The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1869-07-31
Norfolk

About the center of the triangle formed by
New Caledonia, Now Zealand and the Australian
coast, and 1000 miles from each, is Norfolk Isl
and, belonging to the English, and used for
erly as a penal settlement. The island is
located in S. latitude %, and w. longitude l6S,
and possesses n most delightful climate, somewhat
cooler than ours. A central cone rises gradually
from the sea, to a height of one thousand feet,
and is called Mount Pitt. But the slopes of this
mountain and the broad plains are covered with
green grass and groves of zine trees.
1t is from this island that the beautiful Nor
folk pine comes, of which we have in Honolulu a
few specimens,-one, for instance, in DR.. Hof-
mann's garden, and another and larger at the
Queens Nuuanu country seat. 1t is acknowledged
to be one Of the most beautiful trees in existance,
especially when growing, as in its native island,
so as to form a magnificent cone, the lower
branches resting on the ground and the higher
ones gradually tapering till they end in an apex
from one hundred to a hundred and fifty feet in
height.
1t was to this island that the British Govern
ment transferred the Pitcairn's Islanders, when
they became too numerous for Informative island.
But after being transported thither, they longed
SO for their old home, that some were taken back,
while others remained. The latter have increased
so that they now number about three hundred
but there is ample room for them to continue to
increase even till they number thousands, as they
undoubtedly will within fifty or sixty years, as
they are very prolific.
One of the English Missionary Societies has
established n mission on this island, chiefly to
teach natives. From a letter written by one of
these missionaries, we extract a paragraph, which
will give some idea of the characteristic features
of the island
Perhaps your readers scarcely need reminding that
Norfolk Island is n little grassy island some five miles
long, containing about 5000 acres. The old convict
town, with its huge dilapidated barracks and gaols,
officers houses and servants huts, is situated on the
s. L. edge of the island, where the little Nepean
islet gives shelter enough to form n precarious road
stead available in certain winds. This old town is
occupied by the ex-Pitcairners now, some 800 strong,
all told. Three miles from this across the island, ON
Its northeastern shore, and communicating by a
fair road with g the town. and also by q fair road,
some three miles long, with the other eastern landing
place ut Cascade Bay, lies the Mission estate of
about 1000 acres. facing north, and sloping gently
down to low cliffs and a rocky shore. The land-a
low table fiat, broken by gentle gulles-is a light red
soil, of fair quality, covered naturally by a close
growth of wild couch-grass, sprinkled, after a beau
tiful ~park-like fashion, with Norfolk Island pines
and "white oak,'' while the gullies and TANKS of
:" Mount Pitt - (the chief hill of the island), 1000
feet high, are full of thick growth of a wild lemon
scrub, tree ferns, wild cotton and wild tobacco, and
guava. On a slight ridge, half u mile from the sea
stand the scattered group of wooden mission build
ings.