Treasure Islands.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 29, Issue 34, 4 May 1917, Page 2

Treasure Islands.

about tropical paradises WHICH WE HAVE CAPTURED FROM THE HUNS. T© a race of islanders like oine*lv«® the idea of hoisting the British &ng over an enemy isle makes a strong and romantic a&peaiThis Is intensified by the fact that our Australian co«*t»a hove taken fta-1 occupied most of the island® captured dnrrag the war, says “AnsTh» ®r<st islv.ta to bo taken were tho*w of the glonous tropical P» rail]ae. •-*w.*w£ilW‘ pf floota Slid

Scvaii ; the other islands of tne group, Tutuila, being already an / mcricau naval station.

The New Zealanders, under an Australian naval escort, took possession of this group, and th.e British (.ag was soon floating in the breeze opposite the residence of Dr. Schultze, the German governor.

Samoa is the most important group in the Pacific, and some miles from the coast, upon a spur of the hills, the Germans had erected at enorrnou;.i cost a most up-to-date wireless station which can give and take messages to San Francisco. This wireless station and plant were simply put out of commission by the removal (by the Germans) of a few important parts, but was quickly restored to working order by the clever operator who landed with the New Zealand Expeditionary Forces. Samoa is famous all the world over as the last home of Robert Louis Stevenson, and his restingplace is marked by a great granite stone, the grave being on one of the highest peaks so the island. His old homo, Vailima, is now the headquarters of (.ha administrator.

Apia roadstead was the scene of that historical when H.M.S. Calliooo, as eh* escaped, was cheered the crews of Uso sinking American warship and the ether doomed vessels.

it was alwo in Samoa, not long ago, that Americans, Germans, and British joined forces iu scsuuiug a native rebellion.

The island of Upolu is one of great beauty, kills rising above hills, all clothed with tropical vctdure. The roads all over the island are good, and almost everyone owns a horse or horses and buggies.

British, French, American, and German residents have got many valuable cocoa plantations ; besides which there are also cocoanut plantations, bananas, faro, and many other tropical fruits, vegetables, and plants. The buildings and business places at Apia, the capital, are of an up-to-date and substantial character, and the European habitations all over the island are roomy, well-built, and comfortable.

The natives are a fine race, courtly and intelligent, and essentially a warlike race. Those who have beard the beautiful native melodies that they sing in chorus can never forget the beauty of the scene and setting.

Thousands of Chinese were introduced by the Germans in order to work the plantations, for the natives are averse to labour ; but although the Chinese are splendid workers, they are a menace to white and native alike.

Upolu covers an area of 345 square miles, while Savaii boasts 660 (Monono and Apoluma are small tributary islands), the whole population of the latter not exceeding 3,600, of which 500 are white and a thousand half-cast ; the bulk of Europeans and half-castes are on Upolu. German New Guinea was another valuable captve, Kaiserwilhelmsland as it is called, being taken after a slight resistance.

At Henhershoe, the capital and seat of German Government, the Germans have erected a fine wireless station capable of transmitting messages very long distances. The verdure of New Guinea is remarkable for its beauty and variety, almost every tropical tree and plant flourishing there, while even forget-me-nots grow on the higher grounds. In contrast to the magnificent birds of paradise and the many beautiful species of parrots and cockatoos, the islands abound in snakes and poisonous insects.

New Guinea is hardly a health resort, for malaria is very prevalent, and the natives are savage and cruel, and cannibals of the worst type.

Gold, sulphur, iron, copra, mother-of-pearl, tortoise-shell and other products form the island trade, and the German settlements contain some fine and comfortable buildings, both commercial and residential. About seven hundred Europeans are included in the population of 110,000, spread over 70,000 square miles. New Guinea, north of Australia, is the second largest island in the world, with enormous commercial possibilities.

The Solomon Islands, including Bonjamville and Buka, with an area of 4,200 square miles and a population of 45,000, have been in the hands of the Germans since 1884. Here again the natives are a cruel and warlike people, inveterate headhunters and cannibals, though living in one of Nature’s most picturesque spots, the scenery being almost without equal. Copra and cocoanut-fibre are the chief exports.