NORFOLK ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 9091, 27 June 1888, Page 5

NORFOLK ISLAND.

[from OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] June '21. The whalers are beginning to mako their appearance again. On the 9th, tho Alaska, Captain Fisher, arrived, and two days after tho Petrol. Both have done poorly, tho former having only taken 250 and the latter IGO barrels since leaving here in the early part of the year. Captain Fisher reports the California as having done much better though, between 000 and 1000 barrels in very nearly the same time. As tho Alaska was leaking a little, Captain Fisher has gone to Sydney to get docked, and Captain Reid takes his departure this afternoon for another cruise.

Tho thirty-second anniversary of the landing of the Pitcairners on Norfolk Island was celebrated with much ceremony on the 14th insfc. The proper day was the Sth, the Friday previous, but as there was the funeral of a child on that afternoon, and, besides, the people were anxious to get the Mary Ogilvie, that was just completing her loading, away, the holiday was postponed. The day named turned out to be beautifully fine, and better than we have had for a considerable time past, and there was, therefore, a very large attendance. The Bounty pageant was, of course, the great feature in the day's proceedings, and was got up very creditably, far superior indeed to anything ever attempted before. The men were dressed well and correctly, and looked and acted the very characters they were impersonating. The march round the town, accompanies by their excellent drum and fife band, was exceedingly well done, and if there were a few antics, the discipline was good, and strictly enforced throughout the day. A few hints were doubtless imported from the Nelson, lately here, which would account for a torpedo lieutenant and hand signal or telegraph men, which one would suppose the old vessel of Bligh never had. However, these signal men appeared to get through a lot of work during the day. Ihe annual cricket match, H.M.s. Bounty v. All Comers, was played, and unlike tho Nelson's a little while ago, tho nautical people in this instance had very much the best of it, and in fact carried everything before them, much to the disgust of the chaffed and suffering All Comers. The match, although not finished, was drawn, very much in favour of the Bountys. As I have said, the weather was splendid, and there was a large muster in and around the town, the country people picnicing and taking it very easy in a cosy and sheltered nook over by the limekilns. The ball in the evening was very largely patronised, almost too crowded for comfort; the dresses of the girls chaste and neat, and the music, thanks to the Brothers Quintal, Hugo and Willie, all that could be desired.

The whaling season is upon us again. Whales are seen now every day, a sure sign that it is nearly time to be at work, so that in another week or two we may expect to see the boats afloat. There will be seven boats engaged in the fishery, and all are nearly ready and the men eager for the work, which is very congenial to their taste or habits.

The mission vessel Southern Cross, Captain Bongard, arrived very punctually yesterday, bringing back only Mr. Forrest, who looked very seedy, and a few natives. Captain Bongard reports having visited all the stations of the Melanesian Mission on the Banks, Hebrides, and Solomon Islands, and Santa Cruz, and brings a very good progress report from each. Mr. Forrest remained a few weeks at Santa Cruz, but had to be taken off on account of ague, the others who went, the Revs. Plant, Comins, and Mr. Turnbull, were left at the further north stations on the Solomons, and Mr. Cullwick remained at the Banks. Very boisterous and unsettled weather was encountered north. Captain Bongard says he had three blows from the north and three weeks' incessant rain.

The weather here at Norfolk Island has been curious too. A heavy thunderstorm passed over the Cascades on the morning of the 4th instant, and the lightning struck the overhanging precipice, just above the landing place, bringing down a large pile of rocks. Fortunately, no one was there at the time, but a whaleboat that was in tho vicinity had its fore compartment smashed to atoms. The electric fluid also struck a pine close by, sending up a large blaze in the pouring rain. Our much-esteemed island surgeon, Dr. Metcalfe, goes to Auckland by this opportunity, accompanied by his wife, on a wellearned and much-needed holiday. He goes to England for a short trip, returning in about six months. Dr. Welshman, of the Mission, in the meanwhile will look after his practice.