The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 3, 1906.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1714, 3 April 1906, Page 2

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING GISBORNE, APRIL 3, 1906.

PANNING ISLAND. A correspondent of the Wellington Post, who js a .creditor in the estate, supplies that journal with some interesting facts leading up to the projected sale and division of estates on the Panning and Washington islands, fixed for April 17, and for which it is reported Germans are to actively compete. The islands were taken up some 40 years ago by a British subject named William Greig, who procured a deed of conveyance from the British authorities, but there appears to be some doubt as to the extent of the title conveyed. However, William Greig carried ■on a business on the islands exporting considerable quantities of copra,, guano, pearlshell, and other island .produce to American markets-...Greig subsequently entered into 1 ' i with one George I Bicknell, and-carried on the business until.the,death of Bicknell, some 15 | years'ago, under the name of “ Greig and-Bicknell,” William Greig resided- in Ban Francisco for some years, and when he died,! in compliance with his expressed-wish, he was buried on Fanning Island. ’ The mode of interment, however, is interesting. Greig was an- ardent Freemason, and the brethren in San-FHancisco were determined that' although his wish should be respected as to his interment on | Fanning Island, his remains should be interred in consecrated ground. William Greig’s brig, The Douglas, which had remained in San Francisco for many months, was fitted up for thejmrpose, and some hundred tons of soil, taken from a conse,crated graveyard, was placed in her hold. In this the grave was dug and the last rites were carried out with full Masonic honors. The Douglas sailed

I for Fanning Island, and the reinterment was carried out with equal solemnity, and the acacia tree planted in San Francisco now marks the spot on Fanning Island where pest the remains of the pioneer of Fanning Island. Mrs Greig (a Niue native) still survives and resides on the island

with her four sons and two daughters. The estate has been managed by the executors of William Greig, appointed by his will, viz., George Bicknell Greig, his eldest son, and Capt. E. D. JKeid (jeon-in-law). The executors have unfortunately been at cross purposes for some years, and many endeavors have been made to put the business and accounts of the estate on a proper footing. For this purpose an arbitration was held in Fiji in 1903 without any definite result, that is so far as the Australian creditors were concerned.- | George Greig has retained the manage- | meat of the islands. , For some years (

past the Australian creditors have sought to force the winding up of the estate, but owing to want of jurisdiction the matter has been troublesome. Goorgo Biclmoll, it appears, loft one son, who, according to his father’s will, was entitlod to one half-share in Fanning and Washington Islands, and in the business of Groig and Bicknell. This son was recently found by Mr Humphrey Berkley (solicitor, of Suva), somewhere in Honolulu, and. his interests are now being fought for by Mr Berkeloy. An administration suit was commenced in the High Commissioner’s Court last year, and Captain Reid was appointed receiver. Captain Reid has taken peaceable possession of the islands, and it would appear that in order to wind up the estate the islands are to pass under the hammer on April 1G next. - The islands are highly improved, and for some years have turned out some thousands of tons of copra, and it is stated that there are some millions of tons of guano deposit on Washington Island (which, by the way, is a sandspit on a coral foundation), but it would appear that the cost of excavating and labor difficulties have retarded the output of late years. The Cable Company have been tenants of the estato for some years, and they have put some £20,000 worth of buildings and plant on the island, and improved it in tho matter of wharfage and harbor facilities.