FRUIT AND SUNSHINE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 19 October 1928, Page 11

FRUIT AND SUNSHINE.

NORFOLK ISLAND LIFE

HAWERA RESIDENTS’ FUTURE

Settlement in the sub-tropical Norfolk Island, where fruit growing comprises the staple industry' and life is governed on ideal, community, principles is the immediate prospect of Mr. and Mrs. P. M. Pratt and family, of Hawera, who are proceeding to their future home early next month. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt returned to Hawera last week after spending five weeks on the island. .. ‘‘The thousand or so inhabitants of the island,.form an ideal community,” said Mr. Pratt during a conversation with a “Hawera Star” reporter.. “They pay no- taxes except Is fid for dogs,” lie remarked with a smile, “and such a thing as stamp duty is unknown. You can issue a receipt for £IOOO, if you are fortunate enough,; with only, a cordial thank you.” , : Practically the only public works' were, the mads, explained Mr. Pratt. These were maintained by the island residents themselves', all of whom were required to give at least two weeks’ service annually in that work, Should, a resident wish to escaoe that obligation he could do bv the payment of £3, but the impression gained by Mr. Pratt was that-the actual service was performed almost without exception. AUSTRALIAN ADMINISTRATION.

‘ ‘The administration of the island is under the control of the New South: Wales Government, which appoints ii resident Administrator, and the people -are represented in their- adminis--trative affairs by the Executive Council, which is elected much in the same manner as the local bodies m New Zealand,” continued Mr Iratt., The whole extent- of the asr: land was about 9000 acres, the; greater portion of which was occupied in small holdings cultivated as fruit farms. The mild climate with a mean' temperature of about 68 degrees was particularly suitable for that purpose. A hi"- proportion of the- farms were freehold, valued at £3O to £4O an acre, and others were Crown land sections leased for terms of 21 years, at rentals of half a- crown an acie <ii ' e Six to ten acres under cultivation provided a comfortable living. Banana, crops, which were at present being developed intensively for export to Australia and New Zealand, yielded re-j turns of up to £BO an acre, and jiractically t-\vo crops could be grown m a year.' Passion fruit, which grew wild and was being greatly improved in quality through cultivation, afforded another means of liberal remuneration, and among principal other fruits which flourished were lemons, oranges, andj pineapples and tlie recently introducedCanadian Wonder beans, the lattercatching the early markets in Aust, rail a and New Zealand. . ' - , A pulp industry was being develop-, od with passion fruit. Last season oneAustralian firm which installed ma-i eliinery on t-lie island had paid the islanders £6OO through this industry, • and with- further development this; source of revenue would he greatly augmented.

POPULAR WITH TOURISTS.

Regular services were maintained to and from Auckland and- Sydney, ap-' proximately 600 and 900 miles distant respectively, by the Union Steam Ship Company and the Burns, Philp Company boats, which brought considerable numbers of tourists, together with supplies required from the. outside. world, and on the return voyages, carried the island pnyluce. The popularity of the island as a tourist resort was evidenced to Mr. Pratt by the. big number of visitors present during his brief residence and the fact that, when arranging passages for liis family next month, he found accommodation on the steamers was hooked; up to the end of January. j Kingston on the north side and Cascades on the south were the ports,! though thev were without wharfage; for large vessels, surf boats being used! for connection between the steamers,; which anchored out in the ocean roadstead, and the shore jett-ys. ; Accommodation for visitors was pro-' vided at- a. number of private hotels, j though no .liquor licenses were a vail-1 able,' the island being a perpetual “dry” area, and consequently free .of) the prohibition Question which period!-j caUv vexed peoples of other lands.

Two public schools and a private school provided for the education of the vounger members of the community.

Dairying, except for domestic pur-' poses, was not carried on, and the! cattle on the island were poor ini quality compared with Taranaki stand-, arris. owing to the difficulty of culti-< rating pasturage.

“TREE OF KNOWLEDGE.”

The principal timber on the island; was the Norfolk Island pine,' which j grew to a great height. Speaking of; these trees, Mr. Pratt referred to an avenue which, flanking one of the principal roads near Kingston, was about a. mile and a quarter in length. It was formed of pines averaging 150 to. 160 feet in height, and many of which were five feet through at the base. The trunk of one of tho;se trees was used for the purpose of displaying public notices (there being no newspapers published locally), and was commonly referred to as the. “Tree of Knowledge.” Mr. Pratt intimated that be had acquired the freehold of a fruit-grow-ing property, and was also contemplating commencing business in a furniture warehouse, this being one of the '■omparntively few modern businesses or professions which were not at present represented on the island.