TOUR OF THE ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 152, 29 June 1914, Page 2

TOUR OF THE ISLANDS

RETURN OP THE TUTANEKAI DR. POMARE AT NIUE. ENTERTAINED AT TONGA, (BY THLEonArH.) (PROM OUR SPECIAL nEPORtER.) AUCKLAND, 28th June. The Government steamer Tutanekai with the Hon. Dr. Pomare and the membe re of his party aboard returned to Auckland yesterday after having visited the Cook Islands, Nine, and Tonga, The Tutanekai left Auckland for R-arotonga on 16th May, and in the course of the following weeks she conveyed the Governor (the Earl of Liverpool) and Dr. Pomare, Minister in Charge of the Is-, lands Department, to the various southern islands of the Cook Group. On 11th June His Excellency joined the-Moana at R&rotonga and returned to Wellington, while the Tutanekai. with tho Miuister aboard, went on lo the othei islands. The Minister was accompanied by Mis. Pomare, Miss Hardy (Hawkes Bay), Miss Northcroft (daughter of the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga) Major O'Sullivan (Defence Staff), Messrs. A. N. s* on (l"' ivat e secretary), F. G. Twiss (Officer in Charge of the Inlands Department), and press representatives. The Tutanekai arrived at Niue on 14th •Tune and the Minister was very cordially welcomed by the Resident Commissioner (Mr. H. Cornwall) And by the European and native populations. The Minister paid a formal visit to Togiia, a «sry old and decrepit man, who still carries the title of King of Niue, and in subsequent conferences with the natives Dr. Pomare gave them to understand that thero would not be another King in Niue and that on Togiia's death Hie office of President of the Island 'xMiticil, which he now occupied, would be filled by_ the Resident Commissioner The Ministerial party was most hos* pitably entertained by the natives, who provided a feast, dances, etc. On tho afternoon of the 15th when the travellers embarked from Tonga they came aboard laden with presents. Vavau was reached on 17th June, and the Minister was warmly welcomed and entertained by Tugi, Governor of Vavau, and one of the most enlightptied and pro gressive Tongans. On tho morning of 19th June the Tutanekai arrived at Nukualofa, the chief town of the island kingdom, and the New Zealand Minister was very cordially received by King George Tnbou 11., the Premier and thb Cabinet Ministers, while the white residents — most of them New Zealanders— headed by Mr. Grant, the British Resident, Dr. Izard, the Health Officer, and Mr. Skene, Chief Justice, spared no pains to give the visitors entertainment and pleasure. On Saturday, 20th June, the visitors were taken some miles inland to a monster picnic that, had been arranged by the Premier, ahd here on the site of an old fortihed village, where w<s» fought the last battle that took place on Tongan soil,, there were feasting, speeches, and ancient native dances. The Tutanekai , eft Nukualofa on 21st June, and met with very stormy weather during the run to Auckland. It was at first intended that she should call at Sunday Island', in the Kermadec Group, and bring to? New Zealand a family named Bell, which has occupied this lonely speck of island for some time. As <t was arranged with tho New Zealand authorities by wireless, however, that the steamer should immediately return to the vicinity of the Rermadecs and make a search for the missing fishing launch, a stop was made at Sunday Island for a sufficient time only to send a. message ashore advising the people thefe that they would be token Off the island next week. Just before reaching Auckland the pas. sengers on the Tutanekai took the opportunity of presenting an address to Captain Post, thanking him for his un* remitting courtesy and attention to their comfovt during the long voyage, and expressing appreciation of the manner in which he handled h\s ship during the stormy weather that at times had been encountered.