ISLAND NEWS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8934, 26 October 1894, Page 5

ISLAND NEWS.

(PRCSS ASSOCIATION TBLBORAM.) AUCKLAND, October 25.

Last night the Richmond arrived from Tahiti and Raratonga with a full cargo of fruit, pearl shell, copra, and general Island produce. News from Raratonga is to the effect that coffee, banana and fruit planting is considerably extending among the islands of the group. The Native Council was in session at Raratonga, and several important measures were passed, including the first local tax ever levied in Raratonga, its object being to tax occupied land according to frontage, and it is thought that the measure will act fairly with the residents. The British Reeidenc at Raratonga, Mr F. J. Moss, sent a memorandum to the Raratonga Council re special settlements. A laige quantity of tbe best land in the Island ia now lying waete and idle. It could yield much valuable coffee and other saleable produce, but there are not people enough to use it. The remedy is to induce peop eto come from other countries. He also outlined his scheme. The Council, having considered the matter, passed the following resolution :—" That this Council considers that the time .has x;ome to form special settlements of people from New Zealand who might desire to be planters of coffee brother produce oa the lands lying unosed in Raratonga. They recommend the subject to the Governor \i.e., the Arittis) to take each measures aa to the selection of lands and the conditions of occuptifcitm and other matters as they (the Atikis) may consider desirable, and which will secure not only additional production, but an increased population living on the land set aside for their occupation as Bpecial settlement iv Raratonga." Qaeen Makea ia much gratified with the reply from the House Committee to a present of live oases Raratonga oranges she sent to Bellamy's, and has offered to keep the New, Zealand Parliament always supplied from her own grounds if Ballamy's will , arrange about getting them carried from Raratonga to Wellington. Oranges are a drag here and of little value, and she that) Parliament will let her show in that way eomesmaH degree of^the gratitude she and her people feel for thY good offices they have experienced from New Zealand. Queen Pa has voluntarily accepted the law which gives local government to her subjects, ana this has been the means of uniting the whole ot the people. The Seventh Day AdventUts have landed a party of missionaries ac Raratonga to form a Mission, and the Roman Catholics are also expected to send a party of missionaries shortly. The new law making British currency the only legal tender throughout the Group, comes into force in January next. Trie natives do not appear to be pleased with the report that they are to be annexed to Fijt, being well satisfied with the New Zealand connection, which has been found to work very well.