PHOSPHATE FROM NAURU

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21732, 14 March 1936, Page 13

PHOSPHATE FROM NAURU

,— —- HOW THE INDUSTRY BEGAN ADDRESS BY GoMaMEK R. C. GARCIA The discovery of .phosphate deposits on Nauru Island, leading, to the beginnings of . its present big industry, was interestingly told to many old boys of the Christchurch Boys* High School at a luncheon in Baliantynes yesterday. The speaker, the guest of honour at the luncheon, .was Com*mander R. C, Garda; a distinguished old boy of the school, who is Administrator of Nauru. ' . '...,■■■ The story of the. discovery was this. Commander Garcia Said. Mr Albert Ellis, now New Zealand Commissioner on the island, had used a big piece jtf rock from the island to prop open his office door. For years and years the rock had been there, until finally his curiosity was piqued;; and he had the stone analysed. Phosphate was revealed,. Mr Ellis vilited; the island, saw the vastness of the deposits, and from that the Pacific Phosphate * Company had Its beginning. Later the company was bought out by the Governments: of Great Britain, Australia, and New Zealand. Mr Ellis was the New' Zealand; Commissioner of the three Phosphate Commissioners controlling the Industry of the island. • , Commander Garcia dealt ■' interestingly of the growth of the industry, giving details of the improved loading facilities, which were of great importance to the Island's trade, obviatmg many delays. This year about 500,000 tons of phosphate was to be .exported, mostly to Australia and New Zealand, and the Industry was growing all the time. Preparations were being made to handle 1,000,000 tons in the future. The speaker also gave details of the administrative side of the island, the type of natives on It, and their training and development. Mr Colin Milne, who presided at the luncheon, in welcoming Commander Qarqia, paid a tribute to the influence that the name of Garcia had had on ’the traditions of the school, The Garcia family was amongst those who had brought great honour to the school and to its traditions. >,. ' • •; V