GANNET ISLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18325, 15 February 1923, Page 12

GANNET ISLAND.

GREAT GUANO DEPOSITS. SCOPE FOR ENTERPRISE.

BT H.ir.a.

Manures do not come from Gannet Island yet, bat it is absolutely certain that they will eventually come from there, just as soon as the first enterprising man (with a little cash) steps ashore with a pros- j pecting spade on this lonely islet. He will stand upon an immense fortune—gold at his feetin fact, a mora certain means of gaining the glittering and elusive "root of all evil" than delving for it in any mine. This Gannet Island (I believe there are other islets of similar name elsewhere round our shores) lies about nine miles off Albatross Point, and about the same distance from the opposite mainland, in the large bight before you enter the Kawhia Harbour. It is a small islet, and evidently is the top of an extinct volcano. The writer and a friend visited this lonely islet some 25 years ago, to prospect its possibilities, having been greatly interested in watching the huge cloud of sea birds that were constantly hovering over it. We noticed that they were, principally mollyhawks and gulls of different kinds. We ran our sailing boat straight for it, and the sea being exceptionally calm, we had no difficulty in making a landing. •> ■

Oloudu of Sea Birds. The island was literally covered with sea fowl, and although thousands of them arose and wheeled on high upon our arrival, the vast majority took little or no apparent notice of us, until we started in among them, when many more flew up and circled around. Most of those remaining, we ascertained, were sitting upon eggs, it being evidently the . breeding season. We thoroughly explored almost every square yard of the place, and were struck by the enormous deposits of guano all over the place. With what crude things we could find we dug down into this guano until we were tired. Night began to fall, and as the sea was showing signs of restlessness, we came away. The islet is high on the north end, about 60ft. above the sea, and slopes from this high part to almost sea level at the southern and eastern ends. We came to the conclusion that the high part, which was slightly concave in the middle, was the crater of an extinct volcano that had been filled up during the countless years by the droppings from the innumerable seafowl that had * made it their home right down the ages of time. My friend and I were younger thenalas! how the fleeting years glide by— • what was worse for our project of exploiting the wealth that lay upon the breast of Gannet Island, we were both then well "heeled" as far as this world's goods go, and therefore somewhat indifferent. Negotiations for Lease.

However, we determined to buy the island if possible. I remember writing to the Crown authorities offering to buy the island for cash, and after a lot of delay at Kawhia and a lot of correspondence with the Minister in charge of these islands (then Sir Joseph Ward), we were informed that the Crown would only give us a lease of the island, under the usual conditions of working the guano deposits. We thought some of the conditions rather irksome, and savouring of too much red tape, but later again opened negotiations with the Crown officers, and were offered a very long lease (under better conditions than the former terms). Then my friend, having left for Australia on urgent business, on short notice, became seriously ill a few days after he arrived in Sydney, and in another fortnight his spirit had taken flight. After this I left Kawhia and the thoughts of Gannet Island far astern. It is indeed strange to me to think of the distance we bring guano while our own possessions lie neglected for want of exploitation and the necessary enterprise to work them.