BIG MEETING HOUSE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 374, 7 June 1928, Page 16

BIG MEETING HOUSE

NGARUAWAHIA PROPOSAL GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE SOUGHT An important development with; in recent years among the Maori people has been a tendency to rebuild meeting houses, or to erect others in districts where these places of communal assembly were not previously known. One of the largest houses now planned is that which will be erected at Ngaruawahia for the Princess Te Puea Herangi, details of which were given to The Sun yesterday by Mr. Nguha Huirama, chairman of che Tongariro Maori Council, who came specially from Taupo to confer • with the princess in regard to this building. 'Mr. Huirama was the designer of Pakake-Taiari, the big meeting house, opened some years ago at Taupo. The dimensions of this building were 72ft by 36ft. The Ngaruawahia meeting house, however, he says, will be larger. The latest plan provides for a building 82ft by 36ft, which, of course, includes a verandah of about 12ft. This will easily be the largest house of its kind in existence in the Waikato.

It is the intention of the princess to use It as a hospital, and window space between the carved panelling has been provided. This is, of course, against Maori architectural tradition, but it will give the light and ventilation so essential for a hospital. The chieftainess is well aware of the aversion of the average Maori to a European hospital, so this building will be In the nature of a hostel-hospital, where the people can stay until they are completely well. The Ngaruawahia building will be an interesting combination of the old and the new. Though its principal characteristics will bo Maori, it will be designed in order to meet modern requirements as a hospital. APPEAL TO MR. COATES

One of the matters that Te Puea referred to the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. G. Coates, was her difficulty in obtaining required lengths of timber for the house. Mr. Coates promised the chieftainess every assistance, and it is hoped that the Government will come to her aid.

"The people are very enthusiastic in regard to the hospital proposal,” says Mr. Huirama. “They are also keenly interested in the project from a building point of view.” The Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, has promised to open the house in March of next year. A tennis tournament is also being planned In connection with the official opening.