FUTURE OF TAHITI.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 11

FUTURE OF TAHITI.

EFFECT OF THE PANAMA CANAL IMPORTANT FRENCH PROPOSALS. French bankers and industrial loaders have for the last five years been systematically working for a. share of the commercial advantages to be secured by tho opening of tlio Canal (says the Paris correspondent of the New York "Tribune"). The French are •much interested in the opening of the ciuial—first, because French enterprise opened the way by the financially unfortunate undertaking of tho engineer Losseps; and, second, ou account of the old and valuable French colonics, such as La Guadeloupe, . Martinique, and other West Indian colonies; and, last, but especially, the Pacific colonies which thii French term Oceania. These several French possessions across the sea stand in a privileged position iu regard to the Panama Canal. Qnco opened, the waterway joining the tjV'i ooeans will crcatc a veritable commercial revolution. Tlio French public does not yet fully ronlise tho profound modification of economic and commercial conditions that this great geographical change will effect. Proposals for tho enlargement and improvement of the harbours of Fort do France and of Pointo aus Pities, in tho West Indies,are being studied, but these, nevertheless, will not take the first place in future commercial developments. Financial men aro anxious to press tlu matter on the Government at once, 011 account of the usual slowness of French administrative departments. Tahiti is a French colony, admirably situated for the purpose of forming a commercial station, and the construction of a port of call at Papeete is, as the French say, "indicated. 7 * The colony of Tahiti lies about 4480 miles from Panama, and about 3310 miles from Sydney. The creation of a coaling station at Djibotjti has already giyen satisfactory results, French trade and maritime expansion having benefited • greatly .thereby. A great maritime contre at Papeete would given a considerable impetus to French trade and colonial development,and the advantages to merchant shipping would bo immediately appreciable. Steamers would have to carry only half the quantity of coal, becanso tho.y could replenish their bunkers midway across ths Pacific, thfis reserving for ordinary merchandise tho space otherwise wanted for coal. Tho works at Papeete Would surely be important and expensive. The building of eight lighthouses would be the first step to Bervo as beacons for the neighbouring; islands. The bar at the mouth of the harbour requires enlarging, and is to be deepened. Quays and landing stages will have to bo constructed, as iyell as, coal wharfs. Steam cranes, pontoons, and other plants would be necessary to fit up a wellequipped seaport. It is estimated that a sum of at lease 1,400,000 dollars is needed to accomplish the work immediately to be done. But the commercial expansion that this enterprise would bring to Tahiti and tho neighbouring colonies should bo a sufficient inducement to the French Government to undertake the task ,at once. Such is the. view not only of Monsiebr Berengor, Senator from Guadeloupe, concerning the West Indies, but also of the colonial politicians,' maritime interests, traders, engineers, and economists. These French colonies have been neglected, and are almost dead. If tlio authorities take advantage of the opening of the Panama Canal in good time new life, will be given to the French possessions overseas. The change of the tonnage rates would amount almost to a. revolution if Papeete became tho great mid-ocean calling station proposed. Tha present freight rates across the Pacific are heavy, for they amount to about 2o dollars a ton, whereas if these plans are carried out that almost prohibitive charge would fall to about 15 dollars. Tho commercial and financial interest of the matter to the French nation is evident,for the ocean traffic might exceed within two years the teal of 1,600,000 tons. Tho Minister of Commerce has the matter under consideration, and says that necessary measures will soon bo submitted to Parliament.