POSSESSION OF A CHURCH

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3518, 31 July 1926, Page 3

POSSESSION OF A CHURCH

KATANA’S CLAIM NOT UPHELD

Thames, Last Night,

The Native Land Court sat for two days hearing evidence in the dispute between, Ratana’s followers and the Church of England.

Application was made to decide whether the church at Manaia, near Coromandel, should be handed over to the Church of England. It was erected 70 years ago by voluntary contribution, -burned down in 1905 and} rebuilt the same way two years ago, but a large proportion of the congregation went over to Ratana. Relations became strained, culminating in anj attempt to prevent English services being held. Judge McCormick, in giving judgment, was of opinion it should remain for the purpose for which it was built and for which it had always been used. He therefore, de cided to vest possession in the Church trustees, for the purpose of permitting services only of the Church of England therein, with a right-of-way from the road to the church door. He was satisfied any system of joint control would be impracticable. It would only lead to trouble. If there was power to do so he would have considered the question of compensation, but he was plainly limited to the land on which the church stood.