NIUE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 5, 6 January 1934, Page 1 (Supplement)

NIUE.

HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS

A NEW ZEALAND DEPENDENCY

(By MARC T. GREENE.)

Little is heard of the lovely island of Nine, one of New Zealand's tropica! responsibilities. The native there are contented and reasonably prosperous. They have no grievances against their rulers, and live on terms of the utmost harmony with the Dominion representatives. Curiously enough it is the island at which Captain James Cook appears to have received his coldest reception, having been compelled to withdraw in precipitate haste immediately he had landed, since the natives, as he wrote in his chronicles, advanced upon his men "with the ferocity of wild boars." He therefore concluded that it ought properly to be called "Savage Island," and/ "thus it appeared on the maps of the South Pacific for more than three-quarters of a century ere giving place to its present and proper name, Nine. Niue Island is to-day one of the real gems of the Pacific. It has not the scenic beauty of the Tahitian and Samoan groups, for it is a "thrown-up" coral isle; that is to say, a mass of coral rock which long ago emerged from the depths of the sea as the result of some terrific seismic upheaval. In that respect it is similar to the To'ngan islands, but it is of later appearance above the sea, and so has less soil over its coral foundation. In fact, there is coral stone everywhere, and all the houses of the natives are constructed from it, generally with thatched roofs. The stone of the houses is painted a clean and gleaming white, with a sort of whitewash made from powdered coral, and all the native dwellings present a cool and neat appearance. An Isolated Community. Niue is one of the most isolated of the Pacific's inhabited isles, and its only connection with the outside world is the monthly call of the New Zealand Government steamer Maui Poinare, 011 her return trip from Samoa to Wellington. ' It is unusual for any other craft of any kind to appear there in these days, and you may stand day after day upon the high cliffs in front of 'the principal settlement and scan the Pacific in every direction without noting any vessel except an island fishing canoe. The isolation thus ensured to Niue is largely responsible for the friendly, unaffected, unacquisitive character of the natives, as well as for the harmonious relations that exist with the island Administration. This is under the New Zealand Cook Islands Administration, in Wellington, but Niue has 110 political connection witli the Cook group itself. The present Resident Commissioner, Captain W. B. Bell, is the direct representative of the New Zealand Government, and his tact, amiability and; understanding of the native

character have (lone much to make and help to maintain Nine as something very much like an ideal South Sea island community. Thv> Maui Pornare • usually lands a dozen or a score of passengers at Niue on her way back from Apia and these, whatever their . number,, are invariablymet by Captain Bell, conducted to the spacious bungalow which is his residence, and there most hospitably entertained. Other residents of Nine, among whom one of the best known is Mr. Robert Head, a name familiar throughout all of (Polynesia, not less cordial in receiving the monthly callers'at Nine, and although the island highways arc a bit .rough there are not lacking several motor cars in which the island may be explored. No Financial Worry. Nine is one of the few islands in the Pacific to be practically free of the effects of "depression." It produces a quality of bananas which are thought highly of on the New Zealand market and bring to the growers, mostly natives, a considerably higher price than those from Samoa. One to two thousand cases are usually taken away monthly by the Maui Pomare and this brings to the natives all the money they need. The soil and the sea provide for their sustenance and,provide lavishly, especially the latter. Niue, too, is remarkably fertile, and the Resident Commissioner is developing a large Government plantation upon which natives are being taught to raise all sorts of fruit and vegetables. Dr. Simmons, an expert from Suva, visited Niue recently and gave some valuable advice. Niue, which is in about 19 degrees, south latitude, and thus assured of an amiable climate, is about 40 miles around, and although much of this large area is stony there are many sizeable spaces ready for cultivation in fruit and vegetables, and the plan is now to utilise them as rapidly as possible. Scenically the island has some of the most remarkable coral formations in the Pacific. The Aain "sight" is the "gorge," a vast cleft in the coral rock with walls more than 100 ft high, its floor a tumbled mass of coral boulders left in the confusion which followed some stupendous upheaval. Through the gorge flows a stream and in the middle is a clear, deep pool which constitutes an ideal swimming place.