A VISIT TO TAHITI

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2188, 29 June 1914, Page 7

A VISIT TO TAHITI

PROSPECTS ON THE ISLAND

NAVAL STATION POSSIBLE

MR. H. J. H. BLOW'S IMPRESSIONS

When Mr. H. J. H. Blow (UnderSecretary for Public Works) paid a visit to Tahiti recently, ho collect/ some information about the island, its population, trade prospects, and so forth, which ij all the wore interesting on account of the fact that tho opening of tho Panama Canal raises a possibility that Tahiti may become in future a more important asset to the French Republic than it has been in the past. Therq is somo talk of an intention on tho part of the French Government of niaking Tahiti a naval coaling station, and although developments in this connection have nit yst gone very far, somo important harbour improvements and other works at - o projected. As an experienced official, -Mr. Blow took a considerable interest in the prospects ,of the Society Group, and during his Visit got into touch with tho British Consul and one or two of tho lending merchants, and front one or other of them obtained the particulars which are here presented. ' Tho island of Tahiti has an area of about 400 square miles and a population of 15,000. Tho whole Sooiety Group has an area of 1557 square miles, and a population of about 30,000 souls. By way of comparison it may be mentioned that tho islands of the Cook Group have an area of 150 square miles, and Nine has' an area of 130 square miles. Ahout one-third of the population of Tahiti reside in the town of Papeete, which is the capital. Tho population of Papeete divides into three nearly equal groups of Europeans, Chinese, and natives. The following ta ; blo giving tho total trade of the Society Islands for tho years indicated shows . that there has been a very rapid advance in a com-' paratively brief period:— 1910. 1911. £ ■ £ Imports 226,347 288,267 Exports 241,251 300,765 Totals £ 167,59S £589,022 1913. £ £ Impor/ts 309,887 • 361,218 Exports 339,254 462,150 Totals £649,141 £823,398 Customs duty on imports averages about 15 per cent.' ad valorem, in addition to which there is a. special duty of '12j per cent., called the "Cctroi de mer, 1 ' or municipal tax. Foiir-iihhs of the' proceeds of this tax goes' to tho Government, and ono-fifth to the Papeete Municipality. The harbour or Papeete is largo and good. It is a roomy bay on the northern side of the island and is separated from the open sea by the usual coral reef which affords complete protfection to the harbour. Vessels of the sizO. of the Wjllochra (nearly 8000 tons) have no difficulty' in entering in tho daytime and can go right lip to the Government wharf for the purpose of discharging andjoading. The wharf is not equipped with modern cargo-working appliances, however, and vessels havo to depend upon their own wincho& 1 "" Harbour Improvements. A harbo.ir improvement scheme is in .contemplation, to be carried out by .i 'company under a Government guarantee of-interest on the capital expended. No start has yet been mado upon tho \vork, but it is hoped that the. opening of the Panama Canal will have tho efr feet, of bringing more and larger vesselis to.Papeete. If tho hope is realised a better entranco through the reof will be required SO that vessels of the largest size may be enabled to enter by night or day. ■ Much more extensive wharfage and coal storago would also bo needed. The projected new harbour 1 works aro estimated to cost about £412,000 and are divided into two classes of respectively first and second urgency. Works of tho first urgency include: The enlargement of tho entrance through the leef to a width of 150 metres and a depth of 13 metres (approximately 490 feet and 42 fee* l ), the buoying of the entrance channel, improvement of wharf accommodation, the repairing and possibly the enlargement of the patent slip, the provision of a commodious cdaling ' depot, . the orection of workshops and the provision of a steam tug.

The works of secondary i-rgency which avo only to be undertaken in the event of the harbour, becoming one of very great importance, comprise: The deepening of the entrance to 13 metres (approximately 49 i'eet), the construction of quays with a great depth of water, the enlargement of the coal depot, and the workshops and tho creation of an oil depot.

There is a lighthouse on Venus Point, Tahiti, and tenders are being called for tho erection of ligl'ts on four other islands of the Society Group. Tahiti has at present no telegraphic comniiinicstion with the outside worlil, but tho election of a wireless station is contemplated. Tin's would communicate with New Caledonia which place is already in oable communication with Australia. The Island and Its People. Upon the whole Mr. Blow found Ta l hiti a very pleasant place in which to sojourn. There is a marked difference, particularly during tho period of southei'ly gales, between the climate of Papeete', on tho northern side of the island, and that of the southern coast. .This is due to the fact that the northern side is sheltered by the mountainous interior of the island, which rises at its maximum elevation to a. height of seven thousand fee;. A southerly gale was blowing nearly all tho time that Mr. Blow was at Papeete, but the water of the harbour was smooth and unruffled. The weather outside was nevertheless so rough that a French man-o'-war was -detained for some days in port, and when she did at length go out had to return. The roads in Papeete and those encircling the island are wide and well made, and planting has transformed them into splendid avenues. Their beauty of courso is greatly heightened by the gorgeous, tropicil foliage. The ■ stephanotis and franzipanui bloom luxuriantly, and the flamboyant, appropriately named, carries red leaves and (lowers that arc redder still. Even tho fish at Tahiti are brilliantly coloured. Gold-fisli, similar to those exhibited in this country in globos, but much larger, aie a common article of diet, and in the market placo Mr. Blow saw somo fish which were bright bluo in colour. They wore shaped somewhat like our schnappor, and were peacock blue about the head and gills, jhading off towards the tail. Tar hiti does not seem to be afflicted with iny'very serious racial problems. Tho members of the native population arc lazy and shiftless, and givou to childish amusements, but the Chinese immigrants, who form about a third of the population of Papeete, and have captured the greater part of its retail trade, make up lo u great extent for want of industry on tho part of tho browri-skiimcd islanders. The two races also intermarry freely, and the halfcastes appear to inhci'it Chinese characteristics of industry and thrift.