Notes and Events.

Manawatu Herald, 2 July 1895, Page 3

Notes and Events.

The Cook islands still trouble our Government. 'JLbe Premier with his dreams of other world 3in which to iJia.ce fWest-teofleters in ..assured billets, declines to agree to the lament of the British Resident if the complete control of these islands is assumed by the Imperial Government. He declares that ihe colony desires to annex this terr ory 1 This is however but the merest nibble after Samoa,

His Excellency the Governor made a trip to the Snares and Auckland and other islands in February last, and has reported his observations to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. There is no doubt, he states, that the whales are increasing in the South Seas, but it is to b« hoped that the whaling industry -will not be resumed to any great extent for many years yet, or they will again be brought to des* traction. The females only calve every two years, and it will be long before .they are. again plentifulv The Snares are, v l2s jnUeft, distant from the ißluff. They are precipi-. toua for the most. part, and in some places are 600 to 700 feet, high. These islands are composed of coarse granite^ covered with a rich peaty soil strongly impregnated with guano. They are hardly fit for,.settlement, but the time may come when it, may be worth while to transport the soil, which if hardly equal to guano, might still make a very rich topdressing for exhausted soils. The Governor was much struct by the capabilities of the Auckland Islands, and by the beauty of the scenery.. The height of the islands are nowhere more than 2000 feet, and they are bare of scrub, on the average, about 200 ft to 300 ft from the beach. The scrub is not large but makes, excellent fuel. Above the scrub there is everywhere abundance of coarse grass, interspersed with tussocks, well adapted for sheep until English grass is introduced. Theraare in all about 140,000 acres of land, which has lately been let in three large runs. Campbell Island has also been lately let as one large run, some 28,000 acres. The land is, if anything superior to the Auckland Isles and is covered with peaty soil, well grassed, with tussocks here and there. The east side contains two escellent harbours. The Antipodes Island are unlikely to tempt settlers, though capable of habitation, it being a matter of difficulty to walk round the shores. The island contains a magnificent cave about 150 feet high, with a beautiful arched roof, and about 500 feet deep into which the " Hinemoa " might have sailed. The Bounty Islands must be very exposed, as it has been noticed that after the birds leave them after breeding, not a vestige of feathers or guano is left to show, though the largest island is 25 acres in extent, and some are as high as 120 feet, yet very few spots are out of reach of the sea.