Meditation group moves out of mansion

Press, 19 May 1984, Page 9

Meditation group moves out of mansion

A transcendental meditation group has moved out of McLeans Mansion in Manchester Street about one month after moving in.

World Government in Age of Enlightenment had planned to use the mansion as its South Island headquarters. Delays in settling the lease led to the international arm of the organisation withdrawing its support. The people who were to have been the directors of the headquarters have left New Zealand to take up positions with the meditation group overseas.

A spokesman for the group, Dr David LovellSmith, said that the project had been thought to be worth while but prolonged negotiations had led to the withdrawal of overseas support. The group had moved into the building before negotiations had ended, to act as “caretakers” and discourage vandalism. Dr Lovell-Smith said that he hoped the opportunity to establish a South Island headquarters in Christchurch would arise again soon.

The mansion is administered by the Lands and

Survey Department which is negotiating to lease it to the Historic Places Trust. Under the terms of the package, which has yet to be settled, the trust would act as head tenant and sublet it to another group. The trust secretary, Mr J. R. Allison, said that several Swere interested in j the mansion. He would not reveal the prospective tenants but said that one applicant had a “most compatible use” for the building.

The mansion was “almost purpose built” for the applicant, he said.