NORFOLK ISLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 November 1924, Page 4

NORFOLK ISLAND.

AX IDEAL RETREAT,

SYDNEY, October 23

A'ct another devotee to the, elianns of Norfolk Island, where “ far from the madding eroivd’s ignoble strife”— in other words, where motor ears are not and peace and lavish beauty and human content are—has been found in Air James Aloorliott.se, an octogenarian who for many years was secretary of the Tattersall’s Racing Club in Adelaide. Air AloorJiouso has already spent 18 moths on the Island, and declares that for the man tired of modern life there is no spot on the face of the earth that can offer more delightful sanctuary, and to it he intends to return the very moment that his medical advisers will permit him.

“ Norfolk Islamf is an ideal pi ace to live in,” Air Afoot-house says. “The climate is salubrious, seldom enervating, and all the grass is always green. 'The island may really he described as a gigantic mound, three by five miles in area, with numerous gullies runiling from the crown to the sea, with the slopes covered in vegetation, and tiny rivulets trickling down to the occult. There are no metal roads, and horses and sulkies can he hired very cheaply for a runabout. According lo the weather the boats can find anchorage on either of two sides of the island, and fishing provides entertaining sport for visitors and profitable occupation for others. 'The native inhabitants are mainly descendants of the Riieaint Islanders, hut, of course there have been other additions. There are no hhukfellows and no colour question. Inhabitants, aiiviitg other things, grow ordinary and sweet potatoes, bananas, oranges, and other eit ms fruits, in-

eluding lemons, the juice of which, is exported. Reaches ami pears llliiic, hut the rosella parrot is fond of

them. ‘•'There are no serious indigenous pests, unless you count the eatei pillat, which someli appears in marauding thousands. Only a few months ago 1 saw sume mterpilars in great numbers and tliov mowed down the grass almost as clean as if it had been cut with a scliye. 'The pest was so numerous that within a few minutes T filled a kerosene tin with them without moving from my seat. "Then a horde of starlings appeared, anil within two days the caterpillars were cleaned up. AYhaling could he made lucrative, hut lias Hot been follow with enterprise. Barrels ol ml are still Judd in store awaiting sale. ; ,iid when I asked why the industry was not pushed oil an islander calmly remarked that available barrels were filled with last year’s catch, and—with a shruug of the shoulders-lherc is

plenty of time alter that. “Intoxicating liquors are taboo .011 the island, as far as free consumption is concerned. Supplies are held oil hand by the Customs officer, and to obtain,' say, n bottle of whisky, an order must he procured from the resident medical officer. But in nnv ease not more than one bottle can he secured in a week. It is asserted whether rightly or wrongly 1 cannot snv, that quite a number ol patients have a firm belief in the virtues of alcohol for the alleviation ol hodili ailments. Anyhow, 1 saw no drunkenness ~11 the island, and no abuses ol that kind.”