RATANA'S TEMPLE.

Shannon News, 22 March 1927, Page 4

RATANA 'S TEMPLE.

ARCHITECT CLAIMS DAMAGES. " EARTHQUAKE WOULD SMASH IT." ' Clifford Newton Hood, an architect, of. Wanganui, sued Ratana and Peter Moko in the Supreme Court last week for £250- damages, being the cost of the plans which were drawn up for the Ratana Temple, but which were not used in their entirety, but allegedly used as the basis for another plan drawn up by a Maori named Piko. The temple was eventually built by the Ratanaites. » • After hearing exhaustive evidence, Mr. Justice McGregor stated that there was 'no doubt that there had been some agreement between plaintiff and the defendants, for the drawing of the plans, and it was also clear that the plans had been incorporated to a certain degree in Piko's plan. He w r as not satisfied that Hood was entitled to thq full claim. Judgment .was given for £l3O. James Patterson, a building contractor, stated that the temple, as erected by was like a hippodrome,

and the 'first good storm or earthqual would smash it. The Church Presidency. When Ratana resigned the presiden< of the Ratana Church shortly after tl opening of the new Temple (says tl Wanganui Herald), it was predict* that an ex-Anglican minister, who h linked up with the movement, would 1 elected as his successor. A member intimately connected wi the minor workings of the moveme: states that the Maoris will not ele any one in the place of Ratana, an further, that they will not accept .1 resignation; so he will have to car on as usual. Ho adds that the movement is ne more closely cemented tpgether thi ever, as a result of deliberation the big gathering. Hitherto it hi been run mainly by the" elderly Mac people, but now they have taken soi of the younger men into the executi ranks and more are to follow, and tl will materially help to keep the mc ment flourishing.