Revised 5/20/2009
A narrative of the Governor's visit, and the substance of his instruction and advice to the Islanders, were communicated by him in a lecture, which he delivered in the Hall of the School of Arts, at Sydney, New South Wales, on the 24th of November, 1857.
The following particulars will afford a just view of the present state of Norfolk Island:—
The whole of the island has been surveyed, and divided into allotments, averaging about fifty acres to each allotment; and it has been decided by Sir William Denison, that one allotment shall be assigned to each of the families now resident on the Island. The island being the property of the Crown, the right of ownership, in every instance, will be held on a grant from the Crown. A document will be issued to each head of a family, conveying to him in fee the absolute property in one of the portions or allotments. The deeds of conveyance have been sent to the island, but are not to be handed over to those concerned until 1861. The Governor, after the symptoms of indecision manifested by some members of the community, deemed it undesirable to place property in the hands of persons who might be disposed to part with it for the purpose of procuring means of returning to Pitcairn's Island.
Should a deed of grant be lost, the defect may be repaired by a simple numerical system of registration, such as is adopted in New Zealand.
A wish having been expressed by the community that grants of allotments should be made to unmarried females, who had reached a certain age, this recommendation will probably take effect, under the restriction, that, at their decease, the property which they had possessed should revert to the Crown.
Firm and prudent measures have been taken for the regulation of property in the live-stock on the island. Owing to the deficiency of skilled labourers for the works, and to other causes, the inhabitants appear, in the early period of their residence on Norfolk Island, to have failed in making energetic efforts to replenish the supplies of sheep and cattle lost by disease, or slaughtered for food. With the view of remedying this state of things, Sir William Denison made the sheep Government property, and directed that they should be allowed to increase until they reached the original number of two thousand. The product of the wool and of the carcases serves to create a fund for the benefit of the islanders. His Excellency also procures goods at Sydney, which are despatched, at proper intervals, to the storekeeper, Mr. Rossiter, for their use; that is, for such as choose to purchase.
In addition to the profitable results of their fishery, and the tuns of whale-oil which have been sent to Sydney for sale, the islanders, through the sagacity of one of their body, have discovered a fruitful source of gain in a fine species of stone suited for filters. This ingenious person found the quarry, excavated the stones, and formed them into the shape of filters. This filter, or drip-stone, containing about four gallons, is invaluable for a whale ship; and these hollowed stones actually fetch from £4 to £5 each. The people are also enabled to manufacture soap, for which they find a sale among the whalers visiting the island.