MAORI HOSTEL

Northern Advocate, 12 October 1928, Page 7

MAORI HOSTEL

PROPOSED NEW- BUILDING. SITE AGREED TO. In reference to the proposal to exchange an area of Harbour Board reclamation for the block of native land in Whangarei Borough known as Hihiana, the Legal Committee reported to the Whangarei Harbour Board yesterday having met Judge Acheson, of the Maori Land Court,, and Mr Lou Parore, of Dargavillo, on the sth instant, when the. matter was fully discussed.

Judge Acheson, having viewed the various sites suggested, considered that the board’s No. 2 reclamation, containing approximately two acres, was the only one suitable for the establishment of an institution such as it was proposed to provide for the use of the natives of North Auckland. , The proposal, declared the Judge, was to construct a large building, probably of concrete, and designed as far as would be practicable in accordance with ancient Maori architecture. Ample space was also desirable for the provision of a marae, playing courts and trees, etc., and it was anticipated by the native authorities who had the matter in hand that the Whangarei Maori hostel would be a most valuable asset to the borough and a credit to the district.

In considering an exchange of a suitable building area for the Hihiana Block, which contained 1$ acres, Judge Acheson asked that the committee take into account the value of the riparian rights of Hihiana. Having heard the case for the natives, as outlined by Judge Acheson, the committee recommended for the favourable consideration of the board: “That for the purpose of establishing a Maori hostel, an exchange of the board’s reclamation No, 2 for the Hihiana Block bo agreed to, conditional on the natives paying to the board for equality of exchange the sum of £500.” The recommendation was adopted, members considering that the provision of a hostel as described would bo an acquisition to the town.