A STRANGE TALE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 78, 1 April 1905, Page 3

A STRANGE TALE.

FROM THE SQUTH SEA ISLANDS,.

WAS THEKJs A WRECK?

It was about three months ago (says the "Australian Star" of March 2-3) that the schooner Enterprise left Sydney on a cruise to the Islands, bound only those on board knew whither. She returned to Sydney with an interesting tale. IXiriiig her cruise the captain called at Long Island, which is same 230 miles west of Surprise Island, the schooner's destination. The crew of the Enterprise were surprised to find, upon landing at Long Island, that there were evidences there of a Big wreck having occurred within a short distance of the island. Innumerable pieces of wreckage, some of them 18ft long, had been washed ashore there, all quite new, as if tha WTeck had recently occurred. Some 191 pieces of Oregon timber from the floating flotsam were brought to Sydney by the Enterprise, although there are no marks upon the wreckage to lead to the identification of hte vessel lost.

Upon landing upon the island the crew of the Enterprise were surprised to find a hut, in which was stacked a quantity of new-looking red timber, including window glass, etc., 'which appeared as if it had been temporarily stowed there. There were evidences, too, of someone having, within latter years, been upon the island, in the shape of pipes, fish-hooks, nails, etc Some half a dozen goats, too, in a wild state, were seen scampering about the island. The only' domestic animal seen on this lonely little spot in the Pacific was a cat. This, too, had apparently become wild.

The hut on Long Island was, of course, abandoned, and whether the WTeck had occurred on the island itself it is impossible to say, but those on board the Enterprise are quite satisfied that the wreck was only of recent occurrence. Long Island was in the old days a guano station.

The beaches of Long Island, report Captain W. W. Evans, of the Enterprise, were literally strewn -with timber, which had certainly not been in the water very long. The reefs in the vicinity of the island, too, weTe covered with wreckage.

At Surprise Island, where the Enterprise last called, the population is tiny. There are only three whites and 24 kanakas there. They live a lonely, but comfortable life. Captain Evans, of the Enterprise, reports that the residents of Surprise Island are quarrying a quantity oi stone —sand-stone —there now, and are exporting it.