NORFOLK ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 6

NORFOLK ISLAND.

[from odb own correspondent.] September 22. There is not much local news to chronicle. We have had no lack of callers, however, since the Sea Breeze left, which has made things rather buoyant.

H.M.S. Diamond, on her way from Sydney to Fiji, arrived on the 23rd ult., and remained over night until noon the next day. Some of the officers landed aud had a cruise over the island, and, sailor fashion, were rather hard on horseflesh.

The American whaler Adelaide Gibbs, Captain Keid, 30 months out, with 1100 barrels of oil, called in for recruits on the 13th inst., leaving on the 20th for the Chatham Island

ground. The missionary vessel Southern Cross, Captain Bongard, returned on the 15fch from iier second cruise, all well, brioging the Revs. Palmer and Ruddock, and a number of natives. Mr. Bice was left at Maewo, and Mr. Brittain at Araga, and excepting Santa Cruz the vessel went the round of all the stations. Mr. Penny is still at Florida, aud from letters received the work there was most hopeful. 120 adults had baptised, aud at all the schools a second set of catechumens were waiting ; and throughout his large district the people were [asking for teachere. Mr. Ruddock's work, on the other hand, has been rather discouraging. He made an attempt on the north end of Guadalcanal and although he was received very friendly by the chief, he could not get any (urtner. It would be giving up too much, he thought, to embrace the- missionary's doctrine.; the head hunting raids, too, from the neighbouring island of Savo made his situation particularly precarious. Mr. Palmer brings a good account from Mota (the Parnell of Polynesia), and the Banks' Islands. His work is very cheering, and throughout the large diouise of Melanesia g>od progress is being nude. The Southern Cross left on the 18tb, taking Bishop Selwyn, who will make a flying visit to all the stations, going as far as Florida to pick up Mr. Penny. The weather has been much against whalLug, and indeed, since the season commenced, the days have been few in which the boats could get to sea. Two more whales, though, have been added to the score, both by the same boat ("Joe Hunital's") making a little over five tuns which has been shipped by the present opportunity. Although pressed for time, the whalesmen gave up a day last month to give the school children a treat during their holidays, by takiug threm through the arch at the cascade. This arch, which is distant from the landing place, west, about a mile and a-half, is of the quei3rest of nature's handiwork— perfet iu proportion. Its dimensions are grand, and, seen from a distance, it appears like the domo of some vast submarine edifice. Their seven boats were employed, and conveyed safely during the morning 300 visitors, children and their friends, to the point of observation. Afterwards, the blubber hunters provided tea and biscuits for all hands, and were rewarded by capturing a whale, in full view, whilst the visitors were partaking of their hospitality.

Our Horticultural Society had their annual meeting on the 12th, presided over by the bishop, and, after the usual routine business had been got rid of, gave a very interesting address, in which he urged several very necessary mattets, one of the most prominent being increased exertion to get regular communication, but of course it goes in at one ear aud out at the other, and that's all about it. An old Pitcairner, and one of the second generation, passed quietly away on the 16th ult. She was Charlotte, wife of Charles Christain, of the Cascade. Influenza is very prevalent. The Orpheus arrived from Noumea on the 14fch, and leaves this afternoon for your port with a full cargo of produce.