THE KERMADEC ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 210, 6 September 1893, Page 2

THE KERMADEC ISLANDS.

PROPOSED WHALING STATION.

With reference to the proposed whaling station to be established ab ivJeyor Island, Kermadoo Group, by the Messrs Cook Bros, and Mr H. K. Hovell, the following re the group will be of interest: — Raoul, or Sunday Island, liko the other it-lands in tho Kermadec Group, is of volcanic origin. It is tho largest island in tho little group, being 7,260 acres in area, and is situated in longitude 17752 wosb, and labitndo 2916 south. It was first surveyed in 1854 by Capt. Denham, of H.M.s. Herald. The othor islands aro Macaulsy, Curtis, L'Esporence, and the Herald islets (including Meyer Islet), all meie rocks. The group is visited by the New Zealand Government steamer Hinemoa once a year, in order to replenish tho provision dopots on the various islands for the use of shipwrecked crews, and the islands are very seldom visited by any othor vessel. The present inhabitants consist only of Mr Thos. Bell and family. The Messrs Cook 8103. have at present an important whaling station ab Whangamumu, on the norbhoni coast.

Mr H. K. Hovell wroto to the Crown Lands Board yesterday, stating that he had paid tho first year's rent for the leaeo of Meyer Island, a small islet noar Sunday Island, for tho purpose of establishing thereon a whaling and fishing station, which he said would bo to the advantage of bhe colony, as already set forth in a petition to Parliament, asking thab a duty might be laid on all impo/ted fifih oils, so as to assisb and "encourage tho local industry. He went on to say thab the petition was pinned by the Messrs Cook Bros, of the Bay of Islands, andhinisolf; they had pledged themselves to supply all the reauirements of the colony from their stations at the Bay of Islands and tho Kermadec3 (Meyer Islet) respectively. Proceeding, Mr Hovell said:—"lbis hardly needful to sob forth for your consideration tho great oxpeuso and courage needed to start such an industry on an .isolated rock in tho ocean. Tho bare requirements amounb to over £500, to properly equip three whaleboats, together with 600 45----gallon oil casks and 11 400-gallon tanks, which had already been ordered, besides guns, bomb-lances, harpoons, commonlances, blubber spades, mincing knives, six hundred fathoms Manila whale-lino, four brying oub pots, lance linos, etc., besides provisions for some 20 men and " laymen, some of whom are already engaged to start away aba giveu timo." Mr Hovell was granted a lease of half an aero on Meyer Island fronting the island.