IDYLLIC ISLAND OF CHARM WITH GRIM HISTORY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 41, 8 May 1950, Page 5

IDYLLIC ISLAND OF CHARM WITH GRIM HISTORY

A vivid description- of Norfolk Island, it’s idyllic charm and atmosphere, it’s Utopian way of life and the contrast of the grim remains of the gaunt penal settlements that still make their ugly presence felt by both islanders and visitors was given to the Beacon by Mr C. Kingsley-Smith, when interviewed after his return to Whakatane from a fortnight’s visit to the island. Feeling interested in the history of the island and the people Mr Smith studied the historic i spots closely and went among the people as much as he could. Rates on the island are not paid as in New Zealand, he pointed out. On Norfolk every able-bodied male was required to work for two days on the 90 miles or so of roading on the island. » Call To Work

“I was fascinated by the lists of names appearing on the Kingston Barracks door, whereby sundry Christians, McCoys, Quintals and Adams’s were summoned to attend to such and such a culvert on such and such a date. “Did they turn up? They certainly did!” he added. “We witnessed the result of ’ a cover S.O.S. to all residents, to re-

build the cemetery fence. One hun-

dred and ten men rolled up and 40 ! women. Ten acres were surrounded with a close picket fence in one day! “The work was treated as a com- * munity picnic, the womenfolk providing the lunch and refreshments in the shade while the menfolk, an

an easy, steady tempo ran that rfence up, put in new gates and weeded , the cemetery by sunset. Then home again per gig, horsb and car up-country, as the middle island is termed.”'

Life comes easy and natural food abounds, continued Mr Smith. It is only right therefore, that the average person lives from day to day. Worry is outlawed and the Pacific breezes fan byways and lanes which give a sense of restfulness that turns life into a long holiday. No wonder every Norfolk Islander always comes home after Venturing on to the ‘mainland/ Although only 9000 a6res in all the island is a little world in it-

self, in every valley of which banana and orange groves flourish check by jowl with lemons, pawpaws, custard apples and guavas. “Did I say guavas? Whole forests bf them, carpeting the growth and purpleing the trees with their crops. The yellow variety grow to the size of lfemons.” But Norfolk has another story to tell apart from scenic charms and loveable people. From 1791 -to 1850 the grim shadow of her convict days shed a sinister light on her history. Here among idyllic surroundings hell was let Joose in full blast. Over " 2000 convicts, poor ■exiles from the Homeland, whose offences in the main today would be classed as petty, toiled under the lash and in chains to build the 25 acres or forbidding stone structures that were at once their portion and their doom.

Murky Dungeons Who can view the 20 foot walls, the vast compound, the devilish pepper mill and the damp murk of the dungeons, without shuddering? Who can picture the poor devils in the drain-gangs foiling up to their waists in the surf to build the stone pier, which today still braves the ramping easterlies, without feeling the stigma which assails an Empire of a short 100 years ago. Thank heaven, declared Mr Smith

it is all in the past, and today only

the gaunt walls and frames of the stolid gaol buildings serve to remind of the days of terror which once ruled the hopeless prisoners cn Norfolk. Today the Island smiles in the sun, enriched by kindly nature and building a kindly distinctive race, who have won the hearts of all who Visit them.