THE KERMADEC GROUP. SETTLERS FOR SUNDAY ISLAND. A PIONEER SETTLEMENT.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 409, 9 October 1889, Page 5

THE KERMADEC GROUP. SETTLERS FOR SUNDAY ISLAND. A PIONEER SETTLEMENT.

Considerable interest has been aroused, nob only in Auckland, but; elsewhere throughout New Zealand, by the intended systematic settlement of the colony of Sunday Island, fcho piincipal island in the isolated Kermadec Group, to the north- east of the New Zealand coast. As the first batch of settlers with their families and belongings from Hawke's Bay have already sailed from hero, the schooner Dunedin having left yesterday for Sunday Island, where the hardy pioneer intend carving out comfortable homes for themselres, far removed from the burdens of taxes, rents, gaol*, and other plagues of civilisation, some information anent this settlement of one of the colony's little " dependencies " may be found interesting. The migration is under tho auspices of the " Kermadec Fruib and Produce Association," whose principal promoter is Mr Hovell, late of Wairoa, Hawke's Bay. Mr Hovell has embarked all available capital in tho proposed settlement, and goes to Sunday Island to take personal charge of the infant colony. He expects, as do all his fellow-" emigrants," that the new settlement will be an exceedingly prosperous and happy one.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ISLAND. The Kermadec Group was annexed by the Imperial Government of Great Britain on August 17th, 1887. The position of Sunday Island, the largest in the group, and the great fertility of the soil, render it an acquisition ot considerable value. Sunday Island is situated just 600 nautical miles N.E. of Auckland, a Httle to the east of the regular route of the steamers llichraond and Waiuwi,

running from hero to the Tongan Group, and other Island localities. It is nearly triangular in shape, is about 20 miles in circumference with an area of 7,260 acres, and has a bold and imposing coastline, the belting cliffs varying in places from 700 to 1,000 feet in height. Situated in lab. 29dog. 15min. south, its climato is mild and equable, being slightly higher than that of Northern New Zealand. It is to its insular position that it doubtless owes a lower mean temperature than might have been expected from the latitude. The island is of volcanic origin, and was the scene of volcanic disturbance as lately as 1872, Ihe effects of which were confined to tho Raoul crator, which is 1| miles in diameter. The vain fall appears to be plentiful, but is not excessive. The soil everywhere is very rich volcanic, the excellence of which is borne witness to by the great luxuriance of tho vegetation. There is only one small running stream of water. Tin ee of the four lakes on the ialand are however fresh water, but excepting that in Denham Bay, are from their positions usoless for economic purposes. The many small forests are composed for tho most part of pohutukawa of all ages and sizes — a most valuable supply for New Zealand shipbuilders. In the month of Decomber the island is paid to present a glorious sight, with grove after grove of pohutukawa, covered with gorgeous crimson blossom?. The well-known candle-nut of Polynesia is found on the island, as is also tho handsome Norfolk j Island palm, which in places forms large groves, to the oxclusion of almost all other trees. The cultivated plants of the island, grown by Mr John Bell and his family, up to this time the only 6etblers on tho island, have a thoroughly tropical aspect. They include several kinds of bananas, taro, yama, kumara, bugercane, pineapple, guava, custard-apple, rose-apple, pomegranate, papaw, mango, oranges, shaddocks, lemons, citrons, etc., which are all grown to some extent and thrive well. Evidently the climate and soil are favourable for the cultivation of many tropical and subtropical fruits, which could no doubt be profitably grown for New Zealand markets. Situate as it is, only about fifty to sixty hours' steam from Auckland, tropical fruit should be gathered there ripe, and shipped to most parts of the colony in a fresh state. Silkworms could be reared there very successfully, it is said. Arrowroot and olives would also flourish on the ialand. Fish abound round tho coast, and the turtle is common. The land birds are few. There are no land reptiles. About the groatost drawback to settlement on the island is its lack of a harbour. The only place approaching even to a bay is Denham Bay, on the S. W. side, and this is exposed to the W. and S. W. winds, whioh cause a tremendous ocean surf to break on the shingle beach. On the northern side there are two extensive beaches, at both of which landing is practicable. Mr John Bell keeps his whaleboab at one of these localities. Vessels should anchor on ths sheltered side of the island, according to the wind blow ing. Firm anchorage on a good sandy bottom seems to be obtainable in most places oft" the shorn

THE NEW SETTLEMENT. Sunday Island has been divided by the New Zealand Government into five "runs " of about 1,500 acres each, and three landing reserves. These runs vrere offered for lease for 21 years, under the conditions of the Land Act, 1885, for email grazing runs with right of cultivation, and were recently submitted for sale by public auction at Auckland. Nos. 1, 4, 6 and 7, were allotted at upset rental ; for No. 2 run, which included the volcanic crater, there wcie no biddei&. The lessees of nine 6 and 7 have formed an association, tCiined the Kcrmadec Fiuit and Produce Association, for the profi table cultivation of the 3,000 acres whichcompriee their leasehold?. Mr J. T. Large, late editor of tho " Wairoa Guardian," Hawke's Bay, has taken up a nine-hundred acre run on the east side of the island independently of tho Association, and proceeds there from Napier shortly with his family, to establish his homestead and commenco the cultivation of Bub-tiopical and tropical plants. Mr Lartje's landing is not a convenient one, in fact he has none, his run on tho sea .side being surrounded by high forbidding cliffs. He has, however, the right of landing at the nearest beach, on the Government Reserve. From reliable data the members of the newly formed Association aro convinced that the rich soil and semi tropical climate of Sunday Island tender it well adapted for the cultivation ot many \aluable products. Tho proximity of the inland to New Zealand markets, whore its truit and produce may bo landed free of import duty which is levied on shipments from sources of supply in the islands, is expected to render the trade a remunerate e one.

TERMS OF SETTLEMENT. The basis of the contract of tho Association with intending settlers to the island is that the Association will allot 2,500 acres of the area at their disposal to tho settlers in forty or so sections of an equal area, each about fifty acres. These the Association will survey for allotment, and the settlers may select in order of priority of application. The Association will take settlers down from the colony to the island, with a stated tonnage of cargo, for a sum of £5 a head for adults (children undor twelve years of age free). The Association will engage tho services of a medical man to reside on the island on a section allotted to him, Mr Oswald Brodie, an expert in the cultivation of coffeo, cinchona bark, tobacco, opium, and tropical fruits, has been engaged by the Association to give tho settlers the benefit of his experience. Ho has been employed in coffee-raising in Ceylon for some years past. The settlers will be required to pay no rent, but tho Association will charge a commission of 10 per cent, on the gross proceeds of the produce raised and sold by the settlers. The Government have the right of withdrawing the land from lease at the end of tho present term of lease, in which case the Association will pay the settler full valuation for improvements. If, however, the Go\ eminent grant lessees or their a&aigna a renewal of lease, the Association will on fcheir patb renew their contract with the settlers. The title is practically as good as freehold. The settlers provide their own stores, implements, seeds, plants, etc., and will have uncontrolled management of tho land alloted to them for cultivation. Great interest trill be taken in the colony in the future fortunes of the pioneer settlers.

Citizen (to elderly phyuician): "You don't bleed patients as often as you did 15 or 20 years ago ?" Physician (looking over packages of unpaid bills) : " No, we don't bleed 'om at all ; they bleed us !" A yarn directly traceable to whisky. — A Kentucky man, while recently digging a rabbit out of a hole, came across a keg of whisky 100 years old. Tho mci dent has enormously stimulated rabbit hunting in bhat quarts '.