Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN <strong>Chapter</strong> III. Background, 2. Human Activities Draft 1 March 2007 In 1943, men from Manra (Sydney) contracted to work on Abariringa (Canton) either for the military or Pan American Airlines (Knudson 1965). Also in 1943, American engineers assessed the possibility of blasting a channel to the lagoon. This was not done because of concerns that resultant wave action might inundate the village and plantation. Instead, the passage through the reef was cleared to allow for safer landing from anchored ships. During the later years of the war, a large four-engine aircraft from Abariringa (Canton) crashed on Manra (Sydney) (Knudson 1965). The four-engine aircraft was not a B-24, but rather a twin engine C-47A that crashed in November 1943 on Manra (King et al 2001; see also Kepler 2000). There were no survivors (Knudson 1965). The next day, a ship from Abariringa (Canton) came and important equipment and documents were recovered. The plane was the chief source of aluminum for ornaments. Eventually, there was no trace of the aircraft. In 1945, Nikumaroro (Gardner), Manra (Sydney), and Orona (Hull) were reported to have been evacuated due to a prolonged drought (The Hydrographer of the Navy 1969). MCKEAN There were no inhabitants on McKean (Hydrographic Office 1940). NIKUMARORO (GARDNER) There were about 80 inhabitants on Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Hydrographic Office 1940). Their village is on the south side of the western break in the land ridge. In 1940, there was 1 European and 69 natives on Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Gallagher 1940). Work continued on planting coconut trees. Construction was begun on the government station. Work also commenced on clearing rocks and roots to level the ground. In late 1940, low lying areas of Nikumaroro (Gardner) were flooded from high tides and almost continuous north-westerly gales (Gallagher 1941). This caused considerable damage to structures. The original site for the settlement was deemed unsuitable because the ground became water-logged. About 40 houses were taken down and moved to a more appropriate site. A new 18.0 m (59 ft) flag pole was constructed adjacent to the church. In 1940, colonist found a partial human skeleton, a woman’s shoe, a man’s shoe, and a sextant box on Nikumaroro (King et al 2001; see also Beheim 2004; Burns et al 1998). There was speculation that these belonged to Amelia Earhart. In addition, there were anecdotal accounts of an airplane wreckage on the fringing reef and lagoon shore. The colonial administrator, G. Gallagher, communicated this information to the Western High Commission (Burns et al 1998). He was told to keep the matter “strictly secret.” King et al (2001) reported that the bones were put in a box and sent to Fiji, but were cast overboard during the trip. Beheim (2004) noted that artifacts, including bones were examined by the Central Medical School in Suva, Fiji (see also Burns et al 1998). However, results were not conclusive. Burns et al (1998) reported that notes of examination in Fiji were re-examined and it appeared that the bones belonged to a European female. 69
PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN <strong>Chapter</strong> III. Background, 2. Human Activities Draft 1 March 2007 In probably late 1942, U.S. fighter aircraft began making regular reconnaissance flights from Abariringa (Canton) (Knudson 1965). They occasionally would drop tobacco, cloth, soap, candy, and chewing gum to villages on the various other Phoenix Islands. During World War II, the Americans set up a radio station on Nikumaroro (Anon. 1952). A survey was completed in 1943, prior to construction of the navigation station (Laxton 1951). Good relations were reported between the Americans and the islanders (Anon. 1952). According to King et al (2001), the U.S. Coast Guard Loran station on the southeast tip of Nikumaroro was built in 1944 (see also Oates 2003). It was manned by 20 to 30 Coast Guardsmen. After the war, the radio station was closed (Anon. 1952), then dismantled (King et al 2001), and the Americans left (Anon. 1952). In 1945, Nikumaroro (Gardner), Manra (Sydney), and Orona (Hull) were reported to have been evacuated due to a prolonged drought (Hydrographer of the Navy 1969). ORONA (HULL) There was a coral slab beacon 5.2 m (17 ft high) on the western extremity of the island (Hydrographic Office 1940). The proposed British Pacific Airways airport was marked out. In 1940, there were 2 Europeans and 370 natives on Orona (Hull) (Gallagher 1940). New dwelling houses, a native court house, a new road, and the hospital were constructed by late 1940. In late 1940, low lying areas of Orona (Hull) were flooded from high tides and almost continuous north-westerly gales (Gallagher 1941). This caused damage to local housing. In probably late 1942, U.S. fighter aircraft began making regular reconnaissance flights from Abariringa (Canton) (Knudson 1965). They occasionally would drop tobacco, cloth, soap, candy, and chewing gum to villages on the various other Phoenix Islands. Hobbs (1945) noted that the military value of Abariringa (Canton) and Orona (Hull) was that they could be small naval bases with good airstrips and seaplane bases. In 1945, Nikumaroro (Gardner), Manra (Sydney), and Orona (Hull) were reported to have been evacuated due to a prolonged drought (The Hydrographer of the Navy 1969). RAWAKI (PHOENIX) The island was uninhabited (Hydrographic Office 1940). F. POST-WORLD WAR II TO INDEPENDENCE (1946 TO 1979) In 1947-1948, the population of the Phoenix Islands was 903 indigenous and 230 foreign (Bryan 1951). The Phoenix Islands settlement had a budget of £16,800 (Colonial Office 1951). According to Laxton (1951), the Phoenix Islands settlements had happy, thriving 70
Page 1 and 2:
The Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Page 3 and 4:
Table of Contents Chapter Title Pag
Page 5 and 6:
List of Acronyms Acronym full name
Page 7 and 8:
PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANA
Page 9 and 10:
Page 11 and 12:
Page 13 and 14:
Page 15 and 16:
Page 17 and 18:
Page 19 and 20:
Page 21 and 22:
Page 23 and 24:
Page 25 and 26:
Page 27 and 28:
Page 29 and 30:
Page 31 and 32:
Page 33 and 34:
Page 35 and 36:
Page 37 and 38:
Page 39 and 40:
Page 41 and 42:
Page 43 and 44:
Page 45 and 46:
Page 47 and 48:
Page 49 and 50:
Page 51 and 52:
Page 53 and 54:
Page 55 and 56:
Page 57 and 58:
Page 59 and 60:
Page 61 and 62:
Page 63 and 64:
Page 65 and 66:
Page 67 and 68:
Page 69 and 70:
Page 71 and 72:
Page 73 and 74:
Page 75 and 76:
Page 77 and 78:
Page 79 and 80:
Page 81 and 82:
Page 83 and 84:
Page 85 and 86:
Page 87 and 88:
Page 89 and 90:
Page 91 and 92:
Page 93 and 94:
Page 95 and 96:
Page 97 and 98:
Page 99 and 100:
Page 101 and 102: PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANA
Page 151: PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANA
Page 203 and 204:
Page 205 and 206:
9 PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MA
Page 207 and 208:
11 PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA M
Page 209 and 210:
13 PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA M
Page 211 and 212:
Page 213 and 214:
Page 215 and 216:
Page 217 and 218:
Page 219 and 220:
Page 221 and 222:
Page 223 and 224:
Page 225 and 226:
Page 227 and 228:
Page 229 and 230:
Page 231 and 232:
Page 233 and 234:
Page 235 and 236:
Page 237 and 238:
Page 239 and 240:
Page 241 and 242:
Page 243 and 244:
Page 245 and 246:
Page 247 and 248:
Page 249 and 250:
Page 251 and 252:
Page 253 and 254:
Page 255 and 256:
Page 257 and 258:
Page 259 and 260:
Page 261 and 262:
Page 263 and 264:
Page 265 and 266:
Page 267 and 268:
Page 269 and 270:
Page 271 and 272:
Page 273 and 274:
Page 275 and 276:
Page 277 and 278:
Page 279 and 280:
Page 281 and 282:
Page 283 and 284:
Page 285 and 286:
Page 287 and 288:
Page 289 and 290:
Page 291 and 292:
Page 293 and 294:
Page 295 and 296:
Page 297 and 298:
Page 299 and 300:
Page 301 and 302:
Page 303 and 304:
Page 305 and 306:
Page 307 and 308:
Page 309 and 310:
Page 311 and 312:
Page 313 and 314:
Page 315 and 316:
Page 317 and 318:
Page 319 and 320:
Page 321 and 322:
Page 323 and 324:
Page 325 and 326:
Page 327 and 328:
Page 329 and 330:
Page 331 and 332:
Page 333 and 334:
Page 335 and 336:
Page 337 and 338:
Page 339 and 340:
Page 341 and 342:
Page 343 and 344:
Page 345 and 346:
Page 347 and 348:
Page 349 and 350:
Page 351 and 352:
Page 353 and 354:
Page 355 and 356:
Page 357 and 358:
Page 359 and 360:
Page 361 and 362:
Page 363 and 364:
Page 365 and 366:
Page 367 and 368:
Page 369 and 370:
Page 371 and 372:
Page 373 and 374:
Page 375 and 376:
Page 377 and 378:
Page 379 and 380:
Page 381 and 382:
Page 383 and 384:
Page 385 and 386:
Page 387 and 388:
Page 389 and 390:
Page 391 and 392:
Page 393 and 394:
Page 395 and 396:
Page 397 and 398:
Page 399 and 400:
Page 401 and 402:
Page 403 and 404:
Page 405 and 406:
Page 407 and 408:
Page 409 and 410:
Page 411 and 412:
Page 413 and 414:
Page 415 and 416:
Page 417 and 418:
Page 419 and 420:
Page 421 and 422:
Page 423 and 424:
Page 425 and 426:
Page 427 and 428:
Page 429 and 430:
Page 431 and 432:
Page 433 and 434:
Page 435 and 436:
Page 437 and 438:
Page 439 and 440:
Page 441 and 442:
Page 443 and 444:
Page 445 and 446:
Page 447 and 448:
Page 449 and 450:
Page 451 and 452:
Page 453 and 454:
Page 455 and 456:
Page 457 and 458:
Page 459 and 460:
Page 461 and 462:
Page 463 and 464:
Page 465 and 466:
Page 467 and 468:
Page 469 and 470:
Page 471 and 472:
Page 473:
show all

Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?