Burns Philp & Co.'s Island Line of Steamers; Handbook of Information (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1899 Excerpt: ...and planting. Here the cocoanut will pay handsomely in the fifth year after planting, and will steadily increase in value up to the tenth year, from which time onwards it yields its regular returns. In the meantime, while waiting for the cocoanut crop to commence paying, coffee, vanilla, maize, and other more rapidly-maturing crops can be put in, and ground may be prepared for rubber, which, undoubtedly, will form a splendid paying industry ere long. It is, indeed, surprising that such a magnificent country as this has been so long neglected. True, the natives have been, and still are, a troublesome factor to be reckoned with; but their claws are rapidly being cut, and every fresh settler furthers the work of civilisation and reclamation. Within easy reach of Sydney, and now regularly served by improved, and ever improving, steam communication, the Solomon Islands must, in the near future, become a most important producing country, yielding wealth to the spirited and adventurous settlers who early proceed to develop its resources. There are two other ports of call in the Solomons, MARAU SOUND being the next after leaving Aola. This is a really beautiful spot, lying between the south-east corner of Guadalcanar and the other great island of San Cristoval. Captain Svenson has his head station here, and sends out his schooner and cutters to trade throughout a large portion of the group. The sound is formed by numerous small islands and coral reefs, with many deep passages between them. The hills, valleys and islands of Marau Sound are all densely wooded with lofty, dark-foliaged trees. UGI, the final point touched in the Solomon Group, lies four and a half miles northward of San Cristoval; it is an island six miles in length by two and a half in breadth, and ri...