28 Dendy, The Chatham Islands. 



upon the source from which the aboriginal population of 

 Chatham Island was derived. 



At the present day the population of the Chatham 

 Islands numbers only some 300, of whom about half are 

 Europeans, and the remainder mostly Maoris or half- 

 castes. The only industry at present carried on in the 

 Islands to any extent is sheep farming, the wool, and 

 often the live sheep also, being exported to New Zealand. 

 Owing to the infrequency of communication with the 

 rest of the world, the population is still very much 

 isolated, and in some respects remains in a more or less 

 primitive condition. Thus there is hardly any formed 

 road in the island, and as a consequence the horses never 

 have to be shod. Everybody rides, but ordinary wheeled 

 vehicles, except for carting wool, &c., are almost un- 

 known. Instead of driving your carriage you drive your 

 sledge, a truly primitive conveyance with runners in 

 front and wheels behind, having the great advantage that 

 it will go practically anywhere. The education of the 

 islanders is well looked after by the New Zealand Govern- 

 ment, and I believe at the time of my visit there were 

 no less than six establishments on Chatham and Pitt 

 Islands requiring to be visited by the school-inspector ! 



What the future of these remote islands may be it is 

 extremely difficult to forecast. If the fishing industry, 

 for which they seem especially well suited, is ever largely 

 developed it may, together with the sheep farming 

 industry, support a large population"; as large, perhaps, 

 as in the most flourishing days of the Moriori ; but, in 

 order that this may come about, the export trade will 

 have to be developed and the means of communication 

 with New Zealand greatly improved. 



In conclusion, I would venture again to point out that 

 much laborious research is still required to place our know- 



