Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 2. Human Activities
Draft 1 March 2007
In 1914, McKean and Enderbury were the only two Phoenix Islands not leased to the Samoa
Shiping and Trading Company (Pompey 1972c).
In 1931, no one lived on McKean (Bryan 1951; Freeman 1951).
In 1936, the H.M.S. Leith visited McKean (Bryan 1941 and 1942) and claimed it for the
British. Hydrographer of the Navy (1969) reported that in 1936, the British annexed the
island.
In 1937, the H.S.C.S. Nimanoa visited McKean with the administrative officer of the Gilbert
and Ellice Islands Colony who was now responsible for McKean (Bryan 1941 and 1942; see
also Maude 1937). Bevington (1990) reported that in 1937 the (British) Admiralty was keen
to obtain as much information as possible on McKean. A landing party from the Nimanoa
mapped the island.
Maude (1937) reported that a cairn, flag pole and notice board were constructed on McKean.
McKean was considered as a potential settlement site (Garnett 1983a) however, it was too
dry and too small for settlement considerations.
There was speculation that Amelia Earhart landed on McKean or Nikumaroro (Gardner) in
1937 (Beheim 2004).
In 1938, McKean was declared a Bird Sanctuary under the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony
Wild Birds Protection Ordinance (Garnett 1983a).
In 1939, McKean was surveyed by the U.S.S. Bushnell (Bryan 1941 and 1942).
In 1939, the decision was made to plant coconut trees on McKean to support the other
settlements in the Phoenix Islands (Garnett 1983a). It was planned that 3,000 coconut trees
were to be planted. The outbreak of World War II prevented the scheme from going forward.
NIKUMARORO (GARDNER)
In 1881, Arundel obtained his occupation license for 20 years duration (Laxton 1951). Initial
coconut planting was done that year (Garnett 1983a).
In 1889, the H.M.S. Egeria annexed Manra (Sydney), Rawaki (Phoenix), and Orona (Hull)
(Morrell 1960 1892 according to Hydrographer of the Navy 1969; Hydrographic Office 1916;
1891 according to Grattan 1963a). The symbolic acts of declaring protectorates were
performed on each island except Nikumaroro (Gardner) (Orent and Reinsch 1941). Captain
Gibson of the H.M.S. Curacao visited Nikumaroro (Gardner), but was not able to land due to
heavy surf (Garnett 1983a). Nikumaroro (Gardner) was formally annexed at that time. The
annexation declaration was read to the two Niuean laborers who swam out to the Curacao.
According to some reports, the H.M.S. Curacoa visited Nikumaroro and raised the British
flag (Robson 1956; Tudor 1968; Pompey 1974 and 1972d). The reason for these
annexations was the proposed trans-Pacific cable (Ward 1948) that provided a new use for
these small isolated islands.
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