SUNDAY ISLAND.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1861, 22 September 1913, Page 5

SUNDAY ISLAND.

AND ITS POPULATION. An item which attracted somo attention when the Estimates of tho Lands, Department were being considered in tho House of Representatives on Friday night was: "Payment to Thos. Bell, of Sunday Island, to enable him to return to tho Kermadcc Islands, £40." Last year a sum of £50 was voted for tho same purpose, making £90 iu all. The story of tho vote, as told by the Prime Minister, is that many years ago Mr. Bell, with his wife and family, settled upon Sunday Island, ono of the Kermadcc group. Somowhero about lfiSG or 1887 tlio Now Zealand Government got hold of an idea that Sunday. Island should bo settled and sent down a party of settlers, with stores, to mako their homes upon the island which at that time was inhabited only by Mr. Bell and his family. The settlement was not a success. Tho settlors consumed their stores and iu addition a number of sheepi owned by Mr. Bell. Filially, the whole island population returned to New Zealand. Since that time, and until quite recently Mr. Bell has been working in tho Auckland district. Not long ago ho interviewed the Prime Minister and asked that ho and his family should bo assisted to return to Simday Island. Tho Government eventually decided to accede to tho request and to grant Sir. Bell a sum of £90. With his wife and some members of his family ho has now returned to the island which ho left many years «igo. The venture is an enterprising ono in view of tho fact that Mr. Bell is upwards of 70 years of age. Sunday Island is a lonely spot removed from the usual eea routes,, but it is visited now and then by a whaling ship.