Progress of the Cook Island Natives.

Manawatu Herald, 16 June 1894, Page 3

Progress of the Cook Island Natives.

A somewhat remarkable evidence of the progress of the Cook Island natives in tho arts of civilisation is afforded, says the Auckland Star, by the presence in Auckland waters of the schooner Takitumu, which arrived from Rarotonga recently on her maiden voyage, with a cargo of Island fruit. The Takitumu was wholly constructed by native labour on the co-operative principle at Ngatangiia Harbour, liarotonga, the builders of the schooner being also her owners. About 80 men of the Ngatangiia district, who built the vessel after labours extending over some five years, are now, therefore, her owners. The vessel is constructed on the American model, with plenty of beam and a wide sqnare stern, and she is rigged as a fore-and aft schooner, with lofty spars, and carries a " leg of mutton " mainsail. The Takitumu, which is manned by some of her owners, with Captain Rennie as master, is named after the ancient designation of the Ngatangiia district in Rarotonga, and also by a curious coincidence after the ancient canoe Takitumu, which some six hundred years ago traversed the ocean to New Zealand with a section of the old Maori ancestors from the legendary Hawaika. The vessel is built chiefly of liaratongan native timbers, with kauri spars, and seems to be a very strongly constructed, though roughly finished, craft. After being coppered she returns to Rarotonga in order to engage in inter-island trading. She will be probably register about 100 tons. The spars, &c, were sent down from Auckland.