55

A.—3b

two settlements, as the nature of the country will not permit it; but a considerable trade along the sea coast will spring up between them, which cannot fail to be beneficial to both. The Kobea Teade. The kobra trade of the Society Islands is assuming large proportions. A French gentleman who has been for some years associated with Mr. Brander, of Tahiti, has purchased the island of Eurutu from the natives, and has been engaged in cocoa-nut plantation for eighteen months, and in improving the existing wild trees. He anticipates that, at ruling rates for kobra, this property will, in four years from the present time, begin to yield an income of £4,000 per annum. A large portion of the island of Tubuai has been purchased by the same firm for a like purpose. Active operations of the same kind are being commenced in the Paumutos, which it is believed will soon be occupied entirely by Europeans. The French authorities have declared their intention to give every encouragement to settlement in those islands. It is worthy of notice that the Paumutos, or Low Archipelago, are an absolute possession of France, and not a protectorate, as are the islands of Tahiti, Moorea, and those of the Austral Group, including Eapa. The two splendid islands of Eaiatea and Huaheine, with their small dependencies, are in no way subject to France in reality, but had their independence secured to them by virtue of a treaty of which the terms were guaranteed by England, somewhere about the years 1846 or 1847. The Marquesas are still retained as an absolute possession of France, and are now regarded by them as very valuable. Mr. Brander, of Tahiti, has erected very expensive and powerful machinery at Valparaiso for the manufacture of cocoa-nut oil from kobra, which is shipped to that port from his warehouses in Tahiti. A San Francisco firm have proposed the establishment of a depot of the same kind at Eaiatea. Mr. Brander has also purchased Easter Island, which lies in the direct route, about half-way between Tahiti and Valparaiso. He has removed most of the aborigines to his own Tahitian plantation, and has replaced them by Chilenos and others in his employ, who are stocking the island with cattle and sheep, for which it is well adapted. By Authority : Geobge Didsbcbt, Government Printer, Wellington.—lß74. Price 3s. 9t?.]