SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10148, 3 June 1896, Page 3

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

TRIP TO THE CORAL ISLANDS. OPENING A NEW SERVICE. TRADING PROSPECTS. On Monday last the Union S.S. Company's Taupo returned bo Auckland after performing the initial trip to inaugurate what), in future, will be known as the tern Pacific Service. The Taupo called at both the Cook and Society groups of islands, and as Mr. T. Henderson, the Auckland manager of the Union Company, was a passenger, undoubtedly with an eye to business, a Herald representative saw him on his return. The trip on this first cruise occupied a month, but in future the period is to be shortened to 25 days. KAR OTONGA. ' The first place visited,' said Mr. Henderson, in response to a request hbab he would give some description of the trip, • was Rarotonga, which, you know, is the principal island in the Cook Group. The productions here are similar to those of other Pacific Islands—copra, coffee, cotton,'limejuice, oranges, and bananas. Mr. Moss, the British Resident, appears to be exercising a very beneficial influence throughout the group. In the native schools English is being taught, and the Maoris, as they 'call themselves, are showing great signs of advancement.' ' What think you of theprospects of trade with that group 1 With the additional service afforded by the Union Company a large increase in the export trade is expected. The quantity of products wasted and lying rotting on the ground in itself would be sufficient to warrant that if the natives only care to work. With means of living at his band there has been no incentive lor the native to work, and he has not yet acquired the ambition to become rich. Signs of ambition in this direction, however, are being daily manifested. The Island Maori appears now to be desirous of getting more money than he formerly did ; his wants are increasing and be wants more to gratify those wants. The Chief Judge, Te Pou, and his son, Makea Daniela are both what may be called advanced Maoris. Both have visited New Zealand, and having become imbued with the necessities of civilisation are doing all they possibly can to accustom the natives to European kinds of living. Tho latter recently formed a volunteer rifle club and at his own expense has erected a large hall in which meetings of various kinds are held.' , TAHITI. ' And what of Tahiti ?' 'At Tahiti, the centre of jurisdiction for French Oceania, I found the Acting-Gover-nor, M. Gallet, with whom I had two interviews, a man of advanced views, and ' very desirous of forwarding the interests of the colony, irrespective of nationality. His Government have evidenced their desire to foster industries by the admission, free of duty, of machinery for the utilization of nature's products. The trade of the group is largo, amounting to about £200,000 a year. Of this only 10 per cent, is credited to New Zealand, America 'getting (55 per cent. We have now assimilated the rates from New Zealand to those from San Francisco and it is calculated this will have the effect of diverting a large proportion of the trade to New Zealand. It is also expected that a large quantity of copra, shell, and other products hitherto shipped direct to Europe by sailing vessels, will, in future be transhipped via Auckland.' ' What produce does the Society Group get from America which could be obtained from .New Zealand ?" 'Provisions and kerosene would be the principal items to go from New Zealand. Our flour and biscuit is not appreciated. | It is said they cannot stand the moist climate and the very low prices ruling at present in San Francisco further preclude prospects of trade in these articles to any extent. But in meat, provisions, and that sort of thing there would be a good trade. The sugar industry in Tahiti, I may lay, is one likely to prove of considerable importance. At present the plantation of Mr. J. L. Young is producing about 50 to 60 tons of cane per acre, equal to three to four tons of yellow sugar per acre. This production is sufficient for the Group, and consequently there is no incentive to further extension. I The Government, I may add, offer every facility for the acquisition of land; and, as there is a large area undoubtedly adapted for sugar, it is believed there in an opening for some enterprising company. The Atimano plantation of 10,000 acres, which was originally celebrated for its coffee and cotton, is now in the market, and about 2000 acres of this is suitable for sugar.' ' You spoke of pearl-shell just now. What trade is there in that 1' 'In the Tuamotu Group about 700 tons is the estimated quantity to be raised this year. Last year the beds were closed to a certain extent, only 260 tons being raised. As at present the value of this shell in Tahiti is about £100 per ton, you will see this is a pretty valuable export.' AUCKLAND SUE NATURAL PORT. 'Taking the position of Auckland, do you think it is the natural port for the groups you visited ?' ' Well, Auckland is only 2200 miles from Tahiti as against 3800 from San Francisco, and the passage to Auckland can bo made in 11 days as against 16 to the American port, no thore is no reason whatever why this should not be the port. At present the mails are conveyed between San Francisco and Tahiti by three Araorican | schooners, of about 350 lons, which leave San Francisco on the Ist of every month, making the downward passage in about 30 and the upward passage in about 40 days. These schooners, which are subsidised by the French Government, generally carry full cargoes each way.' 1 Could the French mails be delivered quicker?' 'With a branch service from Tahiti to Apia, connecting with our present. San Francisco service, mails could be delivered in Paris in about 32 days, instead of 42 as at present.' ' As to the route from an excursionist's | point of view ?' 'It is a most attractive route, the scenery in all the islands visited being of an unusually interesting character. It is intended to run an excursion in August, when the principal islands in the two groups will be visited. Four days will be allowed in Tahiti to allow sufficient time to make a oircuib of the island, and two days j will be spent in Rarotonga. In the latter ; place there is quite a rage for buggies, there being not less than 150 in use by the natives. Bicycles, too, are largely used i both here and in Tahiti; and the roads I being almost perfect, a bicyclist has a fine I time.' In conclusion, Mr. Henderson said his opinion was strongly that there was a good opening for more trade, and as in the Samoan and 'l'ongan Group the increaso of facilities had been followed by the augmentation of shipment®, so it would be the case now that the Eastern Pacific service was an accomplished fact.