Page:History of New South Wales from the records, Volume 1.djvu/447

 OF NORFOLK ISLAND. 333 and of particular trees, with which they grow very fat. Two 1788 canoes were found on the rocks, probably driven from New Zea- 28 Sept. land. They had not such heavy storms of thunder as we have experi- aimate. enced, and the people have been very healthy. I think this island will answer the most sanguine expectations, Sanguine and am satisfied that the officer who commands there will, in a Sons?**' very few years, not only put that island in a situation to support itself, but to assist this colony. All that was known about Norfolk Island in England having been derived from the account of it in Cook's cook's ac- Voyage towards the South Pole, it was no doubt pleasing laUnd. news for the Home Secretary to learn that any sanguine expectations could be formed of it, seeing that Cook's de- scription of its resources was not by any means enthusiastic. He stayed there only during the day on which he discovered it — ^the 10th October, 1774 ; and his remarks about the flax- siient as to plant and the pine-trees contain no suggestions as to their Lid^timber. probable value for naval purposes. That idea seems to have owed its origin to his description of the plant and the trees in New Zealand. At Norfolk Island, he said — We observed many trees and plants common at New Zealand ; and in particular the flax-plant, which is rather more luxuriant here than in any part of that countiy ; but the chief produce is a sort of spruce pine, which grows in great abundance and to a large size, many of the trees being as thick, breast high, as two men could fathom, and exceedingly straight and tall. This pine is of a sort between that which grows in New Zealand, and that in New Caledonia ; tke foliage differing something from both ; and the wood not so heavy as the former, nor so light and close grained as the latter.* It will be seen, on reference to Matra's and Sir George Young's proposals for the colonisation of New South Wales, that English manufacturers had expressed their opinions opinions of strongly in favour of the New Zealand flax as material for navy cordage, canvas, and other purposes ; and one of the arguments urged in supportof the proposals was that the plant might be cultivated, and that the New Zealand tim- ber might be obtained for masts and ship-building. These Digitized by Google
 * Voyage towards the South Pole, voL ii, p. 148.