THE KERMADECS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 309, 29 December 1892, Page 2

THE KERMADECS.

NEWS FROM SUNDAY ISLAND,

The Government steamer Hinemoa lately paid her annual visit to the Kermadec Islands, visiting Sunday Island and the other islets in the Group and replenishing the provision depots. By tho Hinemoa, Mr Bell, the pioneer settlor on Sunday Island, who is once more in solo occupation of the island, with his family, tho other settlers having all left the island, writes us as follows:— "We have had a mild, dry, winter, and the weather, with the exception of a gale or two from south and west, has been very fine, our crops and stock looking very well. Ib appears that Sunday Island has had native inhabitants at some time, have long suspected it, but from certain native implements discovered lately, there seems no room for any doubt about it. Near our house there are thirteen circular holes, the largest measuring 30 feet across and 15 feet deep, they are al1 within a space of about 2 acres. I have always looked upon them as craters, and so they probably are, but they may have been artificially made. Within a yard of tho edge of the largest, one of my daughters while digging sweet potatoes found a stone chisel. It was very well made the edge being almost as good as when new. We have since found another near the same place. About, 13 years ago we found a stone implement similar to what the Maoris uso for beating fern root, and altogether from other indications, such as pairs of smooth water-worn stones which we found in the same locality, and I think there can be no doubt but what they are traces of a race that has passed away. There are clear proofs that Sunday Island has been of much greater extent at some time. All the! outlying islets are covered with fossils i of plants notably the nikau palm, j not a single live specimen exists there ab the present day, nor could thoy grow on such smull exposed islet.", !as they require both shado and shelter which could only be obtained on land much greater in extent that the Herald Islot. There is also a small laud bird of the rail tribe on some of them. One we caught some time since has found its way to England and mado quite a stir, I believ.?. The puzzle is how did he got on the islets.

" Before closing this, I should like to say a few words of thanks to Captain Fairchild and officers under his command, whose thoughtful and unvarying kindness has done much to mnl;6 life endurable here, now that the whales have deserted these islands."