FREE BEER!

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1010, 28 June 1930, Page 16

FREE BEER!

White Man's Perquisite on Ocean Island INHABITANTS’ LONELY LIFE The unusual life of the inhabitants of the lonely Ocean Island, which is situated several hundred miles west of the once barbaric Gilbert Islands, was revealed by members of the motorvessel King John when the ship arrived in Auckland yesterday - morning. The island, which is si.\ miles in circumference and reaches 26$ feet above sea level, is a barren strip of land visible for 25 miles out at sea It possesses wonderful phosphate deposits, and these, according to expert opinion, will last for more than 100 years. Unfortunately the deposits practically preclude the possibility* of any vegetable life. The only pfants existing on the island are a few palm trees and some immature lettuce culti-

• rated iu the “garden" of one painstak I ins: woman. Before visitors are able to land on ; the island it is necessary to scale a j . rope thrown from the boat to the top ■ , of the cliff. Attempts have been made \ to construct roads, but so far the eu- ] j deavours'have been futile owing to the j i lifeless formation of the soil. In order to facilitate any travelling which may be done, there is an ante- [ diluvian make of car. which operates j upon steel rails and the running of I which is actually governed by a time- I table. The vehicle is owned by ■ Kanakas. •A PICTURE SHOW There is one picture show. 13 years old. and films are shown once a week, • The performance is unaccompanied by j music, but according to the seamen on the King John, the native chatter ; forms admirable synchronisation. Billiards are extremely popular among the inhabitants, but the billiards hall has other uses besides billiards, and is, once a month, the scene of a dance. With the aid of hooks and white j rags. 1- large sharks were captured I by members of the boat crew during I

their six days’ sojourn at the island. A peculiar feature is that for three . miles out to sea swimming is per- ! fectly safe, but beyond that line thsharks prove dangerous. Another ; unique thing about the place is that ' all cuts and- bruises fail to heal, and if one is unfortunate enough to get set ij ously injured it is expedient to leave the island. A bottle of beer a day is apportioned to every single white man on the island, and two bottles to every mar tied man. During the week-end the married men arc allowed six bottles. There are three tennis clubs, crick--clubs and various other sports institutions. The standard of cricket on the island is reputed to be of a very high order. A serious shortage of food was bcir.u experienced by the inhabitants of the lonely island. King John arrived there some weeks ago. The peoi prise 150 whites, 750 Chinese, 150 natives and JbO Kanakas, were exisl- - almost entirely on fish, owing to the dearth of meat, flour, butter and potatoes.