WORSE STATE OF THINGS

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 309, 31 December 1891, Page 5

WORSE STATE OF THINGS

than that existing at Samoa. I take it, though, as the sincerest compliment that could be paid to the native Government, that after seeing its satisfactory working , , the white people should seek for admission." " What about fche presenb trade of the group, Mr Moss ?"

"At present, the total trade of the group, covering imports and exports, is about £50,000 per annum. This could, however, be very greatly extended with advantage to New Zealand. I believe that the Cook Group is capable of supporting a population of 20,000 people, and of producing five times the quantity ib does now, especially of coffee and. fruit. The group is capable, ab all events, of a trade approaching a quarter of a million. All the coffee now grows wild, as also do the oranges and other fruits. Aβ to European settlement, I think thab the group is an unsuitable one for.white people, to engage in cultivation unless they are prepared to do their owu work, for; the present difficulty is the labour question. As in Tahiti the natives will hardly work for outsiders,, because .they don't need to. They are not so numerous but that they can support themselves by cultivating for themselves. Speaking of the trade capabilities of the group, I may say that the Cook Islands form a kind of natural gateway to a number of very rich and fertile archipelagoes in the' Eastern Pacific —the Society, Paumotas and Marquesas Groups — and it is quite possible for Auckland to establish a'lucrative ciireco trade with those islands, which (except Tahiti) are now trading almost entirely with California. Tahiti is some 2,000 miles from Auckland, as against nearly 4,000 from San Francisco. New Zealand ought to beat California in this direction. I have forwarded full reports on the trade possibilities of the Islands to the Governor, and probably some of them may be published for general information. I have also sent in full reports regarding the native federation, which I am convinced is a great one and one that will last, and be productive of much good to other islands as well as to the Herveys.

"How do you like the Hervey Group natives, then ?"

"The Hervey natives arc a fine, intelligent race, and are closely allied to our own Maoris. They can govern themselves, and my greatest hope now is to see them acquire a knowledge of the English language. We have nor. yet sufficient funds to establish English schools, but the Government are taking a step in this direction, as they are about to start a native press at Rarotonga, with the help of a native half-caste printer from Auckland. The natives have given a fine, native-built residence, and just before I left Rarotonga the local chiefs presented me with a flattering letter acknowledging my services and promising to ' keep in the path ' in which I had set them."