A VOICE FROM PITCAIRN'S ISLAND.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VI, Issue 106, 6 May 1871, Page 4

A VOICE FROM PITCAIRN'S I S L AN D.

(From the Alta California, l&th February.) We publish below a touching appeal from some lonely islanders in the South Pacific for shipmasters to touch at their island home. Tbe letter was written, it wiil be noticed, last October ; it was taken by the captain of the ship Whittington, which sailed hence 25th August, 1870, for Liverpool. The captain mailed the letter from Edinburgh, Scotland, 26th January, 1871, accompanied by the following note : — Edinburgh, 25th January, 1871. Eds Alta.— --On my passage home from your port, I called at Pitcairn's Island, being nothing out of my way, but rather the means of shortening the passage by going due south when out of trades, thereby passing quickly through the light winds. I found some 70 persons on the island — a healthy and moral people, and obtained several hundred oranges and limes, by giving them a little medicine and clothiug/ The latter they stand much in need of, the women particularly being very short. Some charitable disposed person coming that way with a stock of women's and men's second-hand clothing, would confer an everlasting favor upon them. There is plenty of goats and wild pigs, and water. I am not bound to California this voyage, or I would certainly do all I could to bring things with me frora here. Excuse this, and oblige rae by inserting the matter. — Yours, &c, (Signed) John Purdy. Master Whittington. Pitcairn's Island, 6th Oct., 1870. Mr. Editor, — As many ships pass this island on the route to and from San Francisco, but at too great a distance to board them in our canoes, it is our opinion that they do not know this island to be inhabited. There are no dangers of rocks or shoals, and if they come within a mile they would most always get a supply of fruit, &c. We number 60 or 70 persocs, and we always like to show hospitality to strangers, and hear the news. This is the third day we have seen ships pass, and this day one is standing in, by which we send this. The landing is on the north side of the island. If, dear Sir, you would have the kindness to give this a place iv your valuable paper you will greatly oblige your humble servants, The Community on Pitcairn's Island.