A ROMANTIC ENTERPRISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 230, 28 September 1935, Page 2 (Supplement)

A ROMANTIC ENTERPRISE.

OCEAN ISLAND AND NAURU,

It was not nntil tho year 1900 that the phosphate deposits on Ocean Island ancl Nauru were discovered; in 1933 the production from the two islands exceeded 550,000 tons. Behind those dates and production figures lies an exceedingly interesting story, which has been well told by Mr. Albert F. Ellis, C.M.G., F.R.G.S., of Auckland, in "Ocean Island and Nauru" (Angus and Robertson). No other man is so well entitled to tell the story, for it was Mr. Ellis who, noticing a piece of what was believed to be "fossilised wood" in Ins company's Sydney office, had it analysed, with the result that it was found to be phosphate rock of the highest quality. It had come from Nauru. Mr. Ellis throughout the pioneering period was island manager of the 'company. In 1912 he became local director, with residence in New Zealand. In 1920 when the British Phosphate Commissioners assumod control, lie was appointed tho New Zealand Government representative, and in fliat position he is now the ouly remaining member of the original board. He thus has the rare satisfaction of being able to contemplate the magnificent success of an enterprise for whose very origin ho was in part responsible and in the development of which he played a man's part. The phosphate deposits were there, as it was discovered, in millions of tons, and the demand for them quickly grow, but tho difficulties of loading and transporting them were great indeed. This book contains an account of those difficulties and the measures by which they were overcome. It contains also—an especially pleasing feature—a description of the natives found on the islands and the constant regard of the company (and later tho commissioners) for their welfare. It was fortunate indeed for the natives that the white men who came to exploit tho riches of tho islands were men of ideals. As for the use of the phosphate deposits on the island (those on Nauru aro more than four times as great as those on Ocean Island), Mr. Ellis estimates that one 8000-ton cargo, manufactured into fertiliser, would bo sufficient for the topdressing of 1500 New Zealand dairy farms, or 400,0t>0 acres of Australian wheat lands.