Pitcairn Islanders Face The End Of An Era

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30393, 18 March 1964, Page 17

Pitcairn Islanders Face The End Of An Era

(N Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, Mar. 16.

Fletcher Christian’s last descendant is expected soon to leave the South Sea island of Pitcairn and end the story of the Mutiny on the Bounty. Within two years the island that was occupied by the

mutineers and their families for 170 years will be left to palm trees. By then all the inhabitants are expected to have left. There are no longer enough able-bodied men to man the long-boats—Pitcairn’s lifeline with civilisation. Fewer than 100 remain—not many more than when the Bounty mutineers landed with their native women and followers in 1790.

Only two families perpetu ate the names of the muti neers.

They are the descendants of Fletcher Christian and Midshipman Edward Young, the two officers among the original settlers. When trans-Pacific liners stopped calling, the islanders could no longer sell their wood carving to passengers. Young people went to New Zealand to find work, sickness took others to hospital there and few wanted to return. Weeds, blights and destructive insects gained the upper hand as the number of ablebodied men decreased. The Pitcairn Islanders “are talking about the end.”

Taiboys In London (N.ZJ».A.-Reuter— Copyright)

LONDON, March 16.

New Zealand’s Minister for Agriculture and Science, Mr Brian Taiboys, arrived in London by air tonight to lead the New Zealand delegation to the conference on Commonwealth trade, opening on Thursday.