ISLAND NEWS.

Evening Post, Volume XLL, Issue 5, 7 January 1891, Page 3

ISLAND NEWS.

iby th.eqbaph.j [united pbbss association.! Auckland, This Day. Tho s.B. Kiohmond arrived from the Islands this morning She reports that things are quiot at Tonga, Samoa, and Tahiti. The Rev. James Chalmors, tho well-known missionary, has arrived from R.aratonga. Mr. F. Mosy, the veuent.ly appointed British Resident at Raratonga, returned by the Riohmond from a preliminary official visit to the Heryey Group. While at Raratonga he enquired into the reported repulsion of a British trader from Mangaia, also into the alleged abuses of the liquor traffic, besides obtaining voluminous data for tbo Now Zealand Government regarding tho prospects of tirade and| the state of the Islands generally. Ho visited all the islands of the group, and was very cordially reoeived by the natives. A strict liquor law now passed in Raratonga only permitting the sale of strong drinks on a permit signed by the principal chief, and placing the whole of the liquor in tho Islands in the ohargo of one man. Queen Make.l of Raratonga has made a valuable present of a piece of the land at Avarua township as a site for the Briiiahßeaidenoy. The inhabitants generally will give labour and materials to the value of 350,000 dollars frc3 to build the Residency. Mr. Moss returns to Raratonga permanently shortly. News from Raratonga states" that tho schooner Ararua, formerly the Julia Price, of Auckland, has been totally loet near Aihitaki Island in a squall. All on board, sixteen natives, were drowned.