Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
In the mid-1930s, there were about 50 workers on the Phoenix Islands (Knudson 1977).
Most were working the copra plantations on Manra (Sydney) and Orona (Hull).
In 1936, Burns Philp (South Seas) Co., Ltd. purchased Orona (Hull) from the Samoan
Shipping and Trading Co. which was in liquidation (Garnett 1983a).
In 1937, there were 30 coconut plantation workers on Orona (Hull) including 9 women
(Knudson 1965; Maude 1952 and 1968). A European overseer also lived on Orona (Hull)
(the overseer was J.W. Jones according to Garnett 1983a).
Ellis (1937) speculated that Orona (Hull), Manra (Sydney) and Nikumaroro (Gardner) might
be useful to relieve overpopulation in the Gilbert Islands.
On May 14, 1937, the 250 ton schooner Makoa struck an uncharted coral reef at Orona (Hull)
and was lost (Anon. 1937a; see also Robson 1956). According to Anon. (1937e), the Makoa
was lost on May 25, 1937. Her crew swam ashore and were able to salvage the ship’s gear,
stores, cargo, and boats (Anon. 1937a). The survivors were picked up by the R.M.S. Niaaara
in June 1937. Anon. (1937f) noted that the Makoa had just been thoroughly overhauled and
repainted in Fiji. She was carrying laborers to erect dwellings and copra sheds on Orona
(Hull). Captain Jones arrived on the Makoa that wrecked (Bryan 1941 and 1942). He went
there to manage the island for Burns Philp Co.
In 1937, the H.M.C.S. Nimanoa visited Orona (Hull) and conducted a survey of the island in
preparation for resettlement (Bevington 1990; see also Maude 1937). The landing party met
Captain Jones and a small group of Tokelauan who were working the coconut plantation.
That same year, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony took over the lease (Bryan 1941 and
1942). Captain Jones (from the schooner Makoa) was retained as island administrator.
In 1937, Hull was rechristened Orona (Freeman 1951; Maude 1937, 1952 and 1968). Orona
was the old Polynesian name by which Hull had been known (Maude 1937, 1952 and 1968).
In 1937, Orona (Hull) was incorporated into the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony (Garnett
1983a).
In January 1938, Western Pacific High Commission representatives paid an official
inspection visit to Abariringa (Canton) and Orona (Hull) (Anon. 1938g).
In 1938, Donaggho (1953) visited Orona (Hull) as part of the 1938 Line Island Expedition.
The island’s governor, Mr. Jones, greeted the expedition members. There were 31
Tokelauans and Ellice Islanders on Orona (Hull) in addition to the governor.
Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) were to be settled first as there were existing coconut
plantations on them (Knudson 1965). Abariringa (Canton) and Nikumaroro (Gardner) could
follow after Orona (Hull) and Manra (Sydney) had been planted in coconut trees and
coconuts became available for settlers (Knudson 1965).
Seven hundred Gilbertese were moved from the Southern Gilbert Islands to Orona (Hull),
Manra (Sydney), and Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Chapman 1961). The settlers to Orona (Hull)
included both Protestants and Catholics. The 15,000 coconut palms there were apportioned
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