The Coolidge examiner., 1936-07-24

Prepared by National Geographic Society.
Washington, d. C.-WNU Service.
CI ECORATED with palms"
how often the phrase
- occurs in descriptions
of social events. Wher-
ever florists ply their trade and
have a hand in beautifying pub
lie occasions, palms play an i'm
portant part. Without them hotel
lobbles, steamship salons. dance
halls, and churches would lack
their refreshing greenness.
Often referred to as just flor
lists palms." they are taken for
granted, like many of our common
blessings. In reality, they belong
to a small group usually called
Kentia palms, found only in re-
mote islands of the Coral sea, and
their present widespread use
throughout the civilized world is
one of the romantic tales O. horti-
culture A little more than half a
century ago they became an i'm
portant article of commerce, and
few people even today realize from
what a tiny bit of the earth's sur
face that particular commerce
originates.
In 1888 Lieut.. Henry Lidgbird
Ball, en- route from Sydney, New
South Wales, to Norfolk island, dis
covered remarkable pyramid of
volcanic rock rising straight out
of the Tasman sea to height of
| 1876 feet He decried land to
| the northwest, which further in
vestigation revealed as an island
of unusual conformation and strik-
ing beauty.
In honor of Richard Howe, the
British admiral who played an i'm
portant part in the war with the
American colonies, Ball called his
contribution to the British Empire
Lord Howe island. His own name
was given later to the massive
rock which first attracted his at
tention, and Balls Pyramid is his
enduring monument.
Lord Howe island lies $50 miles
east of Australia and 480 north
east of Sydney. 1t has the form of
boomerang, with its length ex-
tending nearly north and south,
the concave side facing Australia
and the precipitous eastern coast
arched against the surging Paci-
| fic. In an air line the northernmoSt
part of the island is only seven
miles from it's southern tip and tie
greatest breadth is but mile and
a half.
Formation of the Island.
The northern half is hilly, but
the highest point is only 700 feet
above the sea. The southern half
is mountainous, rugged, anc wild
Two peaks occupy most of this
area, the southernmost, Mount
Cover, rising directly from the sea
to 2,840 feet, while its fellow, Mount
Lidgbird, is but 300 feet lower. The
mountains are thickly wooded, so
far as their precipitous sides per-
nit, and are separated from each
other by a lush valley into which
man rarely penetrates. Between
the northern hills and Mount Lidg-
bird is rolling country with fertile
soil and a plentiful water supply.
Extending from the northwestern
tip of the island straight south to
below Mount Lidgbird is a broad
coral reef, notable as the south
ernmost coral reef in the world.
Between this reef and the island it.
self lies the lagoon which it pro-
tects, its eastern side bounded by
a bathing beach of clean white
sand some two miles long. The
reefs prevent vessels from ap-
preaching close; they must anchor
about mile off-shore, and pas
sengers and freight are then land
ed, by means of motor -toWed
barges. at the jetty near the north
ern end of the lagoon.
When Ball first landed on the
island there were no siCns of the
genus Homo; he and his men were
probably the first human beings
who ever set eyes on its beauties.
The richness of the vegetation, the
abundance of birds, and the numer-
Gus rivulets of clear, cold wa
ter indicated plainly, however, that
here was little paradise await
ing settlers. Nevertheless, for
many years the island lay neglect
I'd