New Zealand Calendar

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVIII, Issue 297, 1 December 1928, Page 9

New Zealand Calendar

This Week s Anniversary

Discovery of Chatham Islands

(Specially Written for the “Tribane.")

One hundred and thirty-eight years ago, on November 29, 1790, the Chatham Islands were discovered by Lieutenant Broughton. Although in 1841 an attempt was made by the New Zealand Company to purchase the islands to sell them again to a German company, they remain a part of New Zealand, and in future it may well be that they will become one of the favourite holiday resorts for the people of this country..

IT has been suggested that the Morioris—the people who inhabit the Chatham Islands—are the original New Zealand stock. Although no certainty can be arrived at on the point, the similarity of the language to that of the Maoris is striking and interesting.

This outlying group is 414 statute' miles E.S.E. from Wellington and 536 miles eastward of Lyttelton. There are two principal islands and several unimportant islets. The largest is Rekohi, of about 230,000 acres. On it there is a large lake or lagoon, and the country is covered over a fourth of its area with forest, the remainder being fem and grass country, with low, easy hills.

Pitt Island, the next in size, covers some 15,000 ac;es, and has good grazing land. Steamers call regularly every two months at the islands, but during the summer

months from January to April them is almost a weekly service. The climate is excellent, and there is every facility for an enjoyable and quiet holiday. There are two excellent hotels. Launches or horses may be .hired to traverse the various beauty-spots, and good fishing is to be had. For the sportsman, indeed, there are few places that can promise a better vacation. Black swan and duck abound, and good bags are assured.

The fish freezing industry flourishes on the islands. The product is shipped to Wellington and Lyttelton, ana the trade is a thriving one. Little change has taken place in the islands since their discovery, except that cultivation of the land has extended and the native Morioris have considerably decreased. Possibly when aeroplane transport has become universal, the trip to Chatham Island will be amongst the most popular.