The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1920. THE DOMINION'S BOUNDARIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1920. THE DOMINION'S BOUNDARIES.

The recent acceptance by the Dominion of the mandate from the League of Nations to administer the Government of Western Samoa has drawn attention to the widespread area which is now administered by the New Zealand Government. The Official Year Book for 1919 contains a vast quantity of information that should be of interest to the citizens of the Dominion. It also furnishes a clear insight into a number of facts and figures wherefrom can be gleaned the immense values of the heritage possessed by the people whose lot has been cast in a country of limitless possibilities and unique climate. To the majority of New Zealanders the Dominion consists only of the North Island, the South Island, and Stewart Island, and they are fairly well acquainted with the chief characteristics of what may be termed New Zealand proper, with its coast line of 4330 miles in length. Outside these islands, however, but included in the boundaries of the Dominion, are the Chatham Islands (480 miles east-south-east from Wellington), the largest of which (Chatham Island) contains 222,490 acres, while Pitt Island has an area of 15,330 acres, the greater portion of the land on both being used for grazing sheep, the population consisting of 219 Europeans and 258 Maoris. Some 600 miles from Auckland, in the direction of Tonga, are the Kermadecs, consisting of Raoul, or Sunday, Island, Macaulay Island, the Curtis group, and L'Esperance, or French Rock, containing a total area of 8,208 acres. These islands are-volcanic, the rainfall is plentiful, the climate mild and equable, the soil rich, but want of water is ■ the chief drawback, and the islands are now uninhabited, although various attempts at settlement have been made from time to time. In the south, about 290 , miles from the Bluff, are the Auckland Islands, possessing several good harbors, the largest island being 27 miles long by about 15 broad, the highest point being 2000 feet above the sea. Of the Anti- : podes Group, which consist of J several detached rocky islands; j the Bounty Islands, a cluster of thirteen islets without verdure, and Campbell Islands, a moun- 1 tainous domain of about, thirty ! miles in circumference, it is not J necessary to do more than call to mind their existence. Mention, however, must be made of the j Cook Islands, with others, now j

included in the extended boundaries of the Dominion, having been annexed in 1901. These comprise Rarotonga, a magnificent island rising to 3000 feet, clothed to the top with splendid vegetation, and possessing rich alluvial valleys; Mangaia, of volcanic origin, about thirty miles in circumference; Atiu, a mere bank of coral; Aitutaki, eighteen miles i,i circuit, and possessing innumerable coconut trees; Mauke (Parry Island), about two miles in diameter, well wooded and inhabited; Mitiaro, another small, low-lying island. The Hervey Islands (twoj are surrounded by a reef of about 10£ miles in circumference, Niue (or Savage Island), to the east of the Friendly Islands, having a circumference of 36 miles, and the usual tropical productions. Then comes Palm erst on Island, about 500 miles east of Niue, having fairly fertile soil and good hardwood timber; Manahiki, .400 miles from Danger Island, valuable from the extent of coconut groves and a vast deposit of pearl shell; Penrhyn, one of the most famous pearl islands in the Pacific, possessing a splendid harbor; Bakaanga, an atoll of three miles in length and breadth; Pukapuka (or Danger Island), comprising a number of small atolls; and Suwarrow Island, 500 miles east of Apia, possessing one of the best harbors in the Pacific, capable of supporting a larger population than it at , present carries, and as a depot for the collection of trade from the other islands should be very valu- ' able in time. The constitution and laws of the Cook Islands were remodelled in 1915, and the educational requirements largely met, and dealings with land are subject to restrictions. The latest acquisi- ' tion of the Dominion is the con- , trol of "Western Samoa. The prin- ! cipal islands are Savaii and Upolu, ' the former being the larger of the two, having a length of 48 miles, a breadth of 25 miles, and containing an area of 660 square miles, but Upolu is the more fertile and populous, and contains ! the port and capital of Apia. In the past, three great nations had : control of the destinies of the Samoans. Great Britain appointed a consular agent in 1847, the United States a commercial agent in 1861, and Germany her first , representative in 1861. By an ■ agreement between Britain and 1 Germany, accepted by America, in November, 1899, Germany was giv- • en all rights over Western Samoa, t;he United States obtaining control of Eastern Samoa. The occupation of Western Samoa by a New Zealand force on August 29, 1914, put an end to German rule there, and New Zealand has been made the controlling authority. In 1917 the civil population numbered 41,128, of whom 1668 were | of European descent, 530 being Germans, but the influenza epi- ' demic of 1918-19 caused the loss of over 8000 lives. In 1917 the revenue was £98,937, and the expenditure £89,801. Barely one third of a degree south of the Equator is the little phosphate island known as Nauru, or Pleasant Island. This also was a German possession which is now to be administered jointly by Britain, Australia, and New Zealand, Britain and Australia each taking 42 per cent, of the phosphates, and New Zealand 16 per cent., subject to a revision every five years. The possession of some 100,000,000 tons of the highest grade of phosphate makes Nauru the richest and best known phosphate island of the world, the yearly output being approximately 150,000 ions. The island contains only an area of 5000 to 6000 acres, and has', a population of some 1200 natives, , most of the workers being Caro- i line Islanders and Chinese. It will be seen that the Dominion, ; like the Motherland, has widespread boundaries, and this fact should inspire the people, and especially the Government tea high sense of their responsibilities, besides engendering a natural pride in these rich possessions. New Zealand has attained to nationhood , and partnership in the greatest : and best governed Empire, the ; world has ever seen. e