NAURU ISLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 11

NAURU ISLAND.

EXPORT OF PHOSPHATE,

"Xauru" w«s the subject chosen by Rotarian A. F. Ellis tor an address at the weekly luncheon of the Auckland Kottrv Clttb tfhis afternoon. -Obi ■.©Uβ stated that Nauru Island was indwn «s Tleasant Island prior to Germany taking control, and he thought it waj Better known by that name. It ins discovered in 1798 and wae situated one degree from the Equator, and 2300 miles due north of New Zealand. It was fortunate it was situated south of the line,, for all the German islands that were north of it were occupied by Japan. Xiuru was about 11 miles in circumference, and waa surrounded by a. belt «f coewnut trees. The main industry was the export, of phosphates, but where there was no phosphate coconuts flourished, and these were turned into copr*. There was a about 1200, and the natives were of fine physique, and were very intelligentthough they did not like Tegular manual work. ■ Regarding the working of the phosphate, he stated that Chinese were mostly used to carry it to the trucks, which conveyed it to tlie crushers. Modern machinery had been installed fer this purpose, but it had tan found that the Chinese were Reaper. The phosphate, after going into the crushers, was put through drierg and thence conveyed by electric aotor-hauled trucks to the p"ier, where » wag transferred to lighters and carried wtw ihip'i B jj e% Tj, ey cou ] d i, an( iic "W ten* a day, working two shifts, *!«.<* wa» faster than it could be disthiried at Auckland. A cantilever •truetnre was to be erected, and from m tke phosphate would go right into i«e ihip'e hold, thus reducing tlje cost of handling. ** sir. Ellis pointed out the tremendous niue of phosphate to Ktw Zealand for VWimeaae phoephorie acid, which had ««»taken out of the land by previous and grazing would be restored«e ttjdtoht that with this phosphate •WM-elase land could be made into real «**! e»irymg land if railway communirfui*\T M * ,e<> Provided. The total W»«pn»te shipped during Britain'e :!s*!£»P "«f the island was 887,000 tone wooJt*i ZealaB * lest year had ** kep