NATIVES IN NEW HOME

Chronicle (Levin), 25 September 1946, Page 5

NATIVES IN NEW HOME

-Press Association

: — : — BARREN ISLAND NOW PACIFIC BEAUTy SPiQT

By Telegraph-

AUCKLAND, Sept. 24. • The Island of Ranibi in the Fiji group, wiiicli is the new home of about 1000 former native inhabitants oi Ocean Island who were transferred en oloc by the Western Pacific. Higli Commission last Decembei', was visited by the minister of the Beresford Street vJongrega.tional Charch, Rev. .Clifford"' VVelch, during a tour of the Pacific under the auspices of the Londou Mis-sionai-y Society. Rev. Welch, who returned to Auckland in the steamer Moraybank last week, also callecl at Nauru a,nd Ocean Islands and was most impressed with the progress being made in Ihe production of pliosphate. When he visited Rambi in the Missionary Society 's vessel John Williams, a few montlis ago, Ocean Islanders were still bewildered by their ehanged habitat, said Rev. Welch. This unprecedented mass transfer of an indigenous population, hgd been. necessary because the islanders'' 'food suppJies were: belng . progressively reduced by the extensive .pliosphate wo.rkings on Ocean Jslandliambi was a beautif'ul spot covering an ar,ea of 29 square miles, which had previously been owned by a copra lirm from whom ,it had been bought iock, stock. and barrel. At the time of his visit the new inhabitants wero living in tents and a few pref'abricated huts and were making use of the cows, horses and equipment left beliind by the original residents. An adjustment to the;r new way of life was not easy for the Ocean Islanders, Rev. Welch continued. Thdy were puzzled by Rambi 's animals, hills, waterfall and bush, which they had not known on. their own barren island. As they had been brought up on tinned milk, they did- not like It tresh. Tliey also had to learn the principles of agriculture and other arts because tliev wa;e not used to a seasonal yliinate. A hatiye medical practitioner was stationed 011 Itambi to guard against any ill effects qu their "health, Rev. Welch said. He believed the move was an excellent idea and would give the uatives a fuller life. The colder climate should make them more virile and harder workers and they should become a wealthy population if they made the most of the natural advantages of the island which had good soil ca))aole of growing all kinds of fruit. It was visited regularly by a copra boat. In charge was a district ofiicer appointed by -tlie Western Pacific High Commission.