NEWS FROM TAHITI.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 70, 24 March 1887, Page 2

NEWS FROM TAHITI.

4'liiliun Man o War for Aucklui

(from a co&bkspondent )

I'ai-kktk, March 5,

Since tho Now Year this place has been a porfect round of gaiety | several gorgeous balls bavo boon given, and the band has been playing four nighta weekly. A Chilian man o'war boaring tbo peculiar namo of " The O'Higgins " arrived hero about a month ago, remained here for three weeks, and finally left last Saturday. While they romained here they had a glorious timo. Balls, dinners, pienica, and other fostivities were taking place all the time. About half-a-dozen of the young " middies" tried to run away hero, they were so much charmed by tho " love-alluring eyea " of our well-developed dusky beauties. The officers and men all promised to como back here as soon as possible. Another Chilian man o'-war is expectod here in about a month, and she will proceed from here to Auckland and Australia.

The first diplomatic ball was held on the .15th ult, at tho residence of the Governor, and everything tends to Bh.ow that M. Lacascade is doiDg much for the French possessions in the Southern Pacific.

The Governor hns of late been much engrossed with .official labours, and the local papers teem with accounts of the public works being carried out and th« laws being onacted by tho Amemhkt. Generate. Koads are being constructed in different parts of tho inland,and a splendid thoroughfare two miles long has just been complotod, at a cost of £6,000, from Papeari to Taravao by way of Phaeton bay, making communication between Papeete and Taravao direct and continuous. The circuit of tho island of Tahiti can pow bo mado. Tho penchant of the native women for the bottle has necessitated the enactment of a strict law directed against the Belling of alcoholic liquors. Papeete has now a complete water supply, and last month tho large reservoir above Mount Faaire was first filled with water, which was subsequently turned into tho mains and thence delivered to tho

city, The lighting of the city is now occupying attention, and tho question of illumination by oil, gas or oloctricity in being considered. Plans of lighting and tenders havo been invited, and the gystom to bo decided upon will bo adopted in September next. Tahiti and adjacent islands will,in the ovont of the completion of the Pannma Canal,rapidly increase in importance, and tho energy which in six years has more than doubled the trado with thia port will find plenty of opportunity to make of those ialands and the Independent Society Islands (which, it is said, France is trying to acquire) very important ocean stations. The route from Panama to Sydney will take in all theso islands.

In proof of tho prosperous condition of lahiti, I may mention that we havo now four newspapers appearing regularly, viz tho "Journal Officiel," the "Messager do Tahiti," "LslCloche, and "L'OcoanieFrancueo." Tho latter, after a long lapse, reappoarod on 29;h January last.