ON A LONELY ISLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19827, 29 April 1927, Page 6

ON A LONELY ISLE

DEATH ENDS PARTNERSHIP three men on the KERMADECS AN OUTPOST OF NEW ZEALAND [Per Press Association.] AUCKLAND April 28. With the. arrival of the Government steamer Hinemoa at Auckland from the South Sea Islands came the sad story of the breaking up of a hopeful partnership through the death at Sunday Island, on Alarch 23, of Air C. H. Parker. Some five months ago Air Parker, and J. Ashworth were landed at Sunday Island, a lonely outpost of the Kcrmadec Group, and it was their intention to bring under cultivation an area of 270 acres owned my Air Parker. Alessrs Bacon and Ashworth returned by the Hinemoa. “About Alarch 21. it was notived that Parker had poisoner! his finger,” stated Air Bacon. “Except for iodine and bandages, we had no other medical gear, but we did our best for him. His condition became worse and he suffered great pain. Two days later he died and we buried him on the island. We made a cross of wood and put it up on his grave. With his death we had no option but to come back to Auckland. By his will, he left the land to his brother in England, but he also provided that we could go back and work it. It is quite possible we shall do this.” Speaking of the island, Air Bacon stated that it comprised over 7000 acres and, except for the area owned by Air Parker the remainder belonged to the New Zealand Government. For the past 10 or 12 years the island had been uninhabited. When the party was landed with their stores five months ago by the Hinemoa, they had a hard battle to cut their way through tho bush to Parker’s land. The homestead was not fit to live in and they built another home for themselves. Their food consisted of taro (a form of native potato), fish, goat’s flesh bananas, and oranges. There were thousands of goats on the island and no difficulty was experienced in shooting them. Air Ashworth, who had previously had some experience in tobacco planting said the rich soil was particularly adapted for -obacco. They had planted a considerable area in tobacco plants* and some of them had reached a height of 10 feet. Maize also grew very well.