NORFOLK ISLAND NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19892, 10 March 1928, Page 12

NORFOLK ISLAND NOTES.

STEADY PROGRESS IN TRADE.

[FROM: OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

NORFOLK, ISLAND, March 3,

The steady progress of Norfolk Island is indicated by the imports. Since the beginning of the year the Hinemoa has brought from New Zealand nearly 400 tons of cargo, while the Sydney boat brought 140 tons ot general merchandise. This is the largest consignment landed on the island since the days when the cable station was being erected over 20 years ago. The Sydney boat also loaded here the largest number of packages yet shipped from the island, over 1200 all told. Visitors have come by hundreds during the past 12 months, the Hinemoa bringing no fewer than 40 passengers on her last trip, with 100 tons of cargo in her hold. Dr. Duke, the medical officer of the island, returned by the Hinemoa after a month's furlough in New . Zealand. The month of February was anything but a lucky month at the cottage hospital during his absence. The doctor in charge visited the steamer Makambo as health, officer, tripped over a mat on board, and fell down the compani<nway, thus becoming a patient for a day or two in his own /hospital. • A week latisr the matron was stepping into her gi/j when something startled the pony, which bolted and jumping a barbed-wire fence, smashed a shaft and ' otherwise damaged the gig. The matron, who was suffering intense pain, was taken to the hospital and is still a cot case.

After many futile attempts by ardent botanists the Phillips Island hibiscus has been established on Norfolk Island. This is an exceptionally fine species of the hibiscus family, found nowhere else in the world. Undeterred by tho many failures, Mr. Roy Bell, formerly of Sunday Island, has persistently stuck to the work and his efforts have now been crowned with success. The Saturdav half-holiday has at length reached Norfolk Island. The six storekeepers in business here recently entered into "a gentlemen's agreement" to close their respective places of business at 1 p.m. on Saturday. The natives of Nine are enthusiastic collectors. of beautiful and useful plants suit able to the island's soil and climate, When travelling they never fail to. secure specimens, and thus Nine Island is rapidly becoming the Kew Gardens of the Pacific. j.