LORD HOWE ISLAND

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 23 November 1932, Page 8

LORD HOWE ISLAND

HOME OF SIMPLE LIFE

DEPRESSION HARDLY KNOWN I The simple and contented life led on \ Lord Howe Island was described by Air 0. W T . -All-sop, F.Rt I .8.A.. who returned to Auckland on Friday, reports the “Auckland Star.” He was practising; in Auckland until six yea 1 s ago and Tias spent the interval in travel. He and his wife went to Lord Howe with the idea of spending a few weeks there, but they stayed ten months. Situated about 900 miles- from Auckland and 43d miles from Sydney, Lord Howe Island was little known to New Zealanders until Mr F. C. Cinehestei brought it into prominence by making it one of the stepping stones of h.is flight from Auckland to Australia. Recently the Auckland launch Beth called there oil her adventurous- trip across the Tasman The island is about seven miles long, and its average width, is one mile. Its distinctive features are the two mountains bn its southern end, one of which rises to a height of 284.0 ft; Tt can be observed from the sea from a distance of JO miles. It was discovered about 178 S, and its first settlers were Maoris, who sailed there from New Zealand in 1543, but returned after a few years. Now the island lias u> population Qt about) I—o, the majority of Tahitian descent, comprising forty odd families. The island is a- part of New South "Wales, and is administered by a board of control from Sydney.

NO TRAFFIC IN LAND Only about- three square miles of the island" are cultivated, and the settlers occupy allotments under a -system known as- permissive occupancy, no traffic in land 'being allowed. It is, the home cf the beautiful Iventia palm, which. is indigenous to this island only, and its- cultivation for export as a decorative plant is the chief industry. Four to- five thousand bushels -of serai of the paint have been, exported for many years, on a, community basis, and the proceeds, at £5 a bushel, are invested by the -board of control and- the interest- paid id the settlers. Although the demand for the seed has- fallen off the inhabitants are still receiving their interest, and they are in the happy position of hardly feeling the world depression. Mr and Mrs All.sop found the island an ideal -spot for a- restful holiday. It is popular with holiday-makers from Australia, and about 40 to 50 visitors arrive regularly bv the Morinda, which maintains a regular service from Sydney at intervals of six weeks. The resident population lives in cottages, mostly built of asbestos sheeting, picturesquely set among the palms. Motor vehicles are not known, for they are not allowed, the means of transport along the earthen roads being horses and carts. There are no telephone, no picture shows and no licensed hotels. An excellent wireless plant keeps the ccmmunitv in touch with, the outside world.

.Fisliina; and launch trips around the coral- reef which tsurrounds tlie island are the principal occupations, of visitors, but they also play tennis and bowls. The bowling rmk is set among palms and flowering trees, and in Mr Allsop’s opinion is one. of the most picturesque in the world. Sheltered waters, in the lagoons among the coral reels provide ample fishing grounds, and as the water is crystal clear fish can be observed to a. considerable depth. The most sought after fish is the blue cod, which is blue with golden spots. There are also salmon, trevalli, mullet, whiting, a. large garfish or piper and cod weighing anything from on lb to 1001 b.

SIXPENCE A TAJL FOR RATS

Lord Howe has gained notoriety for its plague of rats brought- to the island originally by the wrecking of a steamer and although Mr AJlsop states that lie never saw a live rate in the residential area, 'they am prolific in the interior, and rat hunting is a remunerative sport. The. Board of Control offers del a, tail, and in one year the catch was 20,000. Tli.is was no doubt responsible for the bonus, being reduced to 4d a tail recently. Trappers set their traps in the bush, and they were followed In cfowv and magpies,’ which fed on the carcases. The magpies, were imported to com ban the pest, but they confined their “hunting” to feeding from the carcases after the trappers' removed the tails.

NIHW GUINEA' AND SOLOMONS Mr and Mrs Aillsop als.o visited New Lumen, and the Solomon Islands, and found that they had been hit by the depression. Their chief export i§ copra and though it is being • exported a t a lass of about £1 a ton, this is inevitable to maintain the. plantations Interesting features of the domestic life noted were the Img” clam, shells, between two and three feet across which make admirable baths for the balnes. and the long vines, resembling supple jack which ayo used lor clothes lines ■ J v the natives.

‘Tn the Solomons the most picturesque spot. >s the- Buka. Passage, between the islands of Buka and New Ireland.” n-Vv •n Ml +i A i- s '°P- “ Tb -« passage is so n.u iow that one can almost toss a hisTi. l ili 0 n <;lt l< ' l / )1 the palm-lined shores. un L, p K ; wat r, ,s w < - J<?111 ' that the coral formation can be obsei \ed on the bed 50ft. below ’’ , theil ‘ hollda -V Mr and Mrs a, dtn ‘[ e<a m , otor trl P in Tasmania, and they have planned to continue the ■simple |,| o by spending tb c summer months in -sew Zealand w~n car and