THE SIMPLE LIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23507, 18 November 1939, Page 8

THE SIMPLE LIFE

SUNDAY ISLAND IDEE RETURN OF AUCKLANDER UNHAPPY*, IN CITY CROWDS One of the few men who apparently really enjoys life on Sunday Island, Mr. 'Alfred Bacon, of Auckland, has returned to New Zealand after an absence of four and a-half years. Ho is more or loss resigned to living temporarily in Auckland, although well away from the city, but, having been back in tho Dominion less than a week., he is already looking forward to the day when he can return to the simple life on Sunday Island. -With a friend, Mr. Bruce Robertson, who is still on Sunday Island, Mr. Bacon lived a hermit's existence for a considerable timo before their solitude was invaded by others. At one stage, he said, they did not see a ship for eight months, but they thoroughly enjoyed tho lonely life. More recently, however, there had been new arrivals, and now 17 men wero on the remote island. "We grew our own food and lived as we liked," Mr. Bacon said. "It was a natural life and I would like to go back. We lived in a nikau whare built in a sheltered place and were not harmed by a hurricano that swept across the island, blowing trees over and leaving bare patches where bush had grown." For food tho settlers killed some of the goats with which the islands abound, and also caught fish and an occasional turtle, he continued. There were many varieties of fruit already growing on the island when they arrived, and others, including bananas, they introduced successfully. 'T dislike the crowds in the cities," Mr. Bacon said. "I would far sooner live where there is peace and quiet instead of bufetle and noise. After being away for some years I do not seo much change in New' Zealand except that the people are looking more sad and worried, due, I believe, to the rush of city life."