CARVED MAORI HOUSE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 9

CARVED MAORI HOUSE

OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY I Untied Brest- Asa,.cm l ion I GISBORNE. 13th April. The claim that Whiterei House, Whangara, East Coast, represented the finest example of the modern school of Maori carving was made by Sir Apirana Ngata, M.P., who presided at the official opening ceremonies to-day. Modelled on the carved house in the Dominion Museum, the new building created a striking impression. It has taken two years to complete. Sir Api rana said the school of carving at Rotorua had produced its best work in this house. Archbishop Averill, in officially opening the building, which he said represented the true communal spirit of the Maoris, said the ceremony was probably the last of consequence he would perform as an archbishop in this district. He would regard it as the crowning act of his 30 years’ episcopate. He was grateful that the opening of the house had been linked with the church congress in Whangara and that the memorial v/as so closely linked with religion.