FROM THE ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 414, 25 January 1909, Page 6

FROM THE ISLANDS.

THE MANAPOURPS TRIP. PROSPECTS OF TRADE WITH THE COOK CROUP. NEW ZEALAND'S FRUIT SUPPLY. ' The Hanapouri, which has boon commissioned by tho Union Steam Ship Company to initiate the now direct' scrvico connecting -Wellington with Rarotonga and Tahiti, ar-

iJ';i7^;f;'^riyed , badk'froin' , I/. ■;: aboirt 6 o'clock oh Saturday afternoon; i The. {'V/;-.;■' V rocbrds .of the trip,. in ■ respect of .merchandise,W-, l ■:'?:■' passengers; ■ and mails, .carriedi' are/.such ■'•• as. ft ®i ■ '';s>; indicate; that ! the ; service: ha's; a, future: be; j-: : r; : '.;:,.: fore |it, : : arid will be; of great ".value, to the |;;:;t :.'■.;- Gook;lslaJids'and fothe Dominion.: Hitherto Ni;/P : all;bf :ithfl/NewiZealand trade with, its island |/i//p-dependencies, has-been carriedon through the' been;-re-; f> :■;//',: cogriised/by- many; of;/those; interested;.,that £ ; ! -:.'.i :".' there'was.room for , further development.., The: >:;':-;: 'Government,, being at length induced to act, , ? ;i{;/; ■■;.'■ obtained from 'Parliament ;'last/year: its', apV f^*?v;r : 'pr6viil > of; a' the. Union Company. tey.vv'; for a: steam-service'calling: at Barotpnga and 'connecting' at<Tahitijivithjthe'Oceariio: : ConK ES-.S'-:'■;■': paiy!s, Vmul' : : -! steamers ; from ; San/.]Fra'npiscq. ; ' ou:X:>- The. : was.: selected. by.>the • fe'X': ■• here she is; i; ;:';'ii : •/•:.;■:'-■ !Tlie^Trip ! and/the' Cargo. XX--XXXX'X-yyX ■ '■:■ ■■:':; "Vlt'- is' worth: noting that the -tune- taken. by; liv3V;;.|i' the:'Manapburi'on tKe/run from Rajotoriga- to. p-i :..', iVeffiugton:: was '.practically, the same as her f i'.ivo. ;' tisual:/time between Auckland and .Raroteaga.'; in, j; : : ;;f:.. oiir shipping.columns, nt 3:40 Janu-/ U-'.:\'A *Yary/16,'-'and, : was' berthed-"at: January'.23,. is~£iV: which fallowing: f or,; the ! . difference!.:,,between |:•;&- : ;l; western;-time; fas:'observed;in 'the -Cppk Is T ■^'.vVX ! . lands::.'and.; Australasian'-time, -was-just:, sis ;;M ;, i ; ;S;/dayslatei\,v:;'/:'l;;-Z..'/ ; /.;■>.v-V *■■ / ■ ///■ £§££>''■; ; viTlierelshotild/be' plenty of bananas in :Wel-: *v"'■■;'. l( ;'': : ' lingboia. r ttf-day,".-. for the Manapoiiri brought K:////6492; cases;; but; some, of these:will go on.to: V'ii ;■:;;': other fruit ! bn'; board :;coiok , cases'.of oranges arid 'nine cases; oi S,sr pineapples.'/ The ■ ■ cargo /also /included -1329 |J/V//'saPlcs/of copra; 1 20.^fats, .10 cases', kumaras, half leaseTOarlshell,-10 cases, drugs,: etc.,. 4 R;;v-.- X V. **ses', snndries;:' 6.'.casesl: silk,' '-. 4;. cases.; vanilla,S':":.";' : .: X";• '■ I;,j:^sei;:honey.:' ■• It /is'•exp6cted::_ihat(-larger, f/fw/vcargoes /wiU;be/carried /when'shippers,more" !////■;,/'generally?realisethe .■advantages.of; the .ntew f/i/; , /?;: ,-:.'■'■•■','*•.-, ■':'■' .•//■/y//;/ '' -X ■■■ '. |;' ! I. ,brought;36'passerigers,whb. I; i,;:■:''■■'-'Liiacl'come.. frorii. San' Francisco.by the Mari- }:::'*■■'■ J l ., ■ posaV : ': Seventeen ■ of : them ■ are .going.: on '.to fc f} : o Sydnej. ',;:Three: are ; ; f6r:;Aucklandj : ; :&iid];ikei |.v^:--.' ; .f ;others ; for. this, port/;' .TheManapouri , brought p:''^:S'-;101 ;: bags:of mails^Wellingtonjvbf^which.96-ly^SV-.^re'es^Mariposa , and's,;from;the Islands.: ,^ |;;j'sS;'Vtews;:'pf-ari'Jsiand'Trader.'.;,;'vJc y^.^'''^l', ' ; -' v : i ';';'.: -Mr.'Bradley, : of ..the Cook Islands-Trading ; ■ '■■■■ i.: % Company, ■ who was one. of : the - passengers' by gave ; :a v DpinNioN '£■:.. ;■'■: ' Bbine; U interesting : as ; to Kv^^p^the'.^prodncts■,;; of: -;ythe;;::'Cook>j /Islands; K>;Sn';;. and ;. prospects, :;tracleV "• opened ; '" up ; '';.:';''v.iby,:'>fihe. ; :.nejv.'.'steamer,service.: .One of the :; new;.steamer.iservice.<; One of the :..V -advantages of the'latter, he;pointed out, was it~U :4"at once-evident in :the.facti that' from a;halfc. |;?P:iiS.-tb;::two4hiras/"of^theVfruit; ■',:. v ■/■; } J>. came, to' l Auckland ..frbnv Earotonga : was '.'tra , ii- r v4 : 'i-'W!'ebipped there for -.Wellington,' Christchurch, : !j ,arid,;-.ovmg to-delay: in' tran[f.: :i-:: eHiriinent . steamers': not connecting,: much ■ "fiMiZlof; iis : j^/^j:g^estmatibrii:.; ; N<«7,; about four'days'would be iy,;/' ,--j"y: saved ;on. fruitV consigned., to', the.:south,-. : and •vi : : V ;; ,': four-daya'might makejaU-'theidiffererice-ti' a |r;: ! ::-;:;:;cpnsignmeirt of:■ bananas);. ; ; : l-r : ,:-i'-:',. ■■;.'. fyi;'<:M--if& iff';» goodseaspn;in;ilie:!lElands.;:vThftprospects s'.'v.;;)::.of ythe v ortnge, KtKv^^'jte^^r^^'TO^'good.^rTlie:orange, crop,; 1 ffis% ; : : ifl: in about , f • : ; <* ; ; mcfcthsV: time, : for. P'^-'J'J , V four;or:five; was .expected tp'-be -; "a (y\';V: : ijrecords■■ : ':":vV';'X:;-\. : '..v ; ; : 'V'-- : . y\ : .'.,' : ':\ ':'•<':',-. ■ Host fertile ] : -^'-i:;/k^:^^r ■i \\y-.'i%:: ; ; ,,','"Rarotonga," .obritmuedJlr/ Bradley,-V'is SJi.v.Si.'v.-theymost , fertik"island^l ; have-evbr: seen., :■ 1 %.:i/ i:Sthuilc ; thei,New.' Zealand iGpveriurieht , should' [Si:'^sestablish/,;;a,,;scidolnpf ■ .tropical; agriculture jiS;;; : how.tocultiTate p:;7;l;:; land-and. manage, the: fruit. '■'iii ft'- ; Wre ?no j for'. a;;; while;.; because • ;-;'f:•-;;,'^disease. the.trees..'.Nothing' f,Snc ; 'Xas^dprie;,vlt wasA'left : to. cure;itself,'.iand:!l ] f\.^;:x^;l)eeri ■stopped earlier.n\The,best methods ;':' , .-'';i'.;- 1 ':-;.eiich".a i Bchopl." •}'} i ■',;; ';.}J'; : y,i'fi : \ ':■■■■X;]'.-. ';-.;.' ■■;.'"'■'.'■„ t;.;'/i;:;.; ; ' :-f'.In comparison. with': its , immenße possiif»:'V>.:yi3nities,i:th^..island'is r almbst l .untbuched.-Four: C: ; \'; p.?,; v: : : ; y,plantal,_ arid,-eyeri;.riow-riot a;hundredtli;ipart, k,v-;; ?r;,: of [the- island Vis ; planted.',;:' :A 7 :. few,- Europearis : started cocoanut whicn are; '■:.• ! #-; '". : doiig;well,■■;• but, coffee and oranges 'are' almost ; '£S?-}\ neglected.' .The island .is: capable of'supply?ji-: .?;,.;inS'.riiore'than;enongh..banana's and oranges f: : 'X'V-^foi'. the;whole of New' ; >:Vv;■:.V y;- pf vrrade< ;■ $.>:•■Vi.:>^ : '. ■'-"■■Wβ i: think,"; continued, iMr; ,;Bradley/ v:Wi XX; : ";that' since ■ New' Zeiland. has/annSxed ; ;:f -;;'; Cook Islands,';she inightrgive^nr,fruit'trado '■'f;-X t "■■'; :;': of encouragement,' as; against ;'■'•';■•;!! ".]:..'. that? of other:.-islands';- -'J Banana's 'from , ; the, of 'Raiatea 'arid iTahiti.come' J--- 1 ;,'■/';>.■:'to.v-New Zealand;,in; ; th^same'steamers■: as !■■%■!:y'■'.■ ours:; ; ;They-arei admitted 1 du'ty);freei:as : also' :XXX:X:;:- 'Fiji';and,Tonga.K':Fijv gets XX X '.'.f: .'/its;- supplies.' fro,m Sydney, :wherea's we l get all vy V: ;^;;;.;b]wsjlrem'^New ; ;Zraknd.!' : :'-We there X\:XX:X './might; be'a'prefere'iitiaratity; dr.eitf a.bourit* 1 i^\.v/;::;for;Gopk;lslandsVfruit;"/:.:';;\:i/i;jv-;': ; ,; r*"- ■■■•'■. f\^-^^^!^!?^^^^i'^^-Xl^'^\ : 'X'X';X: -, ,Ori.ithe question , .of;..manufactures in Raro--XX, Mr ..BradleyV' differed' •:',frdm another : - : ; :.i;; ; ,, ; island / trader /who. was .lately/interviewed.'by' liji --'::, Tjps/DomSjmon.; X ;■:.; shbjir'.-.that /the; , labour//idifficulty ';.:..' V w.buld'Be/,""under .anything like present. con-. ;;i/;/r ; ', : ;ditiohs Van; : : insuperable.'obstacles! The'-natives. ;/■;•■:/--:wore;;too 'well' off/to^wishvfor'more -work ■ fi :ai;/.terid/it./wai:.,a;matter. of;,the/ greatest^diffi:;;;;////;culty;to!;bbtain sufficient,labour-.for; theiplanfSi,.''rf;";^^.posl/.."'^heyvwere^pw.d,..'4s.'''al.;dayi,ind':\;tb: '•i;/:^;'.:'do,/a',-day's. 1 wbrfc'wa's-regarded rather as a- -//./. td\the; planter/.:"With/2000":souls on, /;/,;:/- Riarotonga,v;and ; exports:;from,;'.that .island /:-;!/;= alqhe;;wortb/.abotrt ; £25,000 a/year, :/■;/,///evident ithat the ;nativenpeople, with, prac-' '■/•:/;/; to;pay fbr/their. fopd.i'should have /money.enpugli'; and. when, they: had it' ;J/i ■■■..■■;;;.they.-': were /riot. ; slow, tpVspend'it., ,■ ■ About ///;//;:£2P,ooo'worth ! of/New goods, were :/ ;■'■ ;/impo^d;'iniiually, : -in.additi6ii'l»' I ]afge.'ciiian-' '■-«f:':..'i..titie>: : fro,mvbther; : cb i TOtricß^'but' : aU«'of'whicli. ■Xr>r f '■ New".; Zealand. / The -' natives ■y.-.-r ■";■;. were'purchasers, of .tinned meats, florir, 'sugar,' .; .': :: 'butter,.;biscuits,;horses,.buggies, sewing ma-/;S/.v;'.-chines; -■ timber, hardwarei - ; and spftgoqds/ ■~. :..;.■; Nine houses out of-ten would. Wve-a buggy' '/;;v/: .a. sewing; machine,. , and/a":bicycle. '/The m- ;■'./. . /tives/lived; in. comfortable wooden houses / / ; : /.-wjth/ doors, sashes,' .-'arid / iron : v ;/•.; ; roofs.-.; : New Zealand; timber was used. 'Most. :;/;:/ ■ of the houses, co'st morethan ; £soo\to build. *:.;;.;;■■: v.Thej' .were;much. : better;:bfE.than the, : Maoris. ■-/: : /::/. : .:lsolation. /;';■.■--■:/:/:■/:■:,;;. ■-, //: r '///'//,. //, " :-: . / ; . / . - ;Mr. Bradley,, "'find life -very: pleasant,'-- and .;,«:::■•/;are glad/to^get '-. back -after •anyvisit ; to';the- /;/;/;/:; 6uter ; wbrld.;; Of course, the life:hasjts draw-: ■/:'/ /. backs^' ; We have very .little communication ';i ; ? //; ■ with/ the/outside , ;worlds -The only 'steamers X.XX : ' : 7'■ :cajling regularly, are those from >New:Zea- ; ;.:.'•■:, /land, and we have no cable/: We.got no news. .;/;..:./ /between/November., 30 and- January : 9/ ; arid /: (.but for: the'steamer .from-Wellington, we :"'" ;: '..-.:• : should: vto: ; wa|t until the .arrival /;/;;/;/of/the: fAucHand; boat -on the 2Stlf : -eiglit .://■, weeks.;without a; word.from:the: outer world. ///'■,/:-Of course, 'we ; look,forward.with; hope to the /■.. /'/ astablishment.:of'.:/wireless 'telegraphy." ; On :/;;•:•. the' bther-.hand, the/quiet .of the. islands - : :' ./has its charms. If only,our accommodation' '.-..' .';''■ / house were - not so .hampered :by the . labour /■ ../.difficulty,^ '.-:\i. would, be^ very;;'good;Eoliday_ ;/:/ :'; trip for New Zealanders to.Btep off.'the Maria- ■:.-;., • ;■/ pouri on her way to Tahfti, spend a' week' in , :/:':i: : Earotonga,; and join /the boat .on/.her".re./:;.i,-/ turn. /They would be : away from' Wellington ; / ./'.just- three .weeks. ,vThoy: should -tie warned, //.///however, that they cannot bny ]iqTlOlirα,Bαrα- /.■.■^'.■■•; ; /'/;/ . btbitioD.: : /';v : : "; ' ■;'-.'.'. ■'■ './■.' .-.,;•..=