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Hello From Pitcairn.
Hello From Pitcairn.
"Wut-A-Way You"
" The First Law Of Pitcairn Is Survival."
The main religion on Pitcairn is christianity.
Religion-seventh-day adventist.
My first dealings with the Pitcairn Islands was on the 10th of March 1962, aboard the vessel Rangitiki, built in 1928 by John Brown & co Ltd, Clydebank.
She was built for England-New Zealand via Panama Canal Service.
She operated as a Troopship 1940-1947 resumed New Zealand run in 1948.
Scrapped in Spain in 1962.
I was on the last voyage of seventy-eight trips to New Zealand and back.
It was the last mail delivery to Pitcairn by the vessel Rangitiki. Another Lifeline cut off desperate times to come for sure.
As we arrived off Pitcairn the Islanders came out to meet us in their Longboats.
I always remember their agility and extremely large bare feet as they climbed the rope ladders on the side of the Rangitiki.
With boats full of bananas and souvenirs on their shoulders for the passengers.
Immigrants to New Zealand from England paying just ten pounds per head living like royalty eating five course meals being created by an Exceptional and Superb Chef on the Rangitiki since 1929-1962 and including many through " Years of Active Service."
Who spent over half his Appreciated Life aboard the Rangitiki."
Mick Overall, BEM " ( 1959 ).
www.rmsrangitiki.com Is a Website dedicated by Son Richard Overall to Mick his Father who was a Gentleman sadly he died shortly after retiring from work.
Another ship on it's last voyage was the Rangitata that passed us on our way out to New Zealand around the mid-pacific going back to blighty she was on her " Last Voyage before the knackers yard " as well, one of her crew members also in the galley as an asst/chef was John Prescott Tony Blair's right hand man, we used to throw a few right hands on deck" Entertaining the Passengers Boxing " in the evenings, all good fun.
A cook in the galley what a life oil fired and electric stoves for cooking it used to get very hot in the galley in those day's no air conditioning like today had the gun-ports open when possible.
ps,I hope those immigrants kept their souvenirs they are selling today at $160 each.
Fletcher Christian and his Mutineers escaped the law 200 Years ago by landing on the Atoll of Pitcairn in 1789 from the Bounty.
They have now got some unwanted attention on Pitcairn Island, Britains last dependant territory in the Pacific, saying the islands ties to its former colonial master 16,000km away were irrefutable their submission argues that the Island of Pitcairn should be able to govern itself as an independent entity after having what is described as " some kind of special relationship with the United Kingdom " since about 1898.
" Touching on a very Arcane area of the law. "
" It's like a Unilateral Declaration of Independence,odds on not to succeed "
( the United Kingdom was created in 1801 )( the mutiny took place in 1798 ).
The tiny Pitcairn Island originally settled by Fletcher Christian and the bounty mutineers is a British colony administered from Wellington NZ.
Seven,half of the Island of Pitcairn population of 14 males, face 96 charges including rape and sexual assualt, on the remotest place that British law can reach.
Like father, like son Steve and Randy Christian are big, powerful men with hands like shovels, both blessed with charming smiles very popular and influential, Steve is ex-mayor, chief engineer, also the captain of the longboat, Randy is chairman of the internal committee, a group of able bodied men for roadworks, loading and also unloading boat supplies, a very dangerous job indeed, with the swell around the Island of Pitcairn sometimes months before a ship manages to get in contact.
So the old-fashioned British legal system is going to be used to keep the Island ticking over or are they trespassing after all this time to meddle in a matter that they have made their own.
With calls for one outcome to be of restorative justice involving mediation and the accused making reparations to the victims.
An exercise not to be missed I am sure.
A leading member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, has today the 27th of September called for the immediate adjournment of the sex trials on Pitcairn Island, he says the Pitcairn trial-as presently being pursued has the potential to destroy an entire Indigenous People.
Progress has stopped on the Island of Pitcairn their social prescription for paradise has died.
We are desperate for someone to better our World, By changing ourselves and our ways is a cry from the small atoll.
Since 1790 the Island of Pitcairn has been a free for all situation. It was just the way it was it goes way back it's been happening for generations and generations, the kids here don't have any entertainment, girls willingly made available from the ages of 12 or 13.
A claim rubbished by some of the women of Pitcairn.
With a community being policed from Kent in England.
The Island of Pitcairn has let itself go now it has to rely on someone listening.
When they have nothing left to say trying to remember the good old day's maybe.
Most households must content themselves with Sanitary conditions called Duncan's long drop dry toilets.
Fletcher Christian.
Leader of the mutiny with his " Gentlemen of Fortune." risked swinging( hanging )living like fighting cocks, in mortal combat over their woman folk from the " paradise of the Pacific "Tahiti.
They lived scarcely better than the beasts they tended.
After years away from civilization becoming ragged creatures.
Fletchers shrewdness and leadership also his sound judgment proved invaluable being taught by Bligh during his previous years sailing together.
But they were all aware of the laws at that time which was in 1789. Meddling with a woman without her consent was Punishable by Death. But they were prepared to live out that lifetime of extravagance and Bizarre Villainy and Pleasure.
While the King of England George the III, Lord Nobbs as they called him scoured the Pacific for the Mutineers.
Sexual precocity from young girls who were born and brought up on the Island of Pitcairn is just a way of survival.
Its said that Island Records and personal papers showed that most of the generations on Pitcairn evolved from 12 to 15 year old mothers. Once again rubbished by some of the women of Pitcairn.
The women of the Island of Pitcairn believing it to be a Male dominated existence that they were living in.
A better life having been a sorry dream for many of the youngsters on Pitcairn where the " First law is Survival."
Making money being top priority all their remote lives.
Teenagers trying to improve their lives every day.
Relying on crafts and stamps from 1940 has caused a dwindling Bounty crew since arriving in ( Papeete ) Tahiti In 1788.
A big allegation against the Part-Polynesian ancestry should be defined and respected to include their laws on the atoll.
The most common cause of death on the Island of Pitcairn after old age is falling off a cliff.
Today it continues on the same way." We have all learnt to wait Patiently. "
A consortium has been told they can develop the small atoll.
Possibly an Airport, Lodges and a Hotel and an update of it's Fishing Industry, with mains connected with a profit scheme included,
Then they would have to adapt to the Tourist impact.
Or do they still live by the " Mutineers Mentality. "
The Pitcairn Islands Governing Council have now Elected " A Lady Mayor " after removing Steve Christian reportedly speechless with rage.
The Sister of the ex Mayor Steve and the only Police officer on the Island of Pitcairn, Brenda Christian is now Mayor of Pitcairn the male dominated island.
Apparently the six accused didn't know they were committing any crimes, because the police never left a book of rules for them to read and comply with.
The six hard-liners men charged and sentenced arrived back on the Island of Pitcairn today 7/11/2004 after visiting a container ship anchored off Pitcairn at sea, and settled down at big fence for a celebration drink.
There has not yet been time to see the shape of the future.
Brenda Christian has spoken out against her brother and the other accused.
About their Vile Past condemning them.
But Say's they must now forget the past and all pull together, to make a go of the future of the Island of Pitcairn, hoping that everyone of the 47 Islanders puts in 100%, including the sentenced men.
To try and build the Tourism side of the Island of Pitcairn, you can't change the past but you can sure change the future she say's, you can make this a very Attractive and she means it. " New Paradise of the Pacific. "
December 16th 2004.
Pitcairn Island has today elected a new Mayor " Jay Warren. " Who is Involved in the Development Programme in a big way, with some strong supporters elected along with him on the Island Council.
CAPTAIN WILLIAM BLIGH.
Bligh was born in St Tudy, in Cornwall.
William Bligh won notoriety by Commanding the 250-ton Bounty.
His idea was, " A Mission First,People Always. " This was the third Voyage with Fletcher Christian who he promoted to Acting Lieutenant, but Bligh demanded complete and immediate obedience from his men, he would punish any man who didn't dance for two hours every night on board his ship Bounty.
Whipping is the accepted law keeper of the seas.
The insides of the ship was washed with boiling water to kill the cockroaches.
Before 1015 Breadfruit Plants were taken on Board.
The Crew on leaving Tahiti were once again subjected to be put on rations for the fourth time under the Captaincy of Bligh and the drinking cup put out of reach up the Mainmast anybody wanting a drink had to shin up the Mainmast and then return it to the place they found it.
214 Years ago on the return trip with his Breadfruit Plants on Board The Bounty, crew tempers flared.
Fletcher Christian Mutineered and Bligh was cast adrift on Tuesday April 28th 1789 with 18 men of his crew after Fletcher was quoted as saying " I have lived in hell for these past weeks being treated like a dog and humiliated. " Denied by Captain William Bligh at his Court Martial in England.
After spending 47 day's adrift drifting 3618 Nautical Miles with loss of life one killed by Indians when replenishing stores some great achievment.
Drinking from his coconut cup. Life saving rations with his Crew having to bail out none stop for most of their time at sea, having the odd Fish or Bird when fortune favoured them.
Coming ashore in Timor, Java on Sunday June the 14th at Coupang. On the 20th August he set sail for England on his then boat " Resource " arriving on the 13th march, 1790.
On July 12th 1776 Captain Cook sailed for the third time round the World.
Charting the vast Pacific on the " Resolution ", Commanded by Charles Clerke, and the master was non other than William Bligh.
On this occassion. They set sail for the undiscovered northwest passage. " Benjamin Franklin " American Minister in Paris gave orders to american vessels to make sure of safe passage to Cooks Vessels.
In August 1777 they anchored off Tahiti, where they off-loaded gifts of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs to the Tahitians.
A short time after this Captain Cook was Killed on Hawaii.
Whilst on this voyage Bligh discovered the breadfruit tree and was given the name " Breadfruit Bligh."
The British navy was not an easy way of Life.
The work was hard and the discipline was harsh.
The Crew made up of delinquents and riff-raff forced into Naval Service a very rugged life.
Bligh was renowned for his lime juice rations on board ships since 1795, creating the nickname in the Royal Navy of " Limey's. "
In 1805 Bligh was sent to New South Wales as Governor.
And his oppressive manner contributed to " The Rum Rebellion " in Sydney in 1808.
Bligh born on 9th September 1754-Died 7th December 1817.
It was in 1808 an american ship," The Topaze. "
Chanced to call at Pitcairn Island with the community of 50 living under the rule of the last remaining survivor of the mutiny.
It was not Fletcher Christian, it was John Adams who died on march the 5th 1829.
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I wrote this Poem after my trip to Pitcairn on board the Rangitiki.
A Famous Tale Of Fortune Springs To Mind.
In those day's I would embark on majestic voyages of sexual paradise.
young virulent handsome men, mariners with a dashing personality,
a conquest in every port, with us a phantom in every maidens thoughts.
Oh! how wonderful to reminisce those great romantic times I miss,
casting our sensual pleasures into the outwitting nights, drinking and dancing,
replenishing life's beauty on our endless ocean journeys of emotional fatigues,
an individualistic crew whose thoughts were of fortune, fantasy, adventure,
a melancholy camaraderie and anticipated excitement created from " LAND AHOY "
once in the warm harbors, the roaring seas,
those raging storms, the crew can forget,
a crack of lightning strikes, whistling winds,
monotonous motions, what the heck,
all perilous thoughts become washed away,
mercilessly to return another day,
the antagonistic high seas can so so quickly turn into an irascible engulfing enemy,
heavenly yearning female bodies so divine,
uninhibited emotions we can't decline,
a distant view of an Island, a landfall-reflection maybe Paradise or vastness of Isolation's,
to all seafaring souls who have been and gone remembered like a lighthouse for ever on,
a famous tale of fortune springs to mind, times on Papeete-Paradise Eternal Perhaps.
" The Tahitians know no other God but love "
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