OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2282, 29 August 1908, Page 3

OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

THE COOK ISLANDS,

[Special to “Times.”]

WELLINGTON, August 28. In his annual report of the Cook Islands administration, the Minister in c liar go (the Hon. J. McGowan) states that- the revenue of the Cook and Northern -Islands for 1907-8, including the balance brought- forward amount to £91.773, while the expenditure was £6189, leaving a balance to bo carried forward of £3585. Tlio import and export returns of the Cook and Northern Islands were as follows : Imports, 1907, £50,756; 1900, £41,437. Exports: £51,578 and £49,925. Tho hulk of this trade was done with New Zealand. It was not proposed, said tho Minister, to make any change in tho system of education in the Cook group at present, but the question of training the native teachers before they wero passed in charge of village schools was receiving attention. A school was to be built at Niue, and a teacher would bo looked for in Neiv Zealand. The isolated nosition of Niue was referred to. No response bad been received to the invitation for lenders at £3OO for a schooner service. Complaints continue to be made with regard to the fruit trade, but -no satisfactory solution bad been arrived at. The question of the inspection of fruit had also been under consideration, and it had been decided to send an officer to enquire and roport. In 1907 the exportations from the Islands were: Bunches of bananas 14,727, boxes 75,295, coffee 45,0001b5, copra 932 tons, oranges 104.201 cases, pines 3,352 eases, taro 153 boxes;total value, £51,000. Tho substitution of the Hauroto, a slow boat, for the Manapouri, for the Island trade was unfortunate, as she could not keep up to time-table. For several trips the cargo offering was so much in excess of tho capacity of the boat that cargoes had been injured by overcrowding. The trade had good ground for feeling aggrieved, and until tho cause was removed the comnlnintg would be loud and frequent. The real grievance was, however, that tho Hauroto could not always roach Auckland in time to discharge into the Wellington boat- at Auckland. It seemed the company did their best with the means available. A steamer was required of not less than 3000 tons, and capable of doing 13 knots, and even then it was doubtful if a single service would bo satisfactory.