Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-12-06
lAsr pLAce 70 HAVE IN.AsIIANIs

lAST PLACE 10 NAVE INSsAUtt AN 10
AUCKLAND IsLANDs, SOUTH or NEW
ZEALAND, HAVE BEEN TAKEN NJ A
SHEEP RAISING COMPANY.
Perhaps the last place In greater
Britain Still unlnhabited, though habita-
Die, Il . small group OF Islands about
800 miles south Of New Zealand, or the
antipodes Of point about 200 miles
west Of Cape Clear In Ireland.
These islands were discovered BY Capt.
Abraham Bristow Of the whaler Ocean,
belonging TO Samuel Enderby. In 1906
be took possession Of them for the
British crown, and called them Lord
Auckiand's islands, by which name,
without the title, they are still known.
On examining them no found par
tlcularly snug anchorage, which be
named Sarahs Bosom, under which
name, or ~ Port Ross, It still appears
on the charts. Then, following the
example Of Capt. Cook, he landed some
pigs and sailed away.
The islands are not heard of again un-
Gil 1910, when they were visited by the
Erebus and Terror, during the voyage OF
Sir James Ross TO the Antarctic conti-
nent. Some time after this body Of 20
Maoris were brought from the Chatham
Islands In whaler, and they were found
here by Charles Enderby.
To him and other members of the
Enderby family the group Was granted
by the British government In 1880, as
headquarters Of the Southern whale
fishery company 10 consideration Of
''eminent services" rendered BY the
Messrs. Eoderby to geographical science
In the Antarctic seas. The company did
not pay, and after q few years the
islands were abandoned, Mr.. Enderby
leaving 10 1883, and the Maoris few
months afterward. While the company
was In operation the settlement COM
prised with the Maoris already there,
about 800 people.
After this, principally owing to their
proximity TO the sailing route from
Australia to England, they acquired an
unenviable reputation ss the scene Of
numerous shipwrecks, the first 10 order
being that Of the schooner Grafton, q
small, ill-found vessel, which, dragging
her anchors 10 heavy gale 10 one Of the
southern harbors, went ashore, and be-
came total wreck, In January, 1854.
The crew remained for over year,
living on seals aud birds, and at last,
despairing OF relief, they, with scarcely
any tools, succeeded In raising and deck
ing their one small boat, and In reaching
New Zealand after five days perilous
navigation.
The New Zealand government, from
motives OF humanity, erected several
huts In different parts OF the island,
amply stocked them with provisions
and caused them to be visited by u
steamer every six months; but the Is
lands are now given a wide berth and
wrecks are more rare, one OF the last
being that Of the Derry Castle, In 1887.
The Auckland islands consist OF one
large and several smaller islands, but, as
none Of the adjscent islands are more
than . quarter Of mile apart, they may
practically be considered a. one block,
their area being 10000 acres.
A low forest skirts all the shores, sue
ceeded by u broad belt Of brushwood, to
q hight Of about 500 feet, above which to
the summit Of the hills extend grassy
slopes.
The trees are stunted In hight by the
wind, but very thick and strong, the
borghs so interlaced that they must be
either crept under or climbed over. In
fact, the woods are almost impenetrable.
Rabbits OF q silver-gray kind are very
numerous on Enderby lsland-one Of the
small ones, where there Is good deal OF
very sandy ground; but II Is doubtful u
they would do well on the other Islands,
where the soil Is principally kind Of
peat.
The Pigs left by Capt. Bristow have
Increased In most surprising msnner.
II have" says Mr.. Euderby, "seen on
Euderby Island, when standing on the
cliff, as many as 100 at q time feeding
on the rocks beneath. On the larger
island OF Auckland pigs are yet more
numerous.
The climate Is equsble In temperature,
but stormy and wet; snow Is said never
to lie for more than three days, except
at the SUBMITS OF the hills. The ten
persture scarcely ever falls below 30 de-
grees: on the other hand the summers
are cold.
Sheep do well; some have been turned
out by the trustees OF the Southland
wreck fund. Cattle also are doing
splendidly.
These Islands were In November,
1894, offered for 81 years lease by the
New Zealand government. The lessees
In 1895 brought down 500 sheep as be-
ginning, and are reported to be sanguine
Of their prospects.-Chambers' Journal.