OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81857, 4 October 1906, Page 2

OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

IN THE SOUTHERN PACIFIC. In the couise of a long chat with Mr M. Eraser, who has just returned l>j :\''-'\v Plymouth from a two months' visit to our possessions in the Southern Pacific, a representative of the Daily News gleaned some in,en'4inj4' comment. Mr Eraser was a passenger by the Union Steam Ship Company's steamer llauroto, hjXB tons. Captain K. G. Uutton, with a small party of other excursionists, The principal of the Cook Islands were visited, RaraUmga, Mangaia, Aituiaki, and Moukc. Mr Eraser, in speaking of Raralonga, was warm in his praise of Colonel Gudgeon, the British Resident, who made the visitors most welcome. . "Colonel Gudgeon," he said, "and 1 Queen Makea, may bo said to be king \ and queen of the group. He, is an 1 ideal king, coo, and has won the ' hearts of all the people, white and | brown alike. Eis very pleasing- to I

know that this, the loveliest island in the world, is ruled by a good man.'' Any picture of a stately king, robed and jewellled, that might have grown on one's imagination whilst the foregoing was spoken was soon dispelled by Mr Eraser, who said, "You would never take him for a king. The secret of his success is his kind heart, and his deep knowledge of the Maori." Another resident of Karatonga, who came in for unstinted praise was Mr Hutchen, stationed there by die London Mis-

sionary Society. This gentleman visits all the islands. He is a man wise in tlie knowledge of human nature and of books; a man with no seclarain narrowness or nonsense about him; a man who has splendid influence amongst the natives, and who is ablv backed up by his wife. This lady has endeared herself to every person upon the isltnds. The natives of the islands call themselves Maoris, and their language is practically the same as our own Maori. They are, however, very different in appearance, gentle in manner, and amiable in disposition. The hot sunshine is always with them. There is no struggle for existence. Thev have never felt any anxiety,

cither for this world or the next._| They have "considered the lilies" wisely. The island is a gigantic flower garden, and the people lie in the shade and suck oranges, having an "o uraana'' and a smile for the .itianger. Mr Fraser lapsed into a description of how pare of the time was spent in this lovely land. "They pi el oranges for us, and wo learn to suck oranges as they do. The childien gather all kinds of scented flowers, and hang garlands round our necks. Others trim our hats with [he scarlet hibiscus and wnite gaidinia. We pinch ourselves to assure us that we are not dreaming it all.'' The is'ands are veiy pioduetive. Copra, oranges, bananas, kumeras, coffee, kapock, and many other tropical products are exported in huge quantities. As an inducement to settlement the Government Tourist lirparlmem i.-sues reduced fares to people intending to take up their residence in the islands. Ihe passage uiuney from Auckland (return) is but to intending residents return tickets are issued at single

The Tahitian Group was also in eluded in the tour. Who has not aeaid of Tahiti, tno gem of the Pacific. Papecve is described as beau r .-.i tui beyond till words. The temperature was rather trying at the time of this visit, notwilnstanduig the fact that it was Sep-ember. i'he thermometer registeied iju degrees in tnc shade, but the parly defied the heal and drove down to Point Venus to make die acquaintance of the stone record of Coptain Cook's landing and observations. Kven in the shade, the tiopical heat seemed to melt the marrow in the bones of the unaccustomed tiavefei's, and they longed for a medium Paul's, one or more. "But we were alieady drunk," remaikcd Mr J- laser; men, as he noted the somewhat surprised countenance of the newspaper man, he continued.

"diunk with delight, the smell of the ripe fruit, and ihe perfume of countless (lowers heavy in our nostrils." Groves of coeoanul, bread fruit, and curious flowering shrubs, dipping their leaves in the blue lagoon, cou.d be seen, as the road followed the curve of the reef. The visitors seemed really oppressed with the charm of it. There are many fine islands in this group, a'l under the I-'tenth flag. In answer to a suggestion, Mr Eraser said lie had - nothing to sa/ against the Ereach rule, he carrying pleasant recollections of the Eionch folk that he met in ihe tropical isles. "But," he added, "the blight that stems inseparable from the while man is on Ihe islands, which in the past have been made a hiding-place and a refuge (or runaway criminals, and the scum of the earth seems to have gathered there, to prey upon the innocence of these lonely, isolated and trusting- islanders.'' The principal drawback in the trip, viewed from the excursionists' point of view, is the distance, which necessitates a long sea voyage. Tahiti is about 2GOO miles from Auckland, and the sciuh-east trade winds b'ow very fresh. Still, Mr Eraser says, the pleasure is worth it all.