However, I believe the place of baptism should read "Ruapuke Island" (which fits in with the South Island location of the other FIFE family listings.) [Ruapuke Island - now uninhabited - approx. 15 km SE of Bluff - but once had a Maori population of around 200. ]
Otago Witness , Issue 1260, 22 January 1876, Page 7 PRESBYTERIAN SYNOD OF OTAGO AND SOUTHLAND.
The annual session of the Presbyterian Synod of Otago and Southland was duly commenced on the 12th, in the First Church,[
Dunedin] with the customary ceremonies.................
CHURCH EXTENSION [
COMMITTEE] REPORT
Read by Rev. Dr. Stuart..............
Mr A. Trail, our missionary in Stewart's Island and the teacher of the half-caste and Maori children at "The Neck," is doing a good work in this lonely parish. The Committee beg the favourable attention of the Synod to the following memorial from the School Committee and residents on "The Neck".
" 'The Neck,' Stewart Island, Dec. 4 1875
"Rev. Sir— We, the undersigned members of tho School Committee, and residents at The Neck are desirous to obtain a loan of £50 for five years (without interest) from the Synod to supplement the local subscription in hand, which amounts to £50, in order that we may at once obtain the grant of £200 from the General Government for the erection of the school buildings. The grant will not be made till we have raised the £100, and unless we can obtain this loan we ask for it will be some time before we raise that amount. We propose to refund the loan by five annual instalments of £10.
"We are, rev. sir, your obedient servants,
"William Joss, John Owen, John Newton
Henre Kingi, William Lee,
Henry Fife,
John Brown, John Wm. Pore, Moses Orehore,
Hoani Tui(r?)ere, William Shebe,
Rodger Owen, Robert Owen, Piripi." .....................
Old maps show a
Reserve for Landless Natives at The Neck an early settlement area across Paterson Inlet from Oban, the only town on Stewart Island
Signal Hill
