The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1867. THE KERMADECS.
Letters Patent under the Great Seal having been issued authorising the annexation of the Kermadec Islands to the Colony of New Zealand, a Bill is now before Parliament declaring these islands an integral part of the colony and subject to its laws. As inquiries are being made m various quarters as to the attractions which the islands may offer as a possible field for settlement, it may be as well to inform our readers as to what is known with regard to them. This group of islands, then, is situated m the South Pacific Ocean, between the parallels of 29 deg. and 32 deg. S latitude, and the meridiau of 177 deg. and 180 deg. W. longitude Most of them are mere rocky islets, the only one containing anyconsiderable area of land being that known as Sunday Island. This is said to contain about eight thousand acres, the greater part of which is covered with timber of fair quality. There a^e a few patches of open land of a (ew hundreds of acres of excellent quality, some of it being capable, it is asserted, of carrying ten sheep to the acre. A Mr Bell has been settled here for some years and bas a family, most of whom have been ban there and he has a teacher resident on the island, whom he recently brought over from Auckland for the purpose of afford(ing his children the means of education. He has a Hock of sheep, a few head of cattle, and raises fruit and other produce, which he trades away when opportunity serves, with South Sea Island trading vessels for other necessaries and comforts. The climate and soil are suitable to the production of nearly all kinds of tropical fruits. The difficulty of communication is, however, very great, as Sunday Island has no harbor and the landing on the open besch where there are nearly always hezvy rollers, is exceptionally dangerous, aid is only possible during the prevailing winds on the lee side of the Island. It is understood that Mr Bell is to be granted a lease of the portion of the island now m his occupation, and the remainder will be open to be dealt with under the oidinary land laws of New Zealand. Anyone who is desirous of taking up land there would do well to visit the spot first, and having selected his location could then make application to take up the area selected under one or other of the systems provided m the Land Act, 1885. There is obviously not room for many settlers on so small an area, but it is quite possible that a limited number might do very vrell there. Those who determine upon the experiment must, however, be prepared for a very isolated existence, and to forego most of the comforts and advantages which are enjoyed m the centres of civilisation.
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Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1561, 18 May 1887, Page 2
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494The Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 1867. THE KERMADECS. Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1561, 18 May 1887, Page 2
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