The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1912-02-02
SAYS SYNDICATE
| WANTS TO BUY
PALMYRA
Judge Cooper Gives the Facts
About His South Seas
Island.
TENTATIVE OFFER MADE HIM
TELLS of the British Claim Found
Tackled Upon Tree on Sea
Beach.
TENTATIVE OFFER MADE HIM
(From Thnrsday s Advertiserl

vi NLiOhi 1HuISudN AuNeTUlSeT)
Judge Cooper, owner of Palmyra
sland, yesterday made public the fact
hat he had received tentative Offer
Tor the purchase of his southern prop
rty from the representative of the
lame syndicate that is now closing the
cal for Tanning Island from Father
'ougier. He also stated that, in his
fearing, Father Rougier asserted the
'land is registered on the books of the
|ord High Commissioner of Fiji, as be-
bnging to the dominions of King
gorge.
In the light of the present promi-
ence which Palmyra and Tanning
lands are assuming in the eyes of
Washington and British diplomats, and
ne amount of space they are taking
lip in the public press, the private ad-
ices that reached The Advertiser yes
erday that the Canadian Australian
.eamer Makura unloaded number of
urge guns on Tanning Island is of
iore than usual interest. This infor-
lation came in the form of letter
rom Suva, written by a passenger on
ne steamer. The writer is a CORE
oondent for several prominent Con-
mental papers. He has been special
commissioner for his papers in the
,uth sea islands and Australia for
Dme years.
i His letter was brief, stating merely
nat the guns had been landed at Fan
ling Island by the Makura on her last
Flip south. Judge Cooper was asked if
e could throw any further light on the
latter, but declared that he knew
othing about it and was inclined to
oubt it, as Father Rougier, who left
aiming Island to join the Mariana at
iva, and is believed to be in close
,uch with the situation there, had told
Jim nothing of it. He admitted, how
yer, that there was possibility of
ne report being true.
Judges Statement.
4 But he was on more familiar ground
hen talking of Palmyra Island and
ade the following statement:
"Of the claim that the state depart
emit and the government of Great
ritain are now in correspondence over
be sovereignty of Palmyra Island 1
n not able to say anything, but there
lie some facts L would like the public
d have. When j. II. Haywood, the
representative for the syndicate that
ought Tanning Island from Father
ougier was here last November, he,
he Father and myself were talking
yer the situation in that part of the
lorld. Mr.. Haywood at that time,
ade me tentative offer for my prop
I.ty at Palmyra. He said, If there is
ny way of fixing up the question of
|,vereignity of Palmyra Island, or
|lther if there is any way of changing
from the United States to Great
|ritain, | should like to buy the island
ON you, Judge Cooper
- Before | could reply Father Rou-
er broke in with, But that has been
titled all ready. have seen the
land registered in the office of the
Commissioner at Suva, as British Ter
tory
Refuses To Sell.
"There was more talk, but 1 re-
sed to sell. Later, on his return
ON Tanning, Mr.. Haywood made me
lie offer again, but | again refused to
lrt with the islands.
''In 1897" continued Judge Cooper,
Captain Rosehill, well known in
onolulu, went down to Palmyra
land from this port.\ When he
nded he discovered, tackled to one of
lie trees on the beach near the land
.g place, huge sign, announcing that
almyra Island belonged to the British
own and warning all and sundry not
land, or remove any property from
le place. That sign was taken down
' Captain Rosehill and brought back
sre and turned over to w. s. Wilcox,
no then owned the island.
Splendid Harbor.
% Another thing" the Judge added,
there is splendid harhor in the is
nds. The main lagoon is three quar-
RS of mile long by three-quarters
a mile wide and with water that
nges from fifty to seventy feet in
,pth. 1t is separated from the ocean
! narrow barrier reef"
Father Rougier g contribution to the
neral fund of information about the :
,uth Sea Island group was to the
feet that he had recently purchased
Island, south of Palmyra and
inning Island.
On the rugged coral shores of Christ
rs Island many vessels have been
'eeked, one of the latest being the
'itish steamer Aeon. Father Rougier !
ught it from Lever Brothers of Sgd
Y,
Gets Long Lease.
The priest paid large sum for the
and. but does not obtain complete
He purchased the ninety
AT lease held by Lever Brothers, but
is is considered by the father as suf- c
lent ownership to enable him to get !
fine figure in the English market.
Father RoEgier deals in large figures, a
4 islands are the "corner lots" s
lieh he has for sale. His field of i