THE KING OF SUNDAY ISLAND.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4340, 9 February 1893, Page 3

THE KING OF SUNDAY ISLAND.

Tho following extracts from a letter lately received by a Bay cf Plenty settler from Mr Thomas Bell, who is now again tb.Afcjly permanent settler in tho KeriMwßjbnp, will interest Sunday Island.—My dear old friend,—l received from you a cony of tho 'Otago Witness' by H.M.S. Goldfinch, containing a biimuuious account of a certain Mr Walter Leslie's trip to Sunday Island. Many thanks for your kindness in sending the paper. We. are always glad to get any information about Sunday Island. People in New Zealand nowadays know a treat deal more about this isle of beauty than wo do ourYour Burvoyor-Ueuer.il up to tho skies, and it lias nonSpi come down again. Our Hear little island scarcely seems to bo the same place ever sinco we have had, for these few lust years Boch an influx or" boom" of set tletnenr. All that is now " written off the ledger," and Kin» Toin and his old Queen now ajain reign supreme over their owu little family—monarchs of all wo survey, 1 fancy our numerous visiiors and demisettlers do not think so well of Sunday Island os wo do, We two old people will never leave Sunday Island, Now Zealand climate would not agree with our health, nor New Zealand habits with our habits. Wo wero all surprised to get a visit from a man-of-war—the Goldfinch, Myself and two sons went aboard, Tho captain and officers were all very gracious, My hoys wero delighted nt the big guns. Harry would like to have had a nico little Hotchkiss slung on the noso of a steam launch to shoot whales. What caught him most, however, was the captain's uniform, for he happened to be in full dress. Ho never took his oye off the resplendent gold epaulets, lace and buttons, and euid as wo came on shore that he would have given six goat skins for it. We aro now ready for another batch of invaders, and as Captain F. puts it, " more plunder,"

Tho last survivor of that great bubble,

the South Sea and Kermadec Fruit- • growing tympany, Limited, takes his final departure for Maoriland by the Hinemoa, and we aro left alone to reign. You see there happens to bo two sides to Sunday Island, as to most places and questions. Poor Captain Charlie Baker (who was born bore) used to say he could stand on the top of Sunday Island and see tho tropics on one side and New Zealand on the other. The aspect makes all tho difference. We live on the north side and get all the fine weather, You must come and see us over here. When I am Buro you are coming I shall have a good brew of orango hock, and. we always have woll seasoned peach wine on hand. This year we have it very heavy crop of peaches, and you hive no idea want a beautiful dry hock oranges make. Of that fruit also wc have any quantity.