FANNING ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13626, 20 December 1907, Page 5

FANNING ISLAND.

INTERVIEW WITH THE PURCHASER. , By Telegraph..—Press Association.— Sydney, December 19. Mr. Humphrey Berkley, of Suva, who recently purchased Fanning Island for £25,000, is visiting Sydney. In the course of an interview Mr. Berkley said : "The nominal purchaser was Father gier, who is an intimate friend of mine in fact, he acted for me. The purchase, lias, however, no religious or political' significance whatever. I was originally half-owner of the island. • Both Washington and Fanning Islands are included in the purchase, and I wanted to determine the proprietorship either by partition or - sale, and„. the Court decreed the sale of* the island. This does not change the flag; I am an Englishman, and the coble station will always be Government property. For 1500 years the islands were without any population whatever are evidences ,of that. To-day there are 137 South Sea Islanders, recruited from other parts of the Pacific to work, the . copra plantations, and between 20 and 30 cable operators." .

The registrar to the High Commission** for the Western Pacific, added Mr Berkley, has given a certificate to the effect that the revenue from copra in the island is £8000 a year. In addition there are extensive deposits of phosphate of lime, which should also yield a large revenue.