NATIVE BURIAL GROUND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3596, 8 February 1927, Page 2

NATIVE BURIAL GROUND.

THE AH3PARA DISPUTE.

FOLLOWERS OF RATANA.

ADVISED TO FIND OTHER AREA

During a sitting of the Native Land Court at Ahipara, Auckland, on Friday, Judge Achesbn presiding, a dispute between the Ratana followers and the Anglican Maoris of Pukepoto was heard, when Herepeti Rapihana made application to have the trusteeship of the native church and burial grounds at Pukepoto vested in the General Trust Board of the Church of England. On behalf of the Anglican Maoris Mr. J. B. Reynolds stated that the application had arisen out of the coming of a new religion, that of Ratana. The church at Pukepoto had been built out of funds collected .by the Church of England people, and a large donation toward the fund -was sent out from England. The church services had been conducted under the supervision of the Archdeacon of Waimate, and burial services were also conducted. Dissension had arisen through the followers of Ratana desiring to conduct burial services according to their creed. The Anglican Church had a special burial service for nonconformists, and the Anglican Maoris had no objection to the Ratana followers using that burial ground provided that this service, which had been specially drawn, up by the Bishop of Auckland, was used, and the Church of England clergymen officiated. The' Ratana section objected to this service, and feeling was very strong between the two factions.

The Judge stated that; the Native Land Court had power to determine the ownership of the burial ground and to vest the ownership in any person or persons.

Evidence was then heard, Henare Puhipi conducting the case for the Ratana followers, his brother, Hami Puhipi, being the chief witness. Hami stated that his father, Timoti Puhipi, had been an elder and a founder of the Church of England in Pukepoto. His father would not have wished to exclude anyone from the burial ground, no matter what his creed might be. He, witness, was an Anglican, and his brother had gone over to Ratana. He wanted the strife to cease, and thought the Ratana section should be admitted to the ground and allowed to bury their dead in their own way. Henare Puhipi said that the service provided for nonconformists was only fit for animals—for beasts.

The Judge said life kncAV the burial service in question. There was nothing dishonourable in the service. He was a Presbyterian, but he would not mind if he were buried with that service. However, he quite sympathised with the desire of the Ratana followers .to bury their dead in their own way, and he felt it was a pity that a sect which had so many adherents should try to intrude on the Anglican ground, which had been set aside by and for Church of England people so many years ago. He hoped the Ratana followers would see their way to getting a burial ground of their own. At the next sitting j of the Court trustees would be appointed, who would transfer their interest in the ground to the General Trust Board of the Church of England.