Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1902, Some New British Territory.

Manawatu Herald, 13 May 1902, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1902, Some New British Territory.

Fob centuries there has been lying an island in the Straits of Snnda, known by many mariners yet claimed by no country. In these days of land-grabbing such a statement sounds curious, but the indifference arose from the apparent inhospitable, character of its coasts and the belief that it was not worth anything, much after the fashion of the Fox and the grapes. This has now been all changed, and the result has been obtained by the sometimes imagined uselessness of scientific voyages. The island lies 900 miles from Australia and annexed to the British Crown by H.M.S. Iraperieuse in 1888. The first person to set foot on this island known by name as Christmas Island, was a member of Captain Maclear’s crew, who found a spot in what'is known as ‘‘Flying Fish” Cove, after the name of the vessel. That the spot had never had persons upon it before was made plain by the number of birds upon it, and their lameness, it being said that they flew about the heads of the sailors and allowed themselves to be picked from tho ground or the- trees like pet chickens. This captain arrived at l-io opinion that tho island was of liHk' value, and so left it. The report of an island, wholly undisturbed for centuries led sv.ioauiic men to be eager for opportunities to visit it, and Captain Aldrich, of Liie surveying ship Egeria, nvas ordered to visit it. After spending some days and collecting geological specimens this vessel sailed away still with the idea that the island was of very little use. The specimens obtained were handed over to Sir John .Murray for examination, and the early reports showed that the rock was almost pure carbonate of lime, revealing no evidence of its original coral formation. One day, however, the chemical assistant appeared with a piece of rock which he could not make out, and a more careful analysis was ordered. To the astonishment of everyone the piece of rook was shown to be almost pure phosphate of lime —a compound of the greatest commercial importance, used the world over for fertilisers and for other purposes. Sir John believed there were large deposits of this substance on the island, and it was explored more thoroughly. Sir John was so confident that the island had great value that he endeavoured to get the island annexed, which he finally succeeded in doing, but not without early rebuffs.

At last Sir John got a lease of the island from the Government in his own name,'and that of Mr S. C. Ross of the Cocos islands, and to-day the island is populated with men and ships anchor familiarly in Flying Fish Cove.

A very interesting account appears in Pearson’s Magazine and from its concluding remarks we take the following t —Thus thrpugh the persevering interest of the scientist, the British flag flies over a new possession, and the world at large has been enriched by a hitherto-nnknown store of phosphate which will assist in making fertile thousands of farms in every part of the world, thereby increasing the production of human food. This one little island will soon repay many times over the expense of that wonderful voyage ot the “ Challenger.”