J. D. CLUNIES ROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 January 1930, Page 3

J. D. CLUNIES ROSS

SON OF A KING.

ROMANTIC EPISODE OF COLONISATION. BLENHEIM, January 10. The death of John Duncan Clunies Ross removes a personality closely identified with one of the most romantic episodes of British colonisation, for he was a son of the famous John George Clunies Ross, the so-called King of the Cocos Islands, a little Soup of twenty-five islets in the dian Ocean, made famous as the scene of the destruction in 1914 of the Derman raider Bmden, by H.M.A.S. Sydney. The Cocos or Keeling Islands were discovered away back in 1609 by an Englishman, William Keeling, but nothing more was heard of them till 1823, when an Englishman named Hare,'accompanied by a number of slaves, settled on one of the group. A few years later Mr John George Clunies Ross, a Scottish mariner, established himself on Direction Island, with his family, and in a very short period he was joined by the remainder of Hare’s settlers, who recognised Ross as leader, and proclaimed him King. The popu-lation-grew steadily, aided by the importation of Malays for work in the plantations which Hare established and bv 1878 there were nearly 100 C souls on the island.

At this time Britain took the group under her protection, attaching them to. the Government of Ceylon, hut. Ross’s ownership was fully recognised, and he was appointed Governor of the group, and members of his family have successively filled the office ever since. The exports of the islands have grown steadily in value year after year. The climate is temperate and healthy, and the settlement is prosperous and ideal ■ijpbn Duncan Clunies Ross was born on'Direetion Island in 1856, and lived there with his people till he was nine years of age, when opportunity was taken to send; him to Holland to commence his education. Later lie" found himself at Edinburgh University, and his career looked like being a burr drum one, for on passing the law examination he was articled to ( Mr Irons. However, the call of adventure was in his blood, and in Ins early twenties he threw up the law and sailed for New Zealand, where after a few years he settled down to farming pursuits in the Blenheim district, his property at Grovetown being very well known, while the old gentleman himself was held in the highest esteem. He was at the time of his death the last surviving uncle of Mr John Sidney Clunies Ross, the present'Governor of Cocos. In 1887 he was married to Miss Annie M’Callum. a. daughter of the late Mr Duncan M’Callum, of Taknka. His widow survives him, and there are eight children.and thirteen grand children-.