Rangitoto Island.

Thames Star, Volume XXIII, Issue 7182, 12 May 1892, Page 4

Rangitoto Island.

THE NEW SALT-REFINING WORKS. The salt-refining works which a local syndicate intend to establish or the western shore of Rangitoto Island will be the first step in the direction of turning that well known Tolcanic island into practical account. If Rangitoto were not such an irredeemably desolate heap of scoria and lava recks, it would years ago have been smiling with homesteads or dotted with villas and sea-side reridences. And yet, as was suggested to us the other day, it may cotae about that in a century's time or so, tho island may b° as fertile as it is now barren and unprofitable. The most fruitful vine-growing districts in Italy and Sicily have been ia a rery similar condition at one period—bare, rough scoria hills. The hills were, however, industriously terraced, aod soil was carried up in male panniers or iv aoy other way found to be convenient, and deposited on the terraces, the outer edges of which were backed up by a low stone wall, to prevent the earth being washed away. The warm volcunic rock foundation, such as that seen on Kaugito'o arid scores of other bills about Auckland, hag been found io be a splendid snl-foundation for the growth of tropical and semi tropical products, especially vines. If Auck'and district wore as densely populated in pro» portion to its area as the Old World countries, tbeu even liangitoto would probably be utilised soon enough. The drawback to Ranpitoto is the want of water, the rain water percolating through the porous lava rocks as soon as it fails. A few " pockets" of rain water are found in rock cavities near the shore, but it is concrete tacks that will be fouod necessary on the island. The place (which is just 3| miles in diameter) is at present vested as a public reserve in the Bangitoto Island Domaiu Board, which consists of the members of the Devonport Borough Council, and some five acres near Raagitoto beacon have been leased by the Board to the salt making Bjndiqate for a term of years. It is interesting to note in records of. early native land purchases that Rangitoto Island was purchaged' by the New Zealand Gorf-rameni in 1854 from Ngatai, oa behalf of the local Maori owner 3, for the sum of £15—Star.