ISLAND GARRISON

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 145, 10 April 1940, Page 5

ISLAND GARRISON

GUARDING THE CABLES MATATA SOLDIER ON LEAVE Private E. A. (Archie) Schick, who is spending a well-earned leave with his parents at Matata after, seven months service as one of the small garrison on Fanning Island, Uives some interesting details of !ife on the Island, He says:— "Fanning Island is horseshooshaped coral atoll,, one of many in the Gilbert and El lice group. It is ten feet above sea level and lies 3 degrees above the equator. It is an important cable station, linking up Australasia and Canada and had a moment in the headlines during theGreat War when the cable was cut in September, 1914, by the German cruiser "Nurnberg." The copra industry gives employment to about 250 natives, who are very religious. They are not selfish in any way and will always give freely, being offended if their offerings are not accepted. There is no fruit other than coconuts and these trees bear twice a year, each having a crop of fifty* nuts or more at each bearing. The nuts are eaten at all stages nnd form a valuable food for the natives. The fronds are used as thatching for the houses. RainfalL Proof of its effectiveness is given by Private Schick, who savS that when over eight filches of rain fell on one particular day,. not a drop penetrated into the huts.j "Ninety inches of rain fell over a four-month period and the average temperature is 90 degrees in the shade, with a sea breeze blowing through the trees. In the sun it is 130 degrees." The Island is infested with land crabs, which live in holes in the ground. These crabs have an aversion to water and have a habit of v walking Into the men's huts and crawling away with articles lying around. Traces of disillusionment show m the observation: "This island is slightly different from those we hear .so much about, where the tima is spent in guitar playing arid hula dancing." "I cannot mention matters military," continues Private Schick, "but, plainly, the place hacf to be fortified. We found the work hard and the only entertainment we had was that we provided for ourselves. Still, some of thosa times will never be forgotten. "Our mail boat comes only four times a year. "We had one mail just before Christmas and that was a day of days. Another occasion which could fit into that category was the day we heard we were coming home The voyage home was enjoyed by all the boys. The seas were calm all the way and we called into Samoa. Tonga and Fiji. On the whole* this w r as an experience that money cannot buy."