Anniversary

Norfolk Island Celebrates Its 150th Anniversary New Administrator Creates Favourable Impression

From A Special Correspondent.

NORFOLK ISLAND enjoys the repu tation of being so intensely loyal in the observance of anniversaries, such as the King’s Birthday and Armistice Day, that it is somewhat singular that never before had the people thought fit to celebrate an anniversary in which they themselves were supremely inter ested: —the proclamation and foundation of Norfolk Island on March 6, 1788.

To make amends for their long neg lect, there assembled on the 6th of last month at Kingston (the township of N. 1.) a representative gathering of 300 people to celebrate the occasion. A united, religious service was conducted in the Anglican Church by the three local ministers, while His Honour the

Administrator (Major-General Sir Charles Rosenthal) gave an address.

The Administrator prefaced his speech by reading congratulatory messages from Lord Gowrie (Governor General of Australia), Mr. J. A. Lyons (Prime Minister) and Mr. W. M. Hughes (Min ister for Islands Territories).

Reviewing Norfolk’s history, Sir Charles said that their celebrations

happily synchronized with the 150th anniversary celebrations in New South Wales. He stated that it was during the early days of settlement there that Governor Phillip despatched H.M.S.

“Sirius” to N.I. to effect a settlement and, in the King’s name, take possession of the island which Captain Cook dis covered 14 years previously on his epoch-making voyage in the S.-W.

Pacific when he also discovered and named the neighbouring archipelagoes of New Caledonia and New Hebrides.

An Annual Event

The Administrator, while expressing surprise that no previous effort had been made to celebrate the anniversary of such a notable discovery and settlement, regarded the large gathering as a happy augury for the future and entertained the hope that the celebration of the anniversary would now become an established institution of the island. The murmur of approbation that greeted his words showed that the sentiments struck a sympathetic chord and gained the en dorsement of the audience.

N.L.’S Convict Origin

The Administrator referred to the oft repeated statement that Norfolk people

A link with the past—a seaman’s chest taken from H.M.S. “Bounty” at Pitcairn Island, now in the possession of Miss Young, Norfolk Island.

were glad to forget the convict origin of the first settlement, but he regarded such a notion as foolish and mistaken.

He reminded his audience that in “the good old days” people were punished for trivial offences, and that it was more than possible that many of the prisoners were loyal and respectable subjects, un worthy of the degradation to which they were subjected. He thought it only fitting that they should mark their appreciation of the splendid, construc tive work accomplished by the daring adventurers, and pointed to the fine roads that intersect the island in every direction as silent but lasting memorials to the skill and industry of the first settlers.

Sir Charles referred also to the cour age and heroism displayed by the pioneers in face of the difficulties and dangers they experienced in disembark ing from the “Sirius”. He remarked that when people now complain of the lack of facilities for landing at N.I. they should remind themselves of the hazards of the first settlers when going ashore at Anson’s Bay.

At the same time, the Administrator remarked, there was no reason why they should wish to perpetuate such names as Slaughter Bay, which constantly re minded them of the convict origin. He recommended that they should revert to the original name of Sydney Bay, by which it was called in the early days of settlement, in order to link them with the rising township across the seas.

New Administrator Popular

The Administrator’s address created a favourable impression, and the appre ciative attention with which it was fol lowed revealed the bond of loyalty and friendship that already exists between him and every section of the community.

Although only five months have elapsed since his appointment there has sprung up a strong attachment between the Administrator and the people of Nor folk Island.

Hitherto, the island has had the un enviable reputation of being rent and torn by rival factions which disrupted the social life of the community. Due to trade difficulties and monetary strin gency, caused really by over-estimating the agricultural resources and market facilities of the island, there was a feel ing of unrest and a strong anti-Govern ment element which blamed the Admin istration for much of the ill-fortune that befell the community. The long and varied experience of Sir Charles Rosenthal enabled him to make a rapid and searching survey of the situation, and by consumate tact and foresight, he has succeeded in welding the people into a homogeneous community.

In his address he was able to refer to the island as a happy family, a term reminiscent of the relationship which formerly existed among the islanders on their arrival from Pitcairn. The people realise that if any man can render them assistance in the troubles and difficulties through which Norfolk is passing, the present Administrator is the man.

Sir Charles concluded an interesting address by a complimentary reference to Norfolk Island’s most distinguished son, William Charles Wentworth, whom

he described as one of Australia’s out standing personalities, the author of her legal and political rights and the framer of her Constitution.

Sang Pitcairn Hymns

A feature of the religious service was the singing of hymns which the early settlers brought from Pitcairn Island

in 1856, when, owing to congestion, Queen Victoria bestowed upon them grants of land on Norfolk Island. The tunes to which they were sung were composed by a settler on Pitcairn, Mr.

Driver Christian, and it was noteworthy that his grandson was present at the service, as organist.

Another interesting feature of the service was the presence of two great grandchildren of Lieutenant King, the Commissioner to whom was entrusted the direction of the first penal settle ment and who afterwards became Gov ernor of New South Wales. His daughter married a Norfolk Islander and their two children, now an elderly man and woman, were present and played a con spicuous part in the anniversary cele brations.

Mr. Aubrey Koch, one of the senior pilots of Guinea Airways Ltd., left Syd ney for New Guinea early in April, after two months’ furlough.

Mr. G. Toogood, Patrol Officer in the Papuan Service, has been transferred from Samarai to Kerema, Gulf Division.