FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2171, 29 August 1907, Page 4

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD.

THE SETTLEMENT OF SUNDAY ISLAND. AN OLD STORY REVIVED. (Special to Times). WELLINGTON, August 27. Some few years a«o when on cruise in one of the British warship; I landed on Sunday Island in company with the then Governor of the Colony. Lord Ranfurly. and the captain and some of the officers of the man-of-war. The island, which is one of the Kermadecs. is hilly, largely clothed with bush and scrub, and has no safe boat landing. It is a poov place for settlement. On pushing off from the slior e again through the breakers the boat was swamped and piled up on the sliore. We spe it nearly an hour vetting it afloat again and during the operations two young men bare-headed and bare-footed game running along the beach . and I

watched our efforts. Tlioy looked us if they had not soon a brother human for yoars. and they did not offer to help, oven though ono of the crew used strong Innguago to them, a ;.i ail of us, including tlio Governor wot e working at tlio timo up to ur necks in tlio broakers endeavoring to get tho boat oft' from tlio inhospitable shore. All they wanted was cartridges tor a pea rillo which one of them possessed. On. asking their name we found that ono was a member of the famous Bill familv, who for so many years had resided in this lonely spot practically cut off from intercourse with the busy world outside. Old Mr. Bell, the father of the family—he is nearly _70 years of age—lias now como to Wellington with the oft-told story ah. ut the island and his old grievance neainst the Government. Mr. Beil with his family settled on the island in 1878, hut hq was not the first mail in possession, for a Mr. Bader lived there over seventy years ago. During his sojourn Mr. Bell imported some dusky natives from tlio islands farther north to clear tlio forest, and sow grass, hut tlio experiment was not a great success, and tlio rate oat ep what little corn be grow. Mr. Bell to-day told a Post reporter that Sunday Island was tlio Hawaiild of the Maoris, but there is ample proof now that it was not. Four children were born on tlio island, bringing tlio number up to ten, five boys and five girls. Mr. Bell lias a theory, not well founded, that two German cruisers Unit visited the island had intentions of annexing it. However, they dill not make tho attempt. Mr. Bell asks fo" compensation, because the land which lie claimed by right of original settlement. was leased to others by tho Government. In consequence lio says he suffered considerable loss.