OBITUARY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21400, 26 January 1933, Page 12

OBITUARY

THE REV. H. J. FLETCHER MAORI MISSION WORK The death has occurred at New Plymouth of the Rev. H. J. Fletcher, of Opunake, aged 64. Mr. Fletcher, who was born in Kent, came to New Zealand \vith his parents in 1875. The family settled at Bulls, in tho Rangitikei district. Mr. Fletcher eventually took up Maori mission work in that district for the Presbyterian Church, and from 1895 ho was engaged in similar work for 28 years in the Taupo district. On one trip to the Urewera Country, Mr. Fletcher held the, first church service at Maungapohatu which had been conducted for 30 years. The "prophet" Rua held sway in the district at that time. On another visit, he was concerned in the construction of the mission house at Ruatahuna, and he also built the first church at Taupo, with tho assistance of only two Maoris. Mr. Fletcher was subsequently engaged in relieving at Turakina and Wanganui, and, prior to his transfer to Opunake nino months ago, he served at Seacliff and Warrington, Otago. A member of the Polynesian Socioty, Mr. Fletcher was prominent as a student of Maori, and ho made a number of literary contributions on the subject of native lore. At the time of his death, he was occupied with compiling a list of all the proper names which had appeared in the Polynesian Journal since its inception, with their meanings. lit was also a member of the New Zealand Astronomical Society. Mr. Fletcher leaves a widow and three sous and fivo daughters, Mr. H. Fletcher, of Auckland, Mr. J. Fletcher, New Hebrides Islands, Mr. C. Fletcher, Wanganui, Miss F. Fletcher, Wellington, Miss H. Fletcher, Marton, Miss M. Fletcher, Dunodin, and Misses R. and F, Fletcher, Opunake.