FROM PITCAIRN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22580, 19 November 1936, Page 8

FROM PITCAIRN

ISLANDERS ARRIVE BOUNTY DESCENDANTS WORK SOUGHT IN DOMINION CHANGE FROM ISOLATED LIFE A minor emigration trend appears to have set in from Pitcairn Island, the koine of tho descendants of the Uounty mutineers. Four Pitcairn Islanders reached New Zealand two months ago and five men and a woman arrived by the. liner Rangitnta yesterday. Tho vessel stopped at the island to pick them up. The visitors are Mr. John Christian, a fifth generation descendant of Fletcher Christian, leader of the mutineers, and Mr. and Mrs. Percy Young, Mr. Raymond Young. Mr. Edwin Voting and Mr. Samuel Young. The Young family is descert'ded from a midshipman in the Bounty who threw in his lot with Fletcher Christian. Mr. Christian smilingly denied that hardship on the island was the cause of the emigration. There was always plenty of food there, but they wanted a change, he said, They hoped to obtain work in the Dominion and the length of their stay depended on their success in finding employment. First Trip Irom Island Four' of the visitors have been to New Zealand previously, but two are on their first trip away from the island and they saw many of the amenities of civilisation for the first timo yesterday morning. Modern buildings, wharves, cranes, motor-cars, shops, paved roads and the rush and bustle of pedestrians and traffic in the city streets were all sources of wonder.

There was little about the appearance or bearing of the visitors to suggest that they were from one of the most isolated parts of the earth with only occasional contacts with the outside world. Friendly and surprisingly well spoken, their bearing to an interviewer was the essence of courtesy. They wore ordinary European attire. They went about the somewhat complicated business of passing the customs and getting their luggiige ashore with a despatch and lack of fuss that would have done credit to an experienced traveller. Almost Sell-supporting Conditions were quite good on the island, Mr. Christian said. The community was virtually self-supporting so that the depression had scarcely been felt. Flour, rice, peas, oil, kerosene and clothes were the principal imports, but the quantities were small. Exports were practically confined to oranges, of which up to 600 cases were sometimes sent to New Zealand by liners which make brief stops, while another source of income was the sale of souvenirs to passengers. The island, which was annexed by Britain in 1838, is controlled by a chief magistrate who has a council of two assessors and a secretary. Mr. Christian explained. They are elected bv the people each Christmas Day and administer the laws. Community work is under / a committee comprising an elected chairman and two members appointed by the chief magistrate and council. The present chief magistrate is another descendant of Fletcher Christian. •