SUNDAY ISLAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13428, 10 July 1914, Page 3

SUNDAY ISLAND.

RIVAL CLAIMANTS BY/RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The claim of Mr Thomas Bell to the ownership of Sunday Island will probably be disputed by several other parties. Mr Bell and his family have resided continuously on the island since 1878, but several residents m Auckland believe that they can establish a claim to share the land, on the ground that their ancestors wer© earlier inhabitants of Sunday Island. Three people are believed to be the only surviving relatiA r es of Mr James Reed and his wife r who went to Sunday Island m 1837 and resided there until 1845. There are two daughters, Mrs J. Cooke and Mrs Gee, both of, whom liA-e at Norbhcote, and Mr N. Von ■Stunner, their nepheAV, and grandson of the late Mr Reed. According, to a documentary record m the possession of Sir Von •Stunner, a statement was given by the* late Mrs Reed .m .Auckland, on April 13, i 866, ( regarding the family's residence on Sunday Island. She stated that m 1836 Mr Reed: was m charge of a whaling; station m Queen Charlotte Sound, and they Avere there married by Captain Bateman, of. the ship Cheviot. In the folio-wing year Mr Reed and his wife were taken Avith some Maori "slaves'" to Sunday Island by Captain Bateman. They returned to New Zealand m. the ship Montezuma m 1845, and lived m Auckland subsequently. The mother of Mr Von Stunner was born on Sunday Island. He -states that, according to accounts he has heard' of 'that early settlement, there was no sign of European occupation found by 'Mr Reed except one pig, which was presumed to have been the survivor, of some liberated by CaptCook. Several goats were acclimatised by Mir Reed, and he also planted bananas and oranges, securing stocks from Pitcaim Island/ The family lived m Denham Bay. . A Captain Baker and a Samoan woman whom he married were also .early residents on the island. Several of their descendants are now laving m NeAv Zealand.' , . ■ ' ''