A full account of the early activities of the Presbyterian Church is given in “Fifty Years Syne,” by the Rev. James Chisholm, and in “Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of South Otago,” by John Wilson.

The earliest record of christenings in the district is contained in the Rev. Charles Creed's diary, he having baptised five Maoris at Port Molyneux in 1847.

Old School House at Port Molyneux.

The Early Church At Puerua.

At a commemoration service held at Romahapa on March 10, 1940, a tablet was unveiled to mark the site of the first South Otago church.

Mr. M. Jackman gave some interesting details of this pioneer church. He said that the early settlers were glad to welcome the Rev. William Bannerman in 1854. In his earliest ministrations Mr. Bannerman covered the area now served by the Presbyteries of Clutha, Mataura, and Southland, from Waihola to Riverton.

“On his arrival in that extensive parish, Mr. Bannerman conducted his first service at Tokomairiro, his second on Inchclutha, where he lived for two years.”

page 59

“The first service conducted south of the Clutha River was held at Hilly Park, Romahapa. The congregation at that first service consisted of the Hays, Brughs, Mercer, G. Willsher, R. Christie, D. Dunn, Archibald, P. Ayson and son. Services were afterwards conducted at Mercer's Awakiki Bush.”

“In 1856 a church was built on a site presented by Mr. A. F. Burns. The men of the congregation went into the bush themselves and got to work. Mr. G. Hay and his son William pit–sawed the timber, Mr. Brugh and D. Dunn sledged it to the site, Mr. Archibald split the shingles, while Mr. William Hay and one of the Beggs cut the piles. Everybody turned–to to assist with the erection of the building. This building not only served as a church, but it also housed the schoolmaster and his pupils for a couple of years. It continued in use as a church until 1866.”

A Commemorative Tablet.

At the conclusion of this 1940 service the congregation moved about half a mile to the site of the first church. Here on the hillside amidst the kowhais and other remnants of native bush, a stone tablet had been placed to mark the site. The first church, though built so long ago, is still in use as a barn, and a flag hoisted upon it for the occasion fluttered vigorously in the strong breeze.

After prayer by the minister, the tablet was unveiled by two surviving daughters of the first minister, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Richards. The stone is a simple block bearing this inscription:—

“On this Site was Built the First Church
in South Clutha, 1856.
William Bannerman, Minister.”

Church Service At Port Molyneux.

In 1863 services were commenced at Port Molyneux in Thomson and Mailer's store. In 1865 a new church, which also served as a school, was opened, and continues in use as an Oddfellows’ Hall. (The illustration of this building is on page 58.) A new church was opened in 1875 by Dr. Stuart, of Dunedin. This church is the one now at Kaka Point, to which site it was removed in 1918.

The Beginnings Of Education.

As in all Scottish communities, the Church and the School went hand in hand. It is significant that at Inchclutha and Port Molyneux the pioneer buildings did the double duty of church and school.

By the courtesy of Mr. Carrington, Secretary of the Otago Education Board, access was given to the old records of the Board of Education set up by the Otago Provincial Council. But before the official schools started in 1858, Mr. William W. Waite, in 1853, had opened page 60 in his own dwelling at Warepa a private school. Likewise at Port Molyneux Mr. J. Stevens had commenced teaching in a private house in 1863, two years before the school opened in 1865. This teacher, who was afterwards the Rev. John Stevens, of Papakaio, was one of the forerunners of the modern correspondence school, for Mr. Andrew Wylie informs me that Mr. Stevens would prepare and send to William and Mary Wylie, two children who had a long way to come, lessons that they could do at home.

Mr. Ayson was already teaching at Tokomairiro, but the report of the Board of Education dated September 30, 1857, states:—

“Clutha—Buildings: None. Teacher: Vacant. Remarks: The committee have intimated that three sets of school buildings will be required—one in each of the three different localities within the district.”

Expenditure of £900 on the three schools was contemplated. Six months' salary to the three teachers was estimated to be £150, of which £30 would come from fees.

In the 1858 report there is mention of a School on Inchclutha and Side Schools at Warepa and South Clutha.

Out of the £900 appropriated for the district, £750 was allotted as follows: School buildings—Inchclutha, £300; South Clutha, £200; Warepa, £200; school fittings, £50—a total of £750. The yearly salaries were fixed at: Clutha, £100; Warepa, £100; South Clutha, £60.

The Inchclutha School.

From these early reports the following details are extracted: School established 1858. First teacher: A. Grigor, appointed 1858. The average attendances were: 1858, 12; 1864, 23; 1865, 26. The salary was £100 per annum.

A committee report of 1858 says: “Inchclutha School—Mr. Alexander Grigor, schoolmaster. A section of 50 acres of open land has been set apart, and 2 acres of bush… The school is at present accommodated in the church, in which there are plenty of forms and an excellent desk capable of accommodating 10 writers.” Attendance, five boys and seven girls.

In 1859, the average attendance was thirteen, but nine children having left the district, in the third quarter of the year the attendance was two boys and two girls. In 1860, the school boasts of “three desks and six forms,” and in one quarter the attendance was ten boys and seven girls. In 1861 the number present on the day of the inspector's visit was eleven.

To Mr. Grigor, fresh from the Homeland, the birds and the plants. were new, and in later years he used to recall that in the first week at the school he had only one pupil—James Willocks. The first week' page 61 lessons consisted of the boy giving the teacher the names of the native birds and the forest trees, the teacher reciprocating by a description of the birds and beasts and trees of Britain. So in this practical way did education start on Inchclutha.

Apart from the bad roads—in some cases no roads at all—there were other difficulties outlined in the 1859 report: “The teachers experience no small hindrance in prosecuting their labours from the want of books and slate pencils and suitable copy books—a proper supply of which seems to be provided neither by the Government nor the merchants.”

The South Clutha Side School.

This was the school established at Puerua, which originally was held in the Romahapa building referred to by Mr. Jackman. The records show that it was established in 1858, and the average attendance was 14 that year; in 1859, 14; in 1860, started with 19, but dropped to 9; in 1861 the number present on the day of the inspector's visit was 13.

The first teacher was Mr. Brydone; Mr. D. McEwan was the teacher in 1860, Mr. A. McEwan being appointed in 1861. The salary was £80, half being found by the Board, the other half by the district.

Warepa Side School.

Following on the private school opened in 1853, the Side School was established in 1858, Mr. Waite continuing as teacher. The salary was the same as at South Clutha, £80 per annum. The average attendance was 12 in the first year; in the several quarters of 1859 it fluctuated from 16 to 9.

The Port Molyneux School.

In the year 1864, the Educational District of Clutha was divided into the four new districts of Inchclutha, East Clutha, Warepa, and Kaihiku. Schools are open at East Clutha (the old South Clutha), Inchclutha, Kaihiku, and Warepa.

In 1865 we find the first mention of the Port Molyneux School. This is the building illustrated on page 58, at which Mr. Wm. Paterson was a pupil. The permanent building was ready for use in that year, and Mr. Stevens was paid £130 per annum. The first year the average attendance was 11, and the number present on the last day was 17.

Successive teachers were J. Forbes, 1866; J. B. Hewitt, 1867; R. Wilson, 1868; G. Wilson, 1869; T. D. Thompson, 1870. The salary was sometimes £125 and sometimes £130.

The Native School at Karoro.

On that commanding position now occupied by the old school–house the first Native school was established. The first building was made of fern trees, with a clay floor. Like most early schools, it was half school and half dwelling.

The pupils consisted of three pakeha children—Mr. Charles Arthur was one of them—and a large number of Maori boys and girls.

The first teacher was Miss Jones, who afterwards married the Rev. G. B. Inglis.

Later a substantial school was built. This was called the Reomoana School, and served until the present school was opened on the site nearer Port Molyneux. The old school was given over to the Maoris for a dwelling house. Reomoana is not an old Maori place name, but one coined by the Education Department. Reo is voice, and moana the sea, and it is certainly a descriptive name, but it is a poor policy to put new names on old places, especially when suitable old names are available.