SUNDAY ISLAND.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 29 April 1927, Page 8

SUNDAY ISLAND.

SETTLER’S SAD END. By Telesrrnn'i —Pres*; Association. AUCKLAND, April 28. With the arrival of the Hinemoa at 'uekland from the South Sea Islands, .ime a very sad story of the breaking up of a hopeful partnership through the death at Sirndav Island, on March 23, of Afr C. H. Parker. Some five months ago, Air Parker, with two companions. Aiessrs A. Bacon and J. Ashworth, was landed at Sunday Inland. a lonely outpost of the Kcrmadec Group, and it was their intention to bring under cultivation an area of 270 acres owned by Parker. Aiessrs Bacon and Ashworth returned by tho Hinemoa. “About Alarcli 21 it was noticed that Parker had poisoned a finger,” stated Bacon. “Except for iodine and bandages, we had no other medical gear, but we did our best for him. His condition became worse, and ho suffered great pain.. Two days later lie died, and weJiuried him on the Island. Wo made a cross out of wood and put it on his grave. With liis death we had no option but to come back tq Auckland. By bis will be left the land tobis brother in England, but he also provided that we could go back and work it. It is quite possible wo shall do this.”

Speaking of the Island, Arr Baonu stated that it comprises over 7000 acres, and except- for the area owned bv Parker, the remainder belonged to the New Zealand Government. Fpr the past ten or twelve years the Island had been uninhabited. When the nartv was landed, with stores five months ago ,bv the Hinemoa, thev had a hard battle to cut their wav through the bush to Parker’s land. The homestead was not fit to live in, and they built a homo for themselves. Their food oonsE+od of taro (a form of native potato), fish, neats’ flesh, bananas, and oranges. There were thousands of goats on the Island, and no difficulty was experienced in shooting them.

Mr Ashwenffh, who previously had Kojiio experience in tobacco nlantiug, said" the rich soil was narticularlv adapted for*tobacco. Thev had planted a considerable area in tobacco plants, and some of them bad reached a height of ton ioefc. IVTs izo also grow very well.