A GUANO ISLAND.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16737, 18 December 1914, Page 5

A GUANO ISLAND.

LIFE ON MALDEN

PRIVATIONS OF THE INHABITANTS.

ON STARVATION RATIONS,

TROUBLE WITH NATIVE LABOUR [From Our Correspondent.] BLUFF, December 17.

The barque Irene, which arrived at the Bluff from Malden Island this week, brought some news of the inhabitants on that far-off equatorial island and of the exceptional conditions which have prevailed there during the past twelve months. These conditions were accentuated by the wreck of the barque Triton, which left the whole island at semi-starvation point, a state of things which ultimately resulted in serious trouble with the Kanakas employed there. Mr P. M’Sweeney, who has been chemist at the island during the last twelve months, returned by the barque, and was interviewed upon arrival. He gave au interesting narrative of his experiences, and left it plainly understood that he has no intention of returning. Mr M’Sweeney said that he had taken etery opportunity of thoroughly _ acquainting himself with the possibilities and requirements of Mald'en Island. “It is a bare, sun-scorched ocean island in dry weather,” he said, “ but after rain it quickly wears a green appearance as the grass comes up, and this lasts for a few weeks. The island is pear-shaped, and the highest point is only 30ft above sea level. Fortunately the last year was a wet one, and the tanks were always more or less full, consequently, although the provisions frequently ran out, there was always a plentiful supply of fresh water. The population consisted of six Europeans and ninety-three Natives, of whom sixty-three came from Niue Island and thirty from Aitutaki. Both these*'recruiting centres belong to New Zealand, whereas Malden Island is an Australian possession, leased' by Messrs Grice, Summer and Co., of Melbourne, since 1864.”

Mr M’Sweeney’s experiments and tests showed that there is still an abundance of guano of a 60 per cent quality, although tho greater quantity is about 40 per cent. Gften, however, after removing a 3ft layer of 40 per cent guano, a stratum of a higher grade is reached, sometimes as high as 70 per cent. About 2ft after that the coral is reached. In places pockets of guano of a very high grade (80 per cent) have been struck, but they are rare. As for the statement that the island is about worked out, he could give that an emphatic denial. Fully one-third of the island has never been worked, and some tests that he had made on that area disclosed a 65 per cent result. As for the part tapped by the tramway, there is an abundance of 60 per cent quality, both at “Frankston” and “Bunvood.” There is a lagoon in the centre of the island, but the quality is not high, on account of tho guano not having properly decomposed. Tests showed that the guano contained phosphate calcium, carbonate calcium, sulphate calcium, and about half per cent of organic matter, containing traces of aluminium and iron.

ISLAND WORKERS ON STRIKE. The natives receive £3 a month and rations, the engagement being for nine months, and they receive 10s a month demurrage (without work) after that term has expired. At present the Niue islanders are out on strike against the terms. They are satisfied enough with the £3 a month for work, but are right up against the demurrage clause, and claim £5 a month at the expiry of the nine months. Last month the barque Oberon called at Niue for labour, but the captain would not agree to the £5 a month demurrage, and as the natives would not budge from their terms the Oberon had to sail without any labour »t all. How she will load, said Air M’Sweeney, is a ’mystery. The Niue Islanders consider themselves New Zealanders now, and have become very Independent. STORES RUN SHORT. The understanding the owners have is that a three montus’ supply of emergency stores shall be kept on the island, but for some reason or other these supplies have not been kept up. For instance, the Triton, which was Wrecked on her way to IVlalden Island, was due on December 26, and the island stores had petered out by that time, and all hands were eking out only a bare existence*. As the manager wrote in the log, the bill-of-fare for the whites was “ hot even equal to a third-class restaurant at any time,” and consequently when everyone was put on to half ‘rations, things were ‘‘anyhow.” They shot a few “tinribbed ” goats and caught some blackfish, with which they struggled along until the s.s. Strathallan called on February 9 with provisions. They had the fish on week days and the goat flesh on Sundays, when they had time to tackle it, because it was very tough and veiy little of it. Of the goats shot, not a single one produced “ a decent chop.” The Strathallan brought provisions which lasted them some time. Later on in the year stores again ran out, and half rations had once more to be resorted to, much to the disgust of the whites and ' to the indignation of the

natives, who showed marked resentment. The full rations _of each native under normal conditions lib rice and lib bread daily and li>b meat and 2oz tea per week. It was not much for big healthy natives working hard all day, but half of it meant being next door to starvation. The natives came to the manager, in a body and told him in a threatening manner that unless the food was increased they would break open the bread store and take the food. They said that hah rations were worse than cruel; it was 'starvation.

WHITES ARMED AGAINST ATTACK.

The manager had to take the high hand. He threatened, to shoot the first man who touched the bread store. That d d not seem to trouble them, and they departed, saying that they would carry, out their intention. Next day (Sunday) the whites held a full-dress parade with rifles, and spent a few hours demonstrating their shooting ability by smashing bottles on the fence. The regularity with which the bottles were knocked over rather overawed the natives, who were well aware that rifles, ammunition and handcuffs were more plentiful than provisions. The attack of the ninety-three natives on the six whites did not take place. Both settlements struggled on for several weeks on the simplest and scantiest lations until a barque arrived and relieved tho situation. In addition to.the shortage of provisions, the operations on the island have been much hampered by a shortage of rails for tho tramway and a shortage of guano bags. A request .was recently made by the manager for four miles of rails to open up another paddock and so facilitate operations, but all he go't back was a dozen rails, nnd the extension has not yet got under way. This means increased labour for the men and a smaller output per diem. The engine which draws the trucks is out of use on account of the mechanic having thrown up the job, and there is no one left to run the. motor. This means that only one trip (by native haulage) from the head of the line to the jetty can be made per diem instead of two, tho daily output being reduced from thirty-five tons to eighteen tons. In easterly weather, however, a thirtyfoot sail can be rigged up, and that will run the trucks down to the jetty and so save labour on the part of tho staff. The shortage of guano bags is also a factor in causing a decreased output. The guano lias to be bagged and sent out to the ships in the roadstead in a surfboat. It takes two bales of bags to load a ship, the strength of the guano eating up tho bags in next to no time. The sailmaker recently made a canvas cover for the lighter, but owing to 'tho shortage of bags he had to take it off the craft and cut it up for bags. AWKWARD PLACE FOR SHIPS. Mr M’Sweeney said that years ago there used to be two mooring buoys at Malden Island, but one disappeared, and the lessees had not replaced it. / second buoy was absolutely necessary, because frequently a barque arrived before her predecessor bad finished loading, and that meant that tno new arrival had to go out to sea again and stay there for a month or so till the buoy was vacant. This entailed a lot of worry to ship and also a lot of expense, because the lessees would not commence their contract until the vessel concerned was tied up. The barque Oberon arrived a month befoi-e tho Irene left, and had to put to sea again. The Fram is due shortly also. The Oberon may get her loading carried on shorthanded, but the remaining Kanakas will probably return with her, and the Fram, to load 40 per cent guano for Tasmania, will probably not bo able to load at all. “Things are not very bright at the present time in the labour question,” Mr M’Sweeney concluded. “The natives have to be kept in their place, too, as I know to my cost. I. wad knooked down twice, and one of the men was fined £5 for it. They do not like fines; they would sooner take punishment anv dav.”

Mr Al’Sweeney will return to Alelbourne by the s.s. AVimmera next week.