NORFOLK ISLAND

Waihi Daily Telegraph, Volume XXVI, Issue 7906, 24 September 1929, Page 2

NORFOLK ISLAND

WAIHI VISITOR’S IMPRESSIONS A WALKER’S PARADISE MOST HOSPITABLE PEOPLE “Paradise in the Pacific” is how a writer describes Norfolk Island, a tropical piece of terra'flrma, 6 miles by 3J miles, in the South Pacific Ocean, 400 miles north of New Zealand and 800 miles east of the Aus*tralian continent. Discovered just over a century and a half ago by Captain Cook and first occupied in 1788 by a handful of men and women sent by the then Governor of New South Wales, this spot in the ocean has a unique and tragic history. For the moment, however, we are more interested in the impressions of Mrs (Dr.) T. G. Short,, of Waihi, and her relatives, Mrs Hay and Miss Hay, who returned last week from a six weeks’ stay at the island, and afforded a “Waihi Telegraph” representative an opportunity of gathering first-hand data of its people, the conditions under which they live and its general features. “A very beautiful island and just like a big park,” was the early impression of the visitors. “It is really surprising,” said Mrs Short, “the distance one can travel. There are between 40 and 50 miles of main thoroughfares and with the formed tracks included there is a total of just upon a 100 miles for the traveller to cover—hills, tableland and valleys—the whole being a veritable walker’s paradise 1 . The bulk of the roads were made by convicts in the old convict settlement days and the ruins of the old buildings are still to be seen. A gorgeous panoramic view of the island, which looks surprisingly limited, is obtainable from the summit of Mount Pitt (1039 feet), forest clad and the highest point on the island. The tall-grow-ing Norfolk Island pines, which are almost everywhere, and the orange and lemon groves and general tropical verdure provide a glorious vista.”

EXPORTS AND FOOD "The island abounds in deep gullies and it is here practically all the bananas are grown for export. Sydney provides a better market for bananas than Auckland, while Auckland provides a better market for oranges than Sydney. Sydney pays from 24s to 30s a case for the choicest bananas. There is also a good export trade in pine apples, kumeras, onions, early potatoes and tomatoes to Sydney, the transport being facilitated by a fortnightly service between the island and Sydney. On the other hand regular steamer communication between Auckland and the island is only every five or six weeks, but on these occasions the Government steamer Maui Pomare carries its full complement of passengers. With a full ship the accommodation is barely sufficient for comfort as far as the male passengers are concerned, but the women come first and we were very comfortable, both going and returning. On the run to the island there were 4G passengers and on the return trip 43.

“Amongst the things that grow well and which claim a great deal of attention at Norfolk Island is the Canadian wonder bean, which is grown and harvested especially for seed. The majority of the holdings, which range from five to thirty acres, have a patch of beans, which are exported to Sydney and , Auckland. The growers get 40s per bushel for their seed beans and they rank amongst the best grown anywhere. Lemons, loquats and guavas grow wild. The lemons make excellent drinks, but are not good keepers and are not therefore exported. There is an abundant supply of fish, the most plentiful supply, and a very nice fish, being the trumpeter. The homgenenay or ‘dream fish’ is much favoured by the islanders, but we found it too rich. Those who feast on it invariably have a rather bad form of nightmare, hence the name ‘dream fish.’

i BOATING AND FISHING “Boating, fishing and bathing play an important part in the pleasures afforded and in the wild fowl egg season almost daily visits are made to Phillip Island, comprising a small area and about 4 miles away. The ‘wide-awake,’ a migrant bird, comes in thousands, and during their stay the birds lay some thousands of eggs. They are edible and during the laying season are collected, weathei permitting, daily. On this island, which is practically treeless and has vegetation of the scantiest, thousands of rabbits manage to exist.

They are small and thin and how they subsist is a mystery to the Norfolk Islanders, some • holding the opinion that the animals are cannibals. f “There are three landing places on Norfolk Island, two of which. Kingston and Cascade, are massive stone piers, constructed a century ago, and capable of standing the mightiest of seas. The landing place, Headstone, is only used as an emergency landing place in very stormy weather. On the arrival of a steamer the residents turn out with saddle horses, light sulkies and gigs for the passengers, but motor vehicles, which were only recently introduced to the island after strenuous opposition on the part of some of the in- j habitants, are beginning to take the 1

place of horse drawn vehicles. All the roads are unmetalled and are maintained by the residents, there being no taxes. Each man is called upon to put in 15 days’ work, a year on the roads, or pay others at the rate of 4s per day for that period. There are po hotels, and visitors are accommodated in what are termed ‘guest houses,’ the tariff ranging from 30s to 40s per week.

THE LIQUOR RATION “ ‘lssue Day’ on each Saturday morning, is quite an event, ranking next to steamer day- Those requiv- ! ing for general health purposes spirituous stimulants or beer, apply to the resident doctor, who invariably refrains from S>skipg questions in, issuing h, certificate authorising the administrator to supply the liquor. The weekly supply per individual does not exceed one bo.ttlq of spirits (any brand),winq or six quart bottles of beer. Armed with their certificates, the holders repair to the depot at Kingston, where a queue is formed,

in front of the ‘bar.’ ‘lssue Day’ provides a lot of entertainment and most of the inhabitants turn out to see the fun.

“The people are divided into two 1 classes, the ‘islanders’ .and ‘maiu--1 landers.’ The former are the descendants of the ' mutineers of the Bounty, who landed on lonely Pitcairn Island in 1759, and to-day form about 90 per cent, of the island’s population—nearly 1000. They are a kindly and most hospitable people. There is no crime and there is but one policeman, two halftime solicitors or advocates, four churches, eight stores scattered about the island, a town (Rawson) hall, weekly dances and pictures. There are no telephones and no* newspaper is published on the island,' but there is a cable and wireless station. Notices of meetings, enters tainraents, etc:, are posted on the trunk of a giant pine,, styled - the ‘Tree of Knowledge’ - at the crossroads through pine avenue, which isa mile and a half long ind’was planted by the convicts. *' “ ' Mrs Short concluded by Vstating:? that the island is truly a delightful place and that she and her friends- - ' enjoyed every moment of their stay.