NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2811, 29 January 1908, Page 11

NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

(From Our Own Correspondeht.),* EAROTONGA, January "10. On her departure last trip the Manapouri. took up almost a record both as reearde carjjo and passengers. Of the latter there were some 80, mostly in the eteerage, from San Francisco, via Tahiti, made, up principally of persons who had gone there in eearch of employment durinsr the boom, and who had found matters not at all what they had expected, and so were making the best of their way back to "New Zealand and Australia. The steamer this time is the Taviuni, -which_ did not come here from New Zealand, in the usual course, but merely calls here on her^ way back to' Auckland, leavini? the _ same day as she arrives (to-day) after having taken' on board "our mails and fruit carsro. The; Tayiuni left Auckland about the 12th ult., going direct to Tahiti, whence after taking as passengers several scientific gentlemen she proceeded to Flint Island, which ie some hundreds of miles north, for the purpose of observing the eclipse of the 6un. A party of American scientists had already proceeded thither in an American steamer some weeks before, and had employed themselves erecting a large platform for their instruments. Flint Island is a small island upon which nothing grows but oqcoanuts, held in lease by Lever Bros, for th^ production of copra. There are numerous turtles here, which afford a regular supply of fresh meat. The eclipse as 'witnessed at Rarotanga was only axpartial one, the shadow, however, . being distinctly visible as it passed, over the 'sun.- Nearly every native was provided, with a. piece of smoked glass, and took a great' interest in 'the proceedings. It was a brilliantly fine day so /that it was witnessed under the best conditions. I The schooner^ Vaite and the French schooner Tamari Tahiti (which arrived here on Christmas Day from Flint Island) have both departed f-qy the northern islands- for ithe purpose of escaping the hurricane sea;son, "as they usually do each year. So far, we have had some fairly windy weather j and & good deal of rain. • The regatta and aquatic sports were held on Boxing. Day. but otherwise things have been 'very much as usual. The Taviuni will have all the cargo she can take this trio, principally ,

bananas. The various schools have had their breaking-up. _ Tereora School gave an invitation exhibition by its well : trained scholars, whioh proved very successful, the email native children being very apt indeed to learn. ,