ROCK PHOSPHATES.

Auckland Star, Volume L, Issue 223, 19 September 1919, Page 7

ROCK PHOSPHATES.

ROMANCE OF NAURU ISLAND. At the recent sitting of the Agricultural Hoard at Wellington recently, the question of rock phosphates occupied some attention, and evidence was given by Mr. A. K. Ellis of the value of the deposits at Nauru Island. The story was related briefly to a representative of the Auckland "Star -, by -Mr. Edwin Hall upon his return from the sitting of the Agricultural Isoard. Mr. Hal! mentioned that there resided in Auckland a captain who was cast away on Nauru T.-land, nnd never knew there were thousands upon thousands of pounds worth oi phosphate rock waiting to be claimed. This, however, is not so much to be wondered at, seeing that even the Germans, who are looked upon as groat sharps in chemistry, failed to recognise tke value of the inland. What was more, a specimen of the phosphate rook when sent '" Sydney was condemned as valueless, and it remained for a former resident of YVaikato, who now lives in Auckland, to practically demonstrate that Nauru Island possescil great wealth. The story ;r»os that a block of rock phosphate was declaTed by experts to bo petriiied wood. It was being used ac a block for a door in a chemical laboratory at Sydney, when it attracted the attention of Mr. Ellis, who promptly expressed « the opinion that it was phosphate rock. The fact that it had been condemned by scientists did not alter hie opinion upon j the matter. Mr. Ellis went to Nauru to I see if tliere was much of that rock on the island. Tt was then in the possession of the Germans, but they also kne«nothing about the deposit of phosphate rock. When Mr. Ellis asked permission to prospect, it was readily given, but he was informed that there was nothing of value to iind, as the island had been carefully examined by the officers of a German man of war, who found nothing. Mr. Ellis was provided with a guide, who afterwards said the white man was crazy, as he kept picking up bits of rock, and pouring medicine on them out of a bottle. .Some pieces he put in hits i pocket, and others he threw away. The I rest is history. Mr. Ellis secured rights ! over an area for !)!) years from the GerI mans, and the cornpanv wns formed to work the deposit. They also hoisted the British flag upon Ocean Island, as it was thought the deposit also existed there. (When the war broke out they hustled the Britishers out of Ocean Laland, but later were themselves cent away from Nauru, which now remains British territory.