Norfolk Island Notes

By Norman Wheatley

HISTORICAL: An interesting sidelight on the recent Pedel-Buffett wedding (November 23, 1949) is the fact that the bridegroom is a descendant of the Reverend George Hunn Nobbs, who went to Pitcairn in the year 1828. The Rev.

Nobbs was ordained at Fulham, England, on November 30, 1852, moved to Norfolk Island with the Pitcairners in 1856 and remained here until his death. The bride is a descendant of John Buffett, who visited Pitcairn Island in the whaling vessel, Cyprus, in 1823. The Pitcairners prevailed on him to remain and act as school teacher, which he did and eventu ally married Miss Dolly Young. They, too, came to Norfolk to settle in 1856.

FRENZIED FINANCE: The Muliama was scheduled to make a trip, arriving just before Christmas ... if. Hopes were ex tinguished when it was learned that the owners required a substantial sum, over and above normal freight charges, for the 140 tons the vessel would be carrying.

Roughly, this meant that the freight worked out at £l5 per ton. The stores rightly jibbed at this proposal, for this would put the retail price of goods up even higher than their present astronomi cal level. The vessel also required an additional payment of £175 for each day’s delay. So —we wait for the next normal run.

BIG BUSINESS: The local Lighterage Company has hit the headlines. The last NZ ship (SS Holmburn) together with the Morinda (Australia) discharged ap proximately 800 tons of cargo. Lighterage charges are £1 per ton. Several residents and business people claim that the charge is excessive and out of proportion to the work done and equipment supplied.

WHALING: The whales have left the vicinity. During the summer, an occa sional sperm whale will be seen, but the Whaling Company will only be interested if whales more or less ask for trouble.

The Company have extracted approxi mately 2,200 gallons of oil during the past season. With luck, it could have quad rupled this figure. A couple sank after being killed, and some got away.

INDUSTRY: The butter factory is run ning full time, but has been troubled with a couple of minor breakdowns which have been speedily repaired.

SACKED: The “to do” about the Hos pital here was brought to a satisfactory conclusion by the intervention of the Administrator, who disbanded the Hospi tal Board. Residents felt that things were coming to a pretty pass when certain Board members attempted to interfere with the doctor, the matron and the economy of the Hospital itself.

ON LEAVE for six months —Mr. Towner and family, formerly of Suva. Mr.

Towner is on the Cable staff and will eventually proceed to Fanning Island.

Mrs. Towner and the two children will reside in Sydney.

WARFARE: About 150 adults gathered recently at a public meeting to pass a vote of no confidence in the Norfolk Island Hospital Board. Shortly afterwards, a vote of confidence in the Matron was passed. Both motions were unanimous and very enthusiastic. It was also learned how the Board got back into office—be it ever so temporary! It seems that the Board, as individual members, wrote out their resignations (with one exception) and handed them to the Board, as a Board. The Board, as a Board, then refused to accept their own resignations. Mr. Ripley please note.

RUMOUR: Current one—with an element of truth—is that the Department

of Works and Housing are curtailing their projects here. Maybe we won’t get the new Hotel after all.

AGRICULTURE: I can’t get to the bottom of this, but I hear whispers that a NZ firm is interested in NX’s bananas as whole fruit as well as dried. Dried bananas from the Islands have been on sale in NZ for a few years past and the last price I paid was 1/8 for a \ lb. cello

phane-wrapped packet.

The bean seed season here has been entirely successful and good crops were reported. The Fumigation Shed has opened for business. I hear, too, that the

passion -fruit industry is to receive same rejuvenation. Existing vines are nearly played out and fruit collected this season

will go mostly towards replanting. A great many of the wild fruits are marred by pests.

Sir Charles Rosenthal, An Ex-

Administrator of NI, has disposed of his interests and has been reported to be leaving the Island. Sir Charles and Lady Rosenthal will be greatly missed. Sir Charles will always be remembered for his forthright manner and efficiency in his administrative duties.