LAST STAGE REACHED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 188, 10 August 1936, Page 7

LAST STAGE REACHED.

N.Z. MISSION TO RAROTONGA. RAROTONGA, August 9. The New Zealand Parliamentary delegation has reached the last stage of its inquiry into the fruit industry of these islands. It left last Sunday by the Matua to visit the lower group of islands. At Aitutaki it had a spectacular welcome from the chiefs and the people. The delegates left the same evening. At Atiu on the following day there were adverse weather conditions. The natives made the visitors welcome at feasts. The latter returned to the ship in a blinding rain squall which gave them a vivid understanding of the danger and risk to shipping, passengers and cargo. Mauke was visited on Wednesday. The weather conditions made a landing too risky, and the inquiry was conducted on board the ship. At Mangaia on Thursday the delegates had the novel experience of shooting the reef in native canoes. The visitors returned to Rarotonga on Friday. All the islands celebrated the visit in royal fashion. The speeches of welcome in picturesque language were a marked feature. The delegation now is finishing its detailed work. It will board the Makura j on Monday.