News from Norfolk Island

Three Steamers in a Week Boating Company Busy An Elaborate New Store

(From Our Own Correspondent)

NORFOLK IS., October 29.

SITUATED as we are, right off all the trade routes, the only ships we see are those headed direct for the island— eager to transact their business, hasty to lift their anchors and be gone be fore a storm blows up and they find themselves in danger off our rocky shores.

In these circumstances it seems strange that almost inevitably our three regular visitors —the Makambo, the Marsina and the little Hikurangi from New Zealand—raise the land together.

As though some resistless tide, regard less of time and space, bore them in, they appear within a few hours of each other; competing for cargo, dis puting the services of the quaintly named Boating Company, and each clamouring to discharge, load and get away ahead of the others.

Last week we had them all in as usual —the Hikurangi on Wednesday afternoon, the Makambo bound for Vila at daybreak on Thursday, and the Marsina, for Sydney, from the Solo mons, on Saturday.

The Hikurangi discharged her cargo on Wednesday, but was hung up on Thursday until the Makambo, carrying mails, landed her passengers, mailbags and groceries and proceeded on her way. Then the Hikurangi came into action again, loaded 1,400 cases of mixed produce for Wellington, and left on Friday afternoon.

On Saturday, dawn was heralded by a screech from the Marsina coming in off her course for what the N.Z. boat had left and patriotic Australians had saved for her. It wasn’t much and, incidentally, fetched a miserable price in the Sydney market, which was ap parently glutted with local stuff. At midday on Saturday she was gone— and we wait five weeks for our next mail from anywhere!

It seems all wrong and is particu larly hard upon the members of the Norfolk Island Boating Company who work day and night—from dawn till long after dark —for three or four fev erish days in the month, and then col lapse for the best part of a week from the strain.

Every ton of cargo is manhandled aboard ana ashore; is lowered into whaleboats that, either singly or in a flotilla, swing like the tail of a kite behind a power launch, traverse the long mile between ship and shore and negotiate the reef and its curling waves; every ton of cargo is hoisted at its journey’s end either up the rough face of the convict-built jetty, or in board and down the hold of the steamer. And that, no matter what the weather may be. Nothing is ever lost overboard, nothing is ever dam aged.

This writer has watched an elderly motor bus, lashed upon two whale boats travelling as one, come sweep ing in over the reef like a sea gull floating on the water, rise as though upon wings in the grip of the little handworked crane, and settle calm and unruffled—unsplashed by a single drop of water —on the pier ready to be driven away. It was a wonderful feat and the Norfolk Island Boating Com

pany are a wonderful body of men— Islanders all.

What N.I. Offers Tourists

Never since the island was discovered as a commercial and agricultural pro position and inundated by “outsiders” has it been as dull as now. Every thing is at its lowest ebb and if you ask us if we are downhearted we ans wer in a chorus, “Yes.” But to the discerning eye we are not dead, but sleeping, and the hour of our awaken ing is at hand —just as soon as those new passenger steamers from Australia and New Zealand, with accommoda tion, one for eighty and the other for fifty tourists, get upon the run.

We have everything to offer visitors —especially now when the overseas ex change is so seriously against the whole of Australasia that only the very richest can afford to disregard it and still travel overseas.

Our climate is wonderful—as good as it is reported to be, and that is the best in the world. The temperature never rises above 80 in the height of summer and seldom drops below 56 in the winter. Our rainfall averages 43 inches and we get it mainly between March and October. We have a very good golf course and good resident players, several tennis clubs, a bridge club, a beautiful bathing beach and cars and riding horses for hire; and there are a dozen boarding houses in which to stay. But the steamer fares from Australia are too high for the length of the trip and the food and accommodation provided.

B.P.’S Extend Operations

October 6 saw the formal opening of Burns, Philp’s second store, situated at Middle Gate, on the direct road between our two landings, Kingston and Cascades, and about two miles from each.

It is most artistically designed and harmoniously coloured in pale stone and cool refreshing green; bulk store and living quarters on either side and under the same roof, garage and oil depot behind. Mr. Blake, whose name will be found elsewhere in this issue, was in charge of the construction. He is an enterprising Scotsman—and what Scot is not enterprising born and brought up in Edinburgh, where he was articled to an architect. Twenty-two years ago he went out to New Zealand and settled in Whangarei, in the north of the North Island, where he estab lished a big business as a builder. Forty years ago he saw prospects in Norfolk Island and came over with his wife and family. He employs several skilled men, has a well-equipped workshop where he turns out really fine furniture and joinery, and is responsible for nearly all the up-to-date buildings on the island; this new store being his latest achievement.

Mr. Grey, the capable young manager for B.P.’s in Kingston business is pleasure with him is manager also up at Middle Gate, with Mr. Maple toft as sub-manager and deputy Mr.

Grey has learned his business all over the Islands, having spent ten years between Tonga, Samoa, the Solomons, Fiji and here on Norfolk. Mr. Maple toft knows only Australia, but has ranged the whole of Queensland and a great part of N.S.W. Bill Chapman, a most popular young Islander, who grew uo in New Zealand and has been with Mr. Grey practically ever since the firm opened here two years ago, will divide his time between the two stores. It is only fair, and Mr. Grey recognises it, that opportunities should be given to those born on Norfolk Island equally with those coming here to make a living.

Social Activities

On Thursday afternoon, October 23, at Government House down in Kings ton, a “Gift” afternoon was organised to relieve the necessities of the new hospital which, since being transferred “up country,” has apparently doubled its running expenses and is always in distress.

On October 30 —postponed a day on account of the arrival of the Makambo, bound this time for Sydney—a Garden Party Fete was held at Ivy House, one of our largest boarding houses, in the interests of the forthcoming Horticul tural Show. Both entertainments were well supported and substantial sums of money were realised.