What the Islands Mean to Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 59, 1 June 1927, Page 2

What the Islands Mean to Auckland

TRADE WITH COOK GROUP RESULT OF ENTERPRISE

Mention Cook Islands to a car tain section of Auckland’s meri chants and you have their at*en tion. Suggest diverting portion of the trade from that quarter to some other New Zealand port, and they are up ,n arms. The r.. M n however, is clear. Local have a large amount of capital in vested in the Islands, and they control the bulk of the trade. Even in 1901 when the Cook Isiaid group was annexed to New Zealand Auckland merchants had built up a trade connection with the group Figures for those early years are difficult to obtain, but in 1906 the imports into New Zealand from the group amounted to £63.477. With one exception each year registered an increase. until the year prior to the outbreak of the great war, when the figure was £109,095. The conclusion of hostilities saw a further liveninp up of trade, and the peak year \?as 1924, when the value of New Zealand * imports from the Cook Group was estimated at £149,676. This trade is largely of a reciprocal nature, for the Islanders have to a large extent taken goods In payment for their produce. In 1925 the value of this Dominion’s exports to the Islands was estimated at £80,977, the lowest since 1918. This trade is no casual development: it is largely the result of years of enterprise on the part of Auckland merchants who were prepared to cater for the needs of the Islanders. Today, it is estimated that three Auckland firms alone have nearly £250,000 invested in the Cook Group. Other firms have altered plant in Auckland to enable them to produce goods specially suited to the needs of the Islanders. The preserved meat trade is a special instance to the point. In 1925 preserved meat to the value of £ll,lOl was sent to the Islands mostly from Auckland. The bulk of this was packed according to the special requirements of the natives. Other important imports into the Islands from the Dominion are, preserved milk, biscuits, sugar, tobacco and cigarettes, while the timber imported in 1925 brought over £ 13.000 into the pockets of New Zealand millers. New Zealand’s principal imports from the Cook Islands include bananas, oranges, tomatoes, raw coffee and copra.

MAORILAND CONSOLIDATED

Reporting for the half-year ending March 31, 1927, the directors of tltf Maoriland Consolidated Gold Mining Co., Ltd., state that since the last halfyearly report the low level (No. 4) has been picked up and retimbered to the point where it intersects the reef and air pipes are also installed in this level for a distance of 350 feet. The intermediate level is cleared up, and the passes and ladder-ways have been put in order from No. 4 level to the surface. The mine is now clear in every level, all bad ground is timbered and made secure. The work has been far more costly than anticipated, but under the circumstances it could not be helpedA cross-cut drive has been commencefl eastward from the north pass in level to cut the Maoriland reef whicn in the .intermediate level produced ven rich ore at a point directly above wher we are now driving, and by the la of the reef it should be struck betwee 30 to 50 feet from the level. Expenditure for the half-year - shown at £1,902 17s 6d, making a total to date of £3,197 0s 2d.

BANKRUPT FARMER

DEFICIENCY OF £l»« MEETING OF CREDITORS A meeting of the creditors of liam Magnus Peterson, of } was held this morning in the omc the Official Assignee. Petersen, who had to file on ' owed debts to unsecured cre “ ,1 amounting to £156, and to sec k creditors, £6O. Assets debts said to be worth £ 20. Tn e _ a ficiency was shown as £196. written statement bankrupt saia IAT took a Crown lease of 496 a 9 rc ? 0 ° £ . f ,d Waimiha in 1921 Under the Soldiers’ Settlement Scheme, farmed the land until 1927, ' NV^e ® rtV sold the timber rights of the for £2,000. Of this amount £3OUJ* still owing to him. His farming ope tions were not very successful. t the money received as rights wa ®. .j_<r S on building a house and outbuiia on the farm. Examined by the deputy aKfelK " i( i Mr. J. H. Robertson, Petersen all his transactions in respect 1 j. £2,000 were effected through his As his interest is paid up to Petersen has every opportunity o maining on his farm where be no sides, and with the sum of the still owing to him for the timDe will be able to meet his obligation • Bankrupt was instructed to pr P a statement giving details of J, € bursements in connection witn £2.000 received for the rights. e d The meeting was then adjourn sine die.