A VISIT TO PACIFIC GUANO ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2949, 21 September 1910, Page 13

A VISIT TO PACIFIC GUANO ISLANDS.

Captain Reynolds, owner and commander of the clipper-looking four-masted barquentine Titania, now in port, and which arrived last week with nearly 1700 tons of guano, from Surprise and Fabre Islands, gives some interesting information regarding the islands referred to. The captain, who is an ofd shipowner, but who had retired from the sea for several years, ivent Home from Australia with the intention of remaining there, but, like many other Australians, he found that colonial life did not adapt itself to Home conditions, and, seeing the Titania advertised for sale some two years ago, he bought her, and is now picking up charters wherever offering. His latest charter was to Surprise and Fabre Islands, where he loaded a cargo for this port. Referring to the islands, Captain Reynolds states that

SURPRISE ISLAND, which is about 2000 mike from Dunedin, is north of New Caledonia, and is under French protection, and governed from Noumea. Its inhabitants are four white m«n v and 50 kanakas, who are all in the employ of the Guano Company, of Auckland, of which Mr J. B. M'Farlane is managing director. The island is about three miles in circumference, and its greatest height is not more than 12ft above sea level, the general level of the land being about 4ift above, the water. The guano formation at the island is of a rocky nature, and it has to be quarried with explosives, and afterwards crushed to powder before being shipped away. The kanakas employed at the work are brought from Noumea, and are paid £2 pet- month and " keep," the pay dating from the time of their embarkation until they are returned to the port of departure. The kanaka labour contracts are only allowable for 12 months, and, in the event of any of the natives falling ill, the company attends to them and their wages are paid as usual. Ships visit this island and Fabre Island about three times a year, and each time supplies of provisions, etc., are brought. The climate is splendid in the winter months, but is moist in the summer. Vegetation, such as it is, rushes up very rapidly, but grows rank, and soon dies away. About 15 years ago the company planted a few cocoanut trees, and these are now bearing fruit.

BIRD LIFE. Like similar islands, Surprise and Fabre Islands teem with bird life, mutton, birds visiting thenn ,in counttess numbers at particular seasons of the year. The bo'eun bird, with its whit© feathering and conspicuous two long red feathers sticking- out from the tail, is also there in large numbers, and millions of birds of numerous kinds are scattered all over the islands. The birds lay eggs all over the place, a.nd are very tame, the bo'sun being so trusting ithat he will let the visitor go up to him and pluck from his tail his two red feathers. Turtles ara also abundant.

FABRE ISLAND, like its neighbour, is lowlying, but here the guano is alluvia!, and, after being dug up, it is exposed to the sun to dry, and is then put through sieves before being? bagged for shipment. This isLand, like tho other, is surrounded by reefs, which make navigation difficult, but whereas the anchorage at Surprise Island is good,, that at Fabro Island is indifferent. Although the islands are so far away from Noumea, and the.ro ie only limited accommodation for shipping, customs duties and harbour charges are enforced. At Surprise Island it is estimated that it will take 25 years to work out the guano formation, and at both islands the deposits are being worked below the. high tide mark. The tidal rise and fall affects the islands right through, and even in the oentre, whore the workings are below the high tide mark, operations have to be suspended until low water. At Fabre Island the guano deocsits are covered by layers of sand, which alternate with the layers of pure guano. Coal for fuel is shipped from Auckland. The Titania was 31 days on the voyage from Fabre Island, wbe.re she took in most of her cargo, but lost four days owin.g- to the «»outh-wester!v weather on the New Zealand coast. SHs ie the largest vossel tha-t has yet visited- the islands, and is the first to load at Fabro Island, where moorings were obtained in 22ft of water.