Ripapa Island
Sir, — The spokesman for the Navy League is quite wrong to say that Ripapa Island was rescued from vandals in 1944. It was under direct Army control until 1946, where upon the Lyttelton Harbour Board took over. Mr W. S. Mac Gibbon, chairman of the board at the time, said the island was to be held in trust for the people. For 10 years the board looked after the island and placed a caretaker, Mr Bumstead, and his family there. It was well maintained and became the venue for afternoon tea for those doing the harbour sightseeing trip. In 1956, the board withdrew the caretaker and refused the offer of a $2OOO subsidy from the Government to replace the wharf. The island had cost the Harbour Board $2956 for the 10 years it was under its care. After this bad decision the island became the responsibility of the Lands and Survey Department. Vandals have only been active on the island since the withdrawal of the caretaker and the arrival of the Navy. Until then the island had always had a human presence. — Yours, etc,. B. N. NORRIS, Curator, Lyttelton Historical Museum Society, May 9, 1984.
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Press, 11 May 1984, Page 12
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197Ripapa Island Press, 11 May 1984, Page 12
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