News From Norfolk Is.

Crown Lands To Be Thrown Open

From Our Own Correspondent

Norfolk Is., Sept. 4.

IN this article your Correspondent had hoped to write with authority on the opportunities and prospects for new settlers on Norfolk Island, but the Gov ernment official whom she had hoped to tap was busy with the monthly audit, and could only promise an in terview at a later date, when he will give facts and figures upon which all those interested may rely.

He did remark that there were still hundreds of acres of Crown lands to be thrown open within a measurable time, to be secured by tender in 12-acres blocks on 28 years leases, at something like £1 an acre per annum.

But he also uttered the warning that here, as elsewhere, it is useless for hopeful souls to arrive without sufficient money to put into clearing and planting their holdings, to build a modest shel ter, and to carry on with the store keeper until returns begin to come in.

Bananas are down at present but that means nothing particular, because everything all over the wide world is down, and they will go up again as soon as that English loan comes to hand, and Australia can afford to eat fruit once more. Bananas call for constant attention, and persons taking up land here must be prepared to work long and hard, with periods of feverish activity when a steamer is due. But there is plenty of play, too, and very nice people ro play with at every sort of game in the prettiest surroundings and under the most genial sky in the world.

New Stores

It is a significant and cheering omen that in spite of business depression, Messrs. Burns Philp Ltd., who opened a big store and shipping agency in King ston two years ago, are putting up an other large one a mile or so inland.

They expect to open about the end of this month.

Also, Mr. A. E. Martin, well known in the business life of New Caledonia and New Hebrides, who brought his family here several years ago for their health, has just opened, with a flourish of trumpets, a bursting of balloons and the serving of free teas for three days, a new, big store on the site of his for mer small one in the district of Burnt Pine. This new building is completely modern in its design, equipment and appointments, and would do credit to any suburb in any city. Long dark, polished counters run from end to end richly stocked shelves climb right into the roof; automatic bins rock open to serve you with all staple commodities; you can clothe yourself from the skin up in the height of fashion, as we in terpret it on Norfolk.

Our young Doctor Duke, suffering agonies from neuritis, has been forced to take a short holiday, and is at present on the high seas between here and Vila. Combining business with pleasure, as is his wont, he is acting as ship’s surgeon on the Makambo—if there is pleasure to be found on the Makambo!—while Dr. Lazarus, of Syd ney, also in need of a holiday, is carry ing on for him during his absence.

Removal Of Hospital

Our hospital, which visitors and ex residents will remember as being situ ated in Kingston—the last one of that run of spacious mansions occupied in

convict days by officials, and known as Quality Row—has been transferred up country, to what was Bishopscourt when the headquarters of the Melane sian Mission was here, and we had a bishop.

It is a beautiful old place, with sur roundings that remind every exile from “Home” of a rectory garden in any country village. Smooth lawns over which fat thrushes hop in search of worms—thick shrubberies—neat flower borders and a bath where all sorts of bright birds splash and flutter. It has been an expensive move, though well justified in the interests of patients, and money is being raised by all sorts of devices to meet a deficit.

Personal

Mr. Walker, supervisor of the Cable Station, is leaving us by this Marsina for Southport, Queensland, and his place is being taken by Mr. Forrest, who was here several years ago. Mr.

Forrest, it appears, was given his choice of Norfolk or Southport in which to complete his last six months in the Cable Service, and he chose Norfolk.

We have nothing against him; but we do deeply mourn the loss of Mr. Walker Not only has he proved a most effi cient supervisor but, in his private capacity, he has performed a thousand kind actions during the few months he has been here. May the Wheel of Time and Chance bring him here again some day!

On Tuesday evening, Sept. 2, our theatrical company put on that very entertaining comedy, “The Family Up stairs,” under the able conduct of Mr.

Robert Jarvis, the young English actor, to whom I referred in my last letter. It is astonishing what that young man ac complishes with raw material and few rehearsals. It was really a remarkable performance all round, and Mr. Jarvis, himself, played the part of a middle aged, overdriven father of a family to the admiration of this writer, who has seen professional performances and avoided amateur ones in many corners of the globe. Mr. Allan Wilkie is to be congratulated if, in his existing com pany, he has actors who can teach anything much to young Jarvis, who is only 25 years old.

Cargo To And From N.Z.

Six months ago the New Zealand Government withdrew its steamer ser vice from Norfolk Island, and settlers from that fair land had to wait for their mail to reach them via Sydney; while the cost of the trip home by way of Australia put holidays right out of the question for most of them. Six weeks ago after much writing and call ing back and forth between agi tated exiles and their well-wishers in the Dominion, the Hikurangi, a friendly, smutty little collier, less than, 300 registered tonnage, and looking likejj an enterprising water beetle far home, rolled in to the Cascades anchor age; bringing us a mail paid for at the lavish rate of one shilling per pound weight by the postal people, with groc eries and what not, and seeking a cargo to pay for the trip.

Her captain, a curly-headed lad, with bright blue eyes and a dare devil ex pressions, had previously visited us as master of a small yacht that had cleared Auckland without the formality of taking leave of the harbour authori ties. He got into a little trouble on his return, but evidently not enough to quench his appetite for Norfolk Island bananas. On this recent and lawful venture he lost a little money, but made a lot of friends and, back in New Zea land, was able to interest capital to the extent of backing another voyage.

Last week he came in again and, this time, took away 1.300 cases of oranges, bananas and early potatoes, together with the promise of every pound of pro duce that New Zealand growers can muster in support of a six-weekly ser vice.

It is on the cards, also, that after one or two more trips of the Water Beetle, she will be replaced by a steamer cap able of carrying fifty passengers, calling every four weeks, and still skippered by young Captain George.