REPORT OF TEE DIRECTOR 69 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 16 



HOW COOKED AND SERVED. 



In cooking these eggs they are usually fried. A large number are broken and put 

 into an open dish where the little round bright coloured yolks looked quite pretty in 

 their transparent surroundings. When a sufficient number are ready they are turned 

 into a frying pan and cooked — without breaking the yolks — until the mass is quite 

 firm. It is then turned out on a plate, cut in pieces and served. A slice cut through 

 the mass looks quite attractive, and with the hunger which comes with plenty of exer- 

 cise in a very invigorating atmosphere they seemed delicious. There was no lack of 

 appetite however with any of our party, and we were always ready for our meals. 



A JOURNEY THROUGH THE ISLAND. 



As our steamer was to come for us on Thursday it was decided to devote Tuesday 

 to an excursion down the island, 15 miles to the East Light. We had breakfast at 

 6.30 a.m., and started at 7 o'clock sharp. Three of the party rode on ponies and the 

 others in vehicles. The morning was foggy, but the fog soon lifted, and we had a 

 lovely bright day. On our way we found a very suitable spot for a large tree planta- 

 tion, about l£ miles east of the main station, a large undulating depression with pro- 

 tecting ridges all around, and covered with peaty soil three or four inches deep. There 

 a large quantity of trees were subsequently planted, and the grove is now known as 

 Gourdeau Park. This drive was a most interesting one and revealed to us all the main 

 characteristics of scenery on the island. It was evident at many points that during 

 the strong gales the wind played havoc with the loose sand, often materially changing 

 the contour of the surface in a single season. Drifts had occurred in some places so 

 deep as to bury the telephone poles, in others their bases would be blown bare. On our 

 way we passed a building which had just been fitted up for a school. This is a new 

 thing for the island. 



POPULATION OF THE ISLAND. 



The entire population distributed about and between the two lighthouses, which 

 are about 18 miles apart, number 45. There are 18 men, six of whom are married, and 

 their wives and children make up the remaining number. The number of children 

 needing school privileges is from 10 to 12, and hitherto they have had no means of 

 education, excepting what they could get in their homes. An arrangement has now 

 been made for a teacher and the children who do not live within walking distance will 

 come to the school on Monday morning and return home on Friday evening, boarding 

 in the school house and occupying dormitories there at night. This school will be a 

 great boon to the people. 



ORGANIZATION OF THE LIFE-SAVING SERVICE. 



The men on the island are divided into small groups so arranged at different points 

 as to admit of the inspection of every part of the shore of the island twice each day. 

 All the stations are connected by telephone with the Superintendent's residence, and 

 reports are made to him morning and evening by each station. At the main station 

 there are five men who take the inspection of the coast alternately for 10 miles — five 

 miles on either side. The west end lighthouse men take charge of about six miles. 

 The men at No. 3 station, which is nine miles east of the main station, inspect 10 miles 

 of coast line. Those at No. 4, which is 14 miles distant, inspect 12 miles in the morn- 

 ing and 24 miles in the evening, and the men at the east end lighthouse have the in- 

 spection of 12 miles of coast line in the morning and none in the evening. 



