CHARMS OF ST. HELENA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 12

CHARMS OF ST. HELENA.

BISHOP'S ENTHUSIASM. MUCH TO OFFER PEOPLE. [FROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CAPETOWN. Jan. 14. The most scattered diocese in the world is that of tho Bishop of St. Helena, who watches" over the spiritual needs of the three widely separated islands of St. Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha. Bishop Watts visited the lonely island of Tristan on IT.M.S. Carlisle, which left early in January. The Rev. A. G. Partidge, who has spent three years on the island, will be returning to South Africa for a holiday. lie is willing to resume his post at the end of six months, but the difficulty lies in finding a ship to take him hack and in raising £3OO to equip him with a year's stores. Bishop Watts has his headquarters on St. Helena. Thirty motor-cars are now running about the scone of Napoleon's exile, over excellent roads, built with a grant of £3OOO from the British Government. "Wo are forming a publicity association with the idea of attracting visitors and people with small private incomes to St. Helena," says Bishop Watts, "for St. Helena really has much to offer people who do not mind the solitude. Tho cost of living comfortably is extremely low. Fine old country houses may be hired furnished from £5 a month, and good servants are plentiful at from 15s a month. Customs duties are very low, and taxation, compared with other parts of tho world, is negligible. ' "Other advantages of life on St. Helena are the healthy climate, and the possibility of indulging in such hobbies as gardening and fruit-growing, tennis, cricket and also fishing and riding." There is no reason, ho thinks, why St. Helena, should not, become a flourishing holiday resort of the future.