PEELE ISLAND.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4258, 12 November 1874, Page 3

PEELE ISLAND.

A correspondent of the New York Tribune, in a letter respecting the expedition of the United States steamer Tuscarora to take soundings for a bed for a proposed submarine cable to Japan, gives the following account of an island in the Pacific called Pecle Island, visited by the Tuscarora, which was the first war vessel that had been seen there for seventeen, years :—There being but sixty-five inhabitants on the island, and they scattered, our reception was not particularly demonstrative or grand ; still two or three canoes could be seen afloat soon after our entrance, and now and then a green turtle took its departure from our vicinity, which Was altogether, to say the least, a relief from the perpetual watery landscape which had been our companion, for twenty-eight days. I learned that Mr. Savory, formerly a whaler, from Salem, Mass., who died but a month ago at 1 the age of eighty, was up to the time of his decease nominated'governor of the island, Mr. Thomas Webb, our pilot, has taken bis place by right of education, and occupancy of a house here for over twenty-seven years. As Governor - , lie exercises no particular sway over the people, but is considered a necessary requisite at times of marriage or death, when ho officiates. He had much to say regarding Commander Perry's visit to the island in 1858, and had in his house an original chart of the harbor, made under the supervision of the commodore at that time. They are in some doubt as to the country to which they owe allegiance. In 1827 tho island was taken possession of by Captain Beechy, R.N., in the name of King George IV., and a plate to that effect is still to be seen imbedded in a tree. The Japanese claim it by right of discovery and occupation prior to that date, asserting that it at one time was inhabited by a largo colony from that country, which, previous to the arrival of Captain Beechy, left the island and returned to Japan. The belief of the Russian Admiral Lupke, who visited the island in 1828, was to the same effect. The whalers traversing these waters visit tho place for beef, sheep, fowls, deer, pigs, turtles, and fresh provisions, of which there is an abundance to meet their demands,