Norfolk Island Notes

By Vernon Wheatley

DEPARTING: Mrs. Dorothy and Miss Violet Hooker have left Norfolk for their home in Santo. During their six months’ holiday on the Island, Miss

Hooker paid a short visit to Sydney for medical treatment.

COMING HOME: Mr. Bill Sanders also successfully underwent medical treatment over a fairly lengthy period and was re cently discharged from hospital after a few skin grafts on his leg. Junior readers in Fiji will remember Bill who attended High School there.

AGRICULTURE: Bean seed growers were well pleased with the returns on the consignment freighted by the last Morinda. Growers who are despatching by the April Morinda, are wondering how the seed will fare after a trip to the New Hebrides and back to Sydney, as the vessel is not calling at Norfolk on her return trip. According to an expert, the germination will not be affected.

WHALING: The season will be starting in a couple of months. Capt. K. Hansen is in New Zealand conferring with the directors and during his absence, Mr. Max Picard paid a flying visit to the Island.

Mr. Picard is one of the directors of the Company.

UNUSUAL: Recently I observed a com mon brown hawk perched on the limb of a tree surrounded by ten to fifteen terns.

The gathering was amicable and my small daughter was moved to remark that it looked like a birdies parliament. I did not make the obvious remark that the birds looked more intelligent, for the en tire assemblage took off and indulged in some aimless gliding until out of sight.

I have seen hundreds of hawks but this is the first time I have seen one accom panied by other species of birds.

ADMINISTRATIVE: The Administra tion, in conjunction with the Department of Works and Housing is greatly improv ing the surface and width of the roads.

Some tar-sealing has been done and the experimental patch near BP’s store has stood up well. After approximately two years, the surface is still in good con dition in spite of heavy use. It is re ported that even the road to the Cable Station, usually impassable after a couple of hours of rain, is to receive some treat ment.

It is things like this that will help to attract settlers or long-term holiday makers here.