RATANA ADHERENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1926, Page 4

RATANA ADHERENTS

TROUBLE BREAKS OUT.

THAMES, May 10

Trouble broke out between the Maoris of the Katana Church and tlio.se of the Church of England at Manaia, a small settlement near Coromandel. It (appears that forty years ago ■ the Maoris gave the Church of England land on which to build a church, in which services are frequently held. Now a great number of the Maoris have become followers of But ana, and they contend that the churtib, and land belong to them. They endeavoured to stop Anglicans from holding services there on Friday last.

When Sergeant M'Donnell, of Thames, was visiting Coromandel, lie heard that the matter was likely to come to a bead on Sunday, so, with Mr Samuel James, Justice of the Peace, ho went to Manaia and warned the Natives against creating n disturbance. This having little effect, the sergeant, with three constables and also a constable from Whitianga, went to Mint via on Sunday morning and found the churchyard held by eighty Natives. Maori clergymen told tilio sergeant he would not he allowed to enter the church. The sergeant warned the Natives, hut two women obstructed the church door and had to lie lord ily removed by the police, who then unlocked the door, allowing the Anglicans to enter and prepare for the service. Batana’s men remained in the grounds, the women getting greatly excited. The police would not allow any addresses and ordered them to go to their homes, which they did very unwillingly.

II is understood that the incident is not yet closed, us probably a prosecution will be taken against the obstructionists.

'Archdeacon Hawkins, a Maori niissioner, arrives here this week to consult with the Mauris. r J he position may he ventilated in the Maori Land Court.

A Wellington correspondent nates that on Monday morning without ostentation and in the simplest manner possible the Government commemorated tlie anniversary of the death of '-heir late leader, Mr'W. F. Massey. AlLjhe Ministers of the Crown in Wellington, accompanied by private secretaries, local members of Parliament and representatives of the Reform organisation motored to Point Halswell and placed wreaths on the pyramid erected on the wind-swept promontory. One tribute was from Crown (Ministers, the three others being from Dominion Reform League and the Wellington mid Pctone executives. ■ Prior to depositing the wreaths those present, headed by the Prime Minister, marched in reverent- procession along the vault- channel to view the coffin, and then returned to the pyramid. Not a word was uttered and tribute was paid in silent thought The wentlier was perfect, in striking contrast to the drab dav oil which a great statesman a year age- was taken to his last resting place.