The Cook Islands.

Manawatu Herald, 29 January 1903, Page 2

The Cook Islands.

Mr T. W. Kirk, Government Biologist, has returned to Auckland froffi an official view of the Cook Islands, in which he was was account > panied by Mr W. A. Boucher, one of the Government pomologists. Messrs Kirk and Boucher made a a thorough inspection of the islands, both as regards soil, climate, and other circumstances affecting their resources They found the soil to be-partly volcanic, and splendidly suited for fruitgrowing, and the climate was excellent both for orcharding and for residential purposes. The Earotongan, correspondent ef the Auckland Star says that Mr Kirk and Mr Boucher “ are greatly impressed with the possibilities of the islands they visited. At present, with the exception of bananas, there were no fruit crops to be seen, and they were therefore unable to definitely ascertain the extent of the fruit pests. They, however, found > that with the exception of Rarotonga, the only pest that existed in the islands visisted was the black aphis. Rarotonga itself seemed full of various blights, which, however, could be controlled, and probably eradicated by systematic measures.

The chief difficulty in the" way was the fact that most of the fruit trees' are old, and have been allowed by the natives to grow wild. .With regard to cultivation of the cocoanut palm, Messrs Kirk and Boucher look upon Rarotonga as an ideal * spot for its proper growth. They visited the three or four European cocoanut plantations and were greatly pleased with the progress made. In their opinion the chief trees, etc., which should be planted and properly cultivated are cocoanuts, bananas, oranges, and vanilla. With - regard to’ the export trade, Mr Kirk has suggested to Colonel Gudgeon the desirability Of having the Rarotonga fruit inspected and fumigated at Rarotonga before shipment to New Zealand.”