Master Of Liner Takes Trees For Planting On Pitcairn Island

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28160, 26 December 1956, Page 8

Master Of Liner Takes Trees For Planting On Pitcairn Island

“The Press" Special Service

WELLINGTON, December 25. An unusual interest of Captain A. C. Jones, master of the Shaw Savill liner Corinthic, is a small-scale afforestation on Pitcairn Island, lonely home of the descendants of the mutineers of H.M.S. Bounty in mid-Pacific, and well-known to travellers between New Zealand and Panama.

Having been a frequent caller at the island in Shaw Savill ships during the last 20 years, though he has never landed there. Captain Jones became aware that serious erosion was in progress at various points, notably at the eastern end and in the valley above the landing place in Bounty Bay. The erosion was mainly caused by the ravages of goats in areas of scrub 'from which the big trees had been taken by the islanders for their timber needs.

“There are far too many goats on the island,” said Captain Jones, “and I have been badgering the Pitcairn Islanders for years to get rid of them.”

In March of last year he delivered to the islanders a small Norfolk Island pine which was planted on a bare slope at the east end. It has since made rapid growth—at least three times that of similar trees in New Zealand—and in a few years’ time will become a prominent landmark. On his next voyage to New Zealand in July, 1955. Captain Jones got into touch with Mr E. Hutt, director of parks and reserves at Wellington, who showed great interest in a replanting scheme. He supplied six young kauris, six eucalypts, 12 ngaios, six Norfolk pines, six akeakes, and three pohutukawas, which were handed over when the Corinthic made her next call at Pitcairn. These were supplemented last April by a further gift by Mr Hutt of 24 eucalypts. 12 acacias. 12 pohutukawas. and six Norfolk Island pines. All have since made good growth, and Captain Jones hopes to take a further supply of selected trees when he leaves Auckland homeward-bound on January 25.

Pitcairn, which lies in mid-ocean 2960 miles and nearly eight days’ steaming from Wellington, is a tiny island about two and a half miles in length and one mile in breadth. Its peaks rise to a height of about 1000 feet and can be seen at a distance of 50 miles. Over a great part of the

island the verdure is thick and luxuriant. The soil is most fertile and the islanders raise large quantities of plantains, pineapples, oranges, limes, melons, and sugar cane, as well as maize and two crops of potatoes a year. There are no springs on the island, which depends on the frequent rainfall for its water supply. The nearest neighbours of Pitcairn are Oeno Atoll, 70 miles away, and Henderson Island, 106 miles distant, and these are often visited by the islanders in their boats. In addition to calling off Pitcairn Island in the Corinthic, Captain Jones usually gives his passengers a fairly close view of Rapa Island, lying about 776 miles to the south-west. Rapa is an extinct volcanic crater with bare, jagged peaks rising like saw-teeth about its perimeter.