CURRENT LITERATURE.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1925, Page 4

CURRENT LITERATURE.

THE FALKLAND ISLANDS

After that December day upon which Sturdee’s guns shattered Von Spec’s squadron the group described by Mr V. F. Bogsou in “ The Falkland Islands ” leaped into brief prominence, and then |ito its customary obscurity. Vet it lias an extremely interesting history, which abounds in picturesque incident. The islands are, with the exception of South Georgia, a dependency of the Falklands, the most remote British possession that is inhabited. They live in the surge of the South Atlantic, several hundred miles off the coast of Patagonia. Small in extent, swept TTy the gales of the Antarctic, barren of inconsiderable economic importance, they flare nevertheless not infrequently (threatened to embroil great Powers. They were found, then lost, found again, and named and lost, refound and renamed —and that not once or twice. They were first seen hv the Portuguse.se in 1.101. Subsequently references to certain southern islands are not uncommon in the diaries of navigators, but it is doubtful whether these can he identified with the Falklands. They also appear in contemporary maps. Their history, however, may be said to begin in 1592, when John Davis of North-west passage fame, was a member of Cavendish’s expedition, and was driven out of his course to the islands. Subsequently, they were visitil by sailors of various nationalities (including Richard, (son of Sir John Hawkins, and Dampeir), hut no landing was made there until 1690, when the crew of an English privateer went ashore and were deeply impressed l>v the penguins. The diverse names given to the group reflect the nationalities of the different “discoverers.” 111 England is was known as “Hawkins’ Maidenland,” in compliment to Elizabeth; the French called it “Isles Malonines the Spanish, first “ Isla Nuestra Senora do la Soledad.” and later the "Malvinas;” the Dutch, the “ Sebaldines,” although this referred more specially to an outlying group. The main islands were not known as the Falklands until the 18th Century, that name having previously applied to a sound.

Although ships often went in for water or repairs, there was no permanent settlement until 17(14. the French being the founders. After the loss of Bougainville, the explorer, who had been with Montcalm, conceived the notion of building up another French empire in the South Seas, where the English could not interfere. The pioneers were some French Canadian lamdies, as well as some from St. Mali). Port St. Louis was established, and prospered. Meanwhile the English had made a little settlement at Port EgmotiL on another island, and the two sets of colonists eyed each other with unconcealed suspicion. But before there was any rupture the Spanish Government informed the French that it had prior claims, and eventually Port St. Louis was handed over to Spain, lock stqck and barrel, for the sum of 618,10,8 lines 13 sols 11 deuiers, the curiously exact amount being the ex penditure thereon. Next Spain sent from Buenos Ayres a lonnidable expedition, which turned the English out of Port Egmont. The tiny garrison made a show of resistance, hut it had no gnus that would shoot, and, as the odds were hopeless, it made terms. The affair caused an immense sensation in England, where the nation’s pride was up in arms. Chatham, then in opposition, arraigned the Govcrnmot lor iis supine acquiescence in this humiliation. In vain did Dr Johnson, who supported the Government, ridicule the idea ol going to war for “the empty sound ol an ancient title ol a Magellanick rock.” Public opinion was aroused, the Government was lorced to act. and Port Egmont was restored. The informal arrangemeni- that was subsequently followed tins that the English sphere of inlliHMicC should he Saunders Island, and the Spanish East Falkland. .Many years later another episode in the Falklands brought England into conflict with America. The English Governor arrested an American captain, and two American vessels for poaching. There seems to have been no doubt about their guilt, hut an American official came across from Buenos Ayres and made him,sell very objectionable. Some warm exchanges ensued. The Governor had put himself technically in the wrong, and the British Government was prepared to make- amends. But when the Foreign Minister. Lord Clarendon. received the documents relating to the ease, and read of the American’s offensive hingnuge, -lie informed Washington that England could not negotiate until it had disavowed its representatives conduct:. Eventually it was—agreed that the malter should he dealt with along with tlie Alabama dispute at the Geneva Arbitration. The papers were overlaid in the mass ol material constituting the Alabama claims, and nothing more was heard ol the allair.

The Falklands’ pursued the even tenor of their way until the revolt ol the

' |.atiu American colonies lost Spain the greater part of her colonial empire. The Argentine assumed her interests 1 in the falklands. hut did nothing to consolidate them. 4he group was left to itself, and became a sort ol A Isa tin. The respectable settlers were done to death, anarchy reigned, violence went unchecked for some years. At this point we have a link between the I'alklands and 'Australia in the shape of an incident in which our friend, Sir Henry Brown Hayes, Baronet, figured, very discreditably, if the story of Captain Charles Barnard, of the “Kanina,” is to ho believed. The “Isabella,” bound from Port Jackson to Boiulon. was wrecked on one of the islands of tbe group. Among the passengers was Brown Hayes, who, originally transported for abduction, had received a free pardon. Barnard succoured the castaways, ami. on quite reasonable terms, arranged to take them on the “Kanina” to Buenos Ayres. But there was a plot in which Hayes was one of the leading spirits. The "Nanilia” was stolen by file unruly elements from the “Isabella,’ while Barnard and a few others were left to lend for themselves as best they could. They were picked up IS months later. There are other links with Australasia. The Falklands, lying on the homeward run. were frequently visited by vessels from Australia. Sheep, which now constitute the staple industry of the group, were introduced by one Withington, a successful sheep.breedpr in Tasmania. Years later stud sheep were imported to the Falklands from New Jiealand. as ueio experts to advise on the industry. -Hi William L. Allerdyce, not long since Governor of Tasmania, was formerly Governor of the Falklands, while an ex-Dean of Newcastle and Bishop of Kalgoorlie was a one-time colonial chaplain of the group. In the enrlv 'Thirties of last centurv. the anarchv was such that Britain intervened, and since then the Falklands have enjoyed full measure of prospeiity. With the passing of the sail, few ships now call in for repairs, and the herds of wild cattle that once infested the islands, the descendants of those released over '2OO years ago, have been killed. But the sheep industry has been developed and thrives. Sealing is profitable. Whaling has experienced a renascence, thanks to the methods introduced by Captain C. A. Larsen. Captain Larsen, by the way, who died

: few weeks since, was the lender, of he “ Sir James Clark Ross” expedition, ill recently, operating in the Australasian section of the Antarctic. Some ears ago the Falklands received a grefat Recession, of dignity. T|o the ■oloiiv were attached as dependencies lumerous island groups, South Georgia, the South Shetland,s, the South sandwichs, and so forth, as well as a •onsidornlile slice of the Antarctic coninent. The total area embraced is ipproximately 3,000,000 square miles niles of land and sea. As most of it lies within the. Antarctic circle one .vonld imagine that the difficulties of administration would he insuperable, but for the fact only one of the dependencies, South Georgia, has any inhabitants.