NORFOLK ISLAND

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 113, 9 November 1921, Page 14

NORFOLK ISLAND

(FROM OUR OWN CORRB6PONDENT.)

SYDNEY, 25th October. ;-Norfolk Island, Australia's most remote island dependency, is making satisfactory progress, according to the annual report of the Administrator (Mr. Ji W. Parnell) for tho year ended 30th June, which has ]ÜBt beon tabled in the Federal Parliament. This tiny Commonwealth possession, of 8528 aoree, was taken over from New South'Walos in 1914, and the April Census gave its population as 717. Mr. Parnell'e report is mostly a ohroniole of email matters. The island's export trade is chiefly with the Commonwealth, but lately an experimental shipment of fruit and produoe has been sent to New Zealand, which is only 400 miles distant from Norfolk Island, compared with 930 miles to Sydney. The inadequacy of the shipping service is the greatest drawback to the progress of the island. The Makambo calls only once in two months, and is too small to accommodate tho passengers 'and cargo. Fish abound, but the amount for export had had to be curtailed: owing to lack of freezing space. The island is extraordinarily fertile, lemons and other fruts growng wild. Passion fruit flourishes prolifically and the export of preserved fruits and jams otters 'almost unlimited possibilities." The Administrator direots attention to the potentialities of the whaling industry if developed with modern appliances, as hundreds of whales pass Norfolk during the season. "With improved shipping facilities," remarks Mr. Parnell, "the progress of tbo island would bo a«sured.! If the servico were better and more frequent, quite apart from; export considerations, the tourist traffio would inorease rapidly, for as a health' resort and a beauty spot,1 Norfolk Island is unsurpassed." The climate is sub-tropioal and wonderfully milo% and its salubrious nature may be inferred from the fact that the average age of the 24 survivors of the Pitcairn lilandor* who arrived in 1856 is 73- .