberts Green, Aranui. Another $5OOO from the trust will be paid when a construction contract for the marae is let. The gift was presented by the Mayor of Christchurch! (Mr H. G. Hay), a marae; trustee, at a meeting at the< Rehua marae. •

> Mr Hay said an anonymous . donor had written to him and , promised another $lO,OOO, to be spread over two years. ’ That donor had said that the national marae, open to all] , Maori tribes, would “do ' much to bring about an atmosphere of harmonv and : good will between the races.” He had also approached ' other trusts to get fundi! raising under way, Mr Hay 11 said. Other gifts were $2OOO iifrom Mr and Mrs J. Malcolm ! Paynter, $lOOO from the Jack

> and Marjorie Ferrier Charitllable Trust, and $lOOO from lithe Vernon Willey Trust. He said he hoped these F gifts would inspire other ([donors and get marae buildrings started “without delay, ■ and in use while enthusiasm I for the project is still at a ’ high level.” I The City Counci] had already set aside $20,000 from rates to help site developi menu The land, worth about $120,000, will qualify for a Government subsidy.

-I Mr Hay said he would be r happy to promote the project as suitable for a com- ; bined fund-raising campaign rby Christchurch service clubs. . He said the time was right i to get the marae built with i assistance from Governmentsubsidised labour. The chairman of the board i of trustees for the marae pro- - ject (Mr R. t Nihoniho) said : that landscaping and roading i could begin at the end of the year, or early next year.