A THREATENED EVICTION.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 13110, 8 May 1908, Page 8

A THREATENED EVICTION.

TROUBLE AT NORFOLK ISLAND

(FROM Ofß' OWN CORRESPONDENT.) NORFOLK ISLAND, April 13

We are having something in tho nature of a mild rebellion going on at present in connection with the houses in the township which wero built by tho convicts <ii resideneci lei the officers in charge at that time. Substantial fetono 'buildings they are yet— many of them are still occupied by families of the Pitcairn Islanders, and have been so ever since thry came hero fifty years ago.

The authorities, deputed by tho Governor of New South Woles to administer the affairs ot the island, notit'usl tlu« inhabitants of tlwso houses that they must quit and givo up possession to the Government. This tliey strenuously declined to do, a;id cabkd to his Majesty the King t;> protect their right-s, claiming that the houses were given to them by her Majesty, the lato Queen Victoria.

However, it docs not appear tlmt they havo any real claim io tho ownership of the hou&vi: at all events, they c:ui picduce no d««unu i ntary evidence to that effort, nnd many of these who landed with them on i-iii'ir first arrival stato tlwt they w«»re otUj* to stay in liousoti until tv.ch time as they could build houses on tho sections ot land (-50 acre*) -whidi wore given to enrh fiimilv on arrival.

After considerable delay and correspondence, the Government agreed to allow thorn and their direct descendants to tho third generation to occupy the houses free of clwirge, on condition of their signing « document acknowledging the ownership of the Government, and guaranteeing to keep the houses in repaii, failing which they must give up possession. Those tcnr:-5 they decline to accept, declaring thi> houses were theirs, ami l they were determined to keep them come what may.

After further delay and renewed persuasion having failed to move them in their determination, they were given U> the 10th hist, to accept tho terms olfered, or be- turned out.

However, there was r.o response., so on the day appointed the Chief Magistrate, accompanied by the superintendent of police and four constables, went to the first house in tho row, and found the door shut. They pushed their way in. however, On their appearance the occupier of the house, a widow, became greatly excited, and fainted. The doctor had to hs called in. and he recommended delay- in the proceedings for a time. The next none© was entered, and the occupier, an old man, was found calmly smoking tho pipe of peace. At this stage, the crowd of old Pitcairners, who had been following the police, called for o, parley with the Magistrate, and warned him that in some of the other houses there wero younger men, and if ho persisted tho consequences might "bo serious, and also that they expected further communication' from London on the subject, and asked' liim to stay prccecdinjis until the cablegram which they expected arrived. This, it appears, wa.s agreed , to.

However, matters can hardly remain us they are-, and unless some valid reason is shown-, the Government will no doubt carry out th-eir purpose. Twelve special constables wero sworn in a few days ego, but so far they have not been called out.