PITCAIRN ISLAND

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 53, 26 November 1928, Page 13

PITCAIRN ISLAND

Sir, —In this morning’s “Dominion I read with great interest your article on Pitcairn Island. . There are several statements m H requiring correction, and as a recent visitor there I can speak with authority. The island is not six miles long, but is five miles in circumference. There are not generally sufficient oranges or other fruit to build up a successful trade with New Zealand, even should the steamers be willing to take them. The islanders as a community do not want visitors and consistently turn down nearly all applications from persons desiring to visit for either short or long periods. Since my return I have had numerous requests to use my influence to get permits for persons desiring to go there, but I always advise no chance. The Chief Magistrate told me that he receives hundreds of applications every year, and the remarks re welcoming visitors can only add to the expense, which they cannot afford, in refusing by letter all such applications. The wireless transmitter in use was made by my son and given to them. The set sent by the Marconi Company is not yet in use, n there is no one there able to install it and it is awaiting our return to be fitted up. The signals from our own set were first heard by the operator of the Ruapehu, who prides himself on being the first to pick it up early last August when the ship was about one hundred miles away, on 480 metres.—l am, ete., A. HARE. Lower Hutt, November 23.