COOK ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 187, 10 August 1925, Page 17

COOK ISLANDS.

RICH IN POSSIBILITIES

"It has been a surprise to mc to learn how little New Zealanders know about the Cook Islands," said Mr. Sanderson Cooper, a former Resident Commissioner in Samoa, and at one time Resident Agent at the Cook Islands, when addressing members of Toe H at Wellington on Thursday night. Rarotonga, he explained, was the headquarters of the group, and the seat of Government. It could be described as a beautiful and fertile land. Five villages were scattered over the island, but only one had a harbour. "There are a number' of little islands dotted round the reef of Rarotonga, and one of the islands has a particular hv terest for the Dominion, being recognised as the final stepping-off place of the Maoris on their voyage to New Zealand," he said. "The records of many of the islands correspond very closely with those of the Maoris.* There is also a great similarity in the two languages. Talking to a native boy one day, I asked him where his ancestors came from, and although he said he did not know, it was, according to legend, from a place where the trees shed their leaves for six months in the year. "The Cook Islanders have not the physique of the Maoris," continued the speaker, "but otherwise the two races are very much alike. No one, who has studied the two peoples, would have any doubts as to their having originally sprung from the same stock." Mangaia, he said, was a remarkable island, and the biggest in the group. Owing to the peculiar construction of the island, passengers and goods had to be transhipped from the boats to canoes. The island was of volcanic origin, and in. a natural basin the natives grew many kinds of tropical fruits, although the principal products were copra and oranges. "The northmost island of the group proper is, to my mind, the gem of them all," he declared. "The island has a number of islets surrounding it that would prove ideal places to spend a holiday." Discussing the administration of the islands, Mr. Cooper explained that New Zealand governed the group through a Resident Commissioner, who had official agents in many of the islands. A resident agent was called upon to fulfil many duties, including those of magistrate, postmaster, collector of Customs, registrar of births, deaths and marriages. It was an interesting occupation for a man who could stand the isolation. "It is a pity the possibilities of the Cook Islands are not better known," concluded the speaker. "I have seen thousands of eases of fruit rotting in the sun, while New Zealand imports oranges from California. These islands could supply more fruit than the whole of New Zealand could consume. The fruit is there. It is only a question of transport."