VISIT TO NORFOLK ISLAND.

New Zealand Mail, 8 February 1900, Page 56

VISIT TO NORFOLK ISLAND.

r ■ OF BISHOP JT.'I.I rr ' a The Bisiiup of Christchurch, who ir.centiy paid a visit to Norfolk Island, the cf the Meiacesiar. Mission. returned to New Zealand by the steamer Monowai. .which arrived here- ou. Wednesday afternoon from S.vdney. The Bishop was accompanied ou his visit to thy island by Mrs Julius*. With them has returned Miss Julius. who spent six months on the island with her E-ster, Mrs Wilson. The Bishop's &on, Air G. Julius, and his wife, from Fremantle., also eame from Sydney in the Alonowai. When seen by a ‘'New Zealand Times'' reporter cn >*edcesday evening. Bishop Julius kindly gave some particulars of his party's tour. "We started from Sydney cm the Ist December.” said his Lord chip, "in a small, steamer, the if sane., which had been temporarily put into the service, and we had a very stormy voyage, with the saloon and cabins often flooded. We spent five weeks on the island, and then returned, to Sydney in the same vessel. She was loaded with copra for the return voyage, Copra is a cargo which hr.s a very unpleasant smell. On the run hack to Sydney we went ashore at Lord Hows Island, When we- boarded the Y.-stcl again,- the old engineer remarked. *AI.. home,- sweet home.'- • It- may, inhome/ was the reply of one of the party, ‘but it certainly is not sweet.' “The impression made upon me by the Norfolk Islanders —the Bounty people—was distinctly favourable. Freud the very careful inquiries which I made. I came to the conclusion that the evil report which has been made of thorn was grossly > They had been left to themselves fer many years. They had got the impression that the house; cnee belonging to the convict settlement, and the use of which was given to them, were their c-wn property. The New South Wales Government i; now bringing matters into shape. It has claimed houses and land- as the property of the Crown, a claim the .in-tie*

of which the Norfolk Islanders find it very difficult to see. “This somewhat vexed question occasioned a visit from the Governor of New coach Walts. Lord Beauchamp, who aimed ou the island by H.M.S. Pvlades a few days before we left. His Excellency was accompanied by the Attor-ney-General and some Government officials. The matter was not concluded, but the Islanders were given a promise that a commission would be sent to effect a settlement of the dispute. “With the beauty and fertility of Norfolk Island we were much struck, although at the time of our visit the island was suffering from a long-con-tinued drought. The uncertainly of communication with any market, and perhaps a certain native indolence ou the part of the people, and yet more the system of credit which obtains, and by which the Islanders sell their harvests before they get them, do very much to destroy the prosperity of the island. “To see the Melanesian Mission station aroused in us the greatest possible interest. Bishop Wilson was there during the whole of our visit. Both, he and Airs Wilson are in good health. “I have brought home with me a large number of views, especially of the mission station and illustrating the work c'.cr.e there. These views I propose to use in lectures which I will deliver on behalf of the mission. “The time has come for a great extension of the work of the mission. It used to be thought that white missionaries could not remain on the .islands during the summer months without serious injury to their health, and even danger of loss of life. The mission has inhered very much from tlieir absence ia those months. It is now felt that white missionaries are quite as well able to remain on the islands through the year as traders are. Some men have already gone out for that purpose and with that intention. A strong appeal has been made by Bishop ’Wilson for more- men to make their borne on the islands themselves. “Another appeal of almost equal urgency has been made for a new steamer for tire mission. The Southern Cross, inconvenient, ill-built, and very slow, is quite unsuitable, and almost prohibits the employment of ladies oa the islands. “Perhaps our greatest anxiety while or. Norfolk Island was caused by the lack of news of the war in South Africa. We were three weeks without tidings of tne campaign. The Governor brought us news cf reverses suffered by the British, and also of the raising or the rough-riders’ contingent in New South Wales. After his Excellency left this contingent was much discussed by the Islanders, and finally four young Islanders went over to Sydney with us in the Ysabel to join the force. They were not only accepted, but were pronounced to be amongst the best riders offering. The island is very hilly, and the hillsides are covered with grass. So slippery was the grass that I found it extremely difficult to even walk up and ctowa the hills. Yet the Islanders ride fast about the hills, and never have an accident. The horses are accustomed to the work, and the men assist them in a marvellous manner. “We hau only four days in Sydney. The intense interest, taken in tlie war was noteworthy. On St. Paul's day wo visited St. Andrew’s Cathedral. It •was the second anniversary of the consecration of the Bishop of New Guinea, who preached at evensong, and made an earnest appeal for men and means to maintain the rapidly-growing work of his mission.” In conclusion Bishop Julius said he was hugely delighted to get back to New Zealand, and he expatiated on the pleasure which he felt at once again enjoying its beautiful climate.