THE ISLAND TRADE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 332, 26 January 1909, Page 2

THE ISLAND TRADE.

A NEW SERVICE TO WELLINGTON,'. By Telegrtqdi.—Press Association. Wellington, January 25. The Mana|iouri, the inaugurating steamer of the Cook islands to Wellington trade, eonijileted her first trip yesterday. The time taken by the Mi'inajiouri on Die run was about the same as her usual time between Auckland and Riiratonga. Her cargo includes .",4112 cases of bananas, some of which lire for southern jiorts; also 21 cases of oranges, UI2D sacks of ciqira, a quantity of humerus, and four cases of vanilla. The rest arc sundries. The Manajiouri also brought fill passeiigers, who came by the Mariposa from San Francisco via Tahiti; also llli bags of mails ex .Muri|iosa, •an,! live bags of island mail. Mr. Iladley, an island trader and a passenger by the Mnna|iouri. on being interviewed, said the great advantage of the service would be the avoidance of Auckland transhipments of fruit for southern ports anil Die saving of about four days, lie recommends the establishment by the Government of a tropical School of Agriculture on Raratonga, and also urges the jirefcrcnlial treatment of Cook Island fruit as against Tahitiau and Fijian fruit.' Tlie labour difficulty would, however, be an insujierable difficulty in the Cook group.