Ripapa Island

Press, 9 May 1984, Page 16

Ripapa Island

■ Sir, — When I visited Ripapa Island recently, I was appalled by the deterioration of the stonework that has occurred since the Navy League leased the island. Remedial work must be undertaken without delay. I am sure the Navy League is in no position to pay, so it seems that it should leave and allow the restoration to begin. The league has had more than 20 years to do something, but has failed. The island could become the main attraction of the harbour area if the buildings were restored. In the meantime the Navy League should be removed from the fort and limited to use of the outer buildings. The visitor will look in vain for the slightest hint of good maintenance. Only the graffiti of vandals and the deterioration of machines and buildings stand out. — Yours, etc., K. FITZGERALD. April 30, 1984. [Mr Norman Astley, honorary secretary of the Canterbury branch of the Navy League, replies: “I regret that K. Fitzgerald has reached such negative and in my opinion, wrong, conclusions from his recent brief visit to Ripapa Island. The Navy League, Canterbury, was appointed in August, 1958, under the Reserves and Domains Act, 1953, to control and manage the reserve 109, Ripapa Island, which had been abandoned to the vandals since 1944. It was in a sorry state, but since then, unstinted efforts of the personel, parents and friends of the Sea Cadet Unit Cornwell, a continuous programme of maintenance, repair

and improvement has been carried out at considerable cost. In 1979, the director general personnel and logistics, headquarters of New Zealand Land Forces, appointed a project officer to plan, in conjunction with us, restoration work on the guns and fort. In recent years official visits have been made by staff of the Defence Department, the Navy League Sea Cadet Corps and Historic Places Trust as well as hundreds of the public. No such severe criticism as K. Fitzgerald’s has been received. Most visitors compliment the league on the efficient use of its limited financial resources and praise the considerable effort.”]