NEW RATANA PA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22719, 4 May 1937, Page 16

NEW RATANA PA

FEATURES OF BUILDINGS SETTLEMENT NEAR MATAMATA [from our own correspondent] MATAMATA, Monday The new Ratana pa, at the foot of the bush-clad Kaimai hills, on the Tauranga Road, about ten miles from Mafcamata, is rapidly nearing completion. Arrangements had been made to hold the opening ceremony during Coronation week, but owing to health restrictions this has been postponed, and will probably take place at the end of May, or early in June. Mr. K. Erueti, Ratana's secretary, states that the pa is being established for the benefit of the large number of followers in the Waikato, Bay of Plenty and North Auckland districts, to save them the long journey to Wanganui to attend gatherings. Ratana is at the settlement at present, but is returning with a party to Wanganui 'in a'day or two. - The large meeting-house is practically completed, only the internal decorations remaining to be finished. There are three main rooms, each 60ft. by 20ft., a barber's shop and a bakehouse. The central room is for the holding of sacred services and meetings, while one side room is to be fitted as a billiard room and the other as a dining hall. A talking picture plant is ready to be installed in the dining hall, which will also be used as a social room. The bakehouse is equipped with a brick oven capable of turning out 250 loaves of bread at a baking. Electric lighting has been installed. When arrangements are completed, all cooking will be done by steam, a large traction engine having been brought from Wanganui for the purpose. An ample water supply is obtained by pumping from a stream.