NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20366, 21 September 1929, Page 20

NORFOLK ISLAND NEWS.

ANNUAL ROADS "PICNIC." [from our own correspondent.] NORFOLK ISLAND. Sept. 11. The earthen loads of the island are now receiving their annual overhaul, and dozens of gangs are engaged in every quarter, doing their " Public Works." This is a system under which every man who has resided on the island for six months is liable for fifteen days' work on the roads in lieu of rates. The labour is computed as at 4s a day, and anyone wishing to avoid the work can do so by tho payment of £3. Even this money, by the way, does not go to tho Executive Council but is received by tho New South Wales .Government. As the population has greatly increased during recent years; the men available are proportionately more numerous, and it has become a case of many hands making the work light. " Public, Works " is considered by many a sort of picnic. Some workers take a portable gramophone and practically all take cigarottes. Tho nearest neigh- ! hours provide morning and afternoon tea, and there is probably not as jovial a band of workers to be found anywhere else under the Southern Cross.

The Maui Pomarq arrived last Thursday morning during a thunderstorm and a deluge of rain.' As big seas were running at both Kingston and the Cascades Landing the steamer iiad to go to the Headstono Landing, which is only used as a last resource. Here the passengers and mails wero brought ashore in the afternoon, tho visitors being greatly impressed by tho islanders' demonstration of expert boat handling. Dr. Quirke has arrived to act as locum tenens for Dr Duke, who, with Mrs. Duko and their infant son, has loft for a two months' furlough in Australia. Owing to the influenza epidemic and other causes, Dr. Quirke has been' kept going! almost clay arid night since his arrival. 1, " Everett, who has been doing exec lent work as mistress of tho Anson Bay 1° wi t o 'J'" 8 lo , ft fol ' S -V flne y. where Sj rr • n J O,,r months' training cot! SO. T his is Miss Everett':j first trip AnSn n am i D "ring her absence the Mta k„a y ita!T COnl,, " !ted "J Heavy rain prevented potato digrine and greatly curtailed the shipment to the Auckland market by tho Maui Pomar®.