Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-07-15
From the Honolulu Friend for Nav la,a

PITCA1RN's AND NORFOLK IsLAND-The
reading public has been informed of the praise
worthy effort of the British Government to
remove the inhabitants of Pitcairn's Island to
Norfolk Island, The reason assigned for re.
moval was the very limited amount of arabic
land upon the island. Pitcairn is very small
island only four or five miles in circumference.
a whale boat can be rowed around it in one
hour. 1t is high and rocky Not one half of
the actual area is capable of cultivation. The
inhabitants had increased to nearly 200 when
the removal took place, about two years ago.
Norfolk Island is situated in the South Pa
clnc, Lat. ~ deg. s., and Ion. 167 deg E. 1t is
about four miles long and three wide MANY
years ago, 1t was selected as penal settlement
for the most desperate criminals in England or
the British Australian colonies. For many
years, criminals were sent thither They were
employed In building houses, prisons, a break
water, and every necessary public building or
road. Ihe discipline maintained is reported
to have been severe. The expense of keeping
up the establishment and other reasons induced
the British Government to remove ali the nris-
oners to Swan River and other portions of
their colonies The island, dwellings,, and i'm
provements, were rendered as free gift to the
Pltcairners on condition that they removed
thither.
Favorable as were these terms, some of the
people have been dissatisfied. A few DAYS
since awhale-ship reported that seventeen had
returned to Pitcairn's Island. The officer of
the whale-ship who made the statement. had
landed upon the island and spent two nights
with those who had returned He reported
that about forty more would soon arrive.
THE Friend publishes letter from Norfolk
Island, dated December q, 1858, from which
we take the following passage
"And now for Pitcairns. A great many
wish to return there, and suppose if opport,I-
nifty offers, will go. On the second OF this
month, two families left, namely, Matthew
Young and his wife Margaret, (the widow of
Matthew Mccoy, who was killed by the dis
charge of the Bounty's gum and family of
SIX chiidren-three others remain here 1.-TWO
OF them, believe, mean to return next oppor-
tunity,) and Moses Young and his wife Alma
and five children. l expect next April at
least twenty more will leave, as an American
whaling captain has promised to give them a
passage-the family of Thursday, October.
Christian and relatives. Those who left
went IN brig of 100 tons, belonging to Van
Diemen's Land, called the Mary Ann. The
owner engaged to take 90 adults at :fl0 per
head, and over 30, old and young, engaged
10 go, but 1t was such hard parting that the
contract was broken, and it was decided that
al ehouiu aein"ih, anu we agreed to give the
owner halfthe sum for the detention OF his YES.
sci, but he not feeling easy at taking this sum
without dong something for it, it was conclud-
ed that some should go, and the two aforesaid
families embarked accordingly
We have had but three deaths since our ar
rival--one child by accident, the other child
we did not expect to live when we left Pit
cairns, and the last young woman, of con
sumption. | cannot inform you Of the number
OF births, but | believe they are more prolific
mere Than at Pitcairn's-and the last eight born
a,e an females. l believe we number 2I2 at
present on this island"