COOK ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11314, 8 March 1900, Page 3

COOK ISLANDS.

[from our own correspondent.] Rarotonoa, February 26., CHURCH TROUBLES. ~ In* my last letter (January) I informed yon that there was considerable trouble over the change of Sunday here. The earlier missionaries of the London Missionary Society introduced the wrong day to be observed aa Sunday, not i" (icing that coming from &'yoney they had crossed the 180 th degree of longitude, where the 'day changes. Consequently, up to this last Christmas Saturday has always been kept as Sunday in the Cook Islands. In the earlier days, Taliiti and Samoa were in the same predicament,, but have for many years changed to the cor-' rect day. We in the Cook Islands are the last to make the necessary change. A large portion of the native community being ignorant, and by nature superstitious, cannot understand wily the change should be made, and resent accordingly. The fault, of course; • lies with the London Missionary Society in not introducing the proper Sunday when they first came to these islands, and what made it look worse for them in the native eye, was the fact that when the Roman Catholio Mission became established the correct Sunday was observed by them. At that time the natives approached the London Missionary Society's missionary for light as to the correct day to be kept as Sunday,; and were informed that the Catholics were wrong. Now, unfortunately for the London Missionary Society, they have to eat their own words. Then, again, the Seventh i Day Adventist Mission, who keep Saturday as the Sabbath, openly preach to these natives that theyiave all along kept the correct day, and will continue doing so. The consequence has been much disturbance. Tor upwards of a month the London Missionary Society Church was deserted, and private meetings were held 011 the old Sunday (now Saturday). The local native pastor of the London Missionary Society being a rebel to his party was dismissed from his office, all the deacons of the Avarua London Missionary Society Church are rebels, and still absent themselves. The Government and ruling arikis are, however, gradually enlightening the people, and many have returned to their allegiance. It appears very probable that the contributions to the London Missionary Society this year will be much curtailed. S HIGH COURT. . ! On the 17th, at the Court's weekly sitting, judgment was given in the case of Cook Islands Government v. Donald and Edenborough. This was a case to recover certain Government moneys said to have been illegally kept back by Donald and Edenborough, when they handed over to the Government Treasurer the balance of money they held when acting as Government bankers. Judgment was given against Donald and Edenborough for the sum of £20 3s, to be paid forthwith. The judge (Colonel Gudgeon), in his remarks, said that he. considered so far. the Government had now vindicated its position as regards the past administration, and hoped this would be the last case brought before the Court of this nature. On the 24th inst-., Pastor J. D. Rice, of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, was sentenced to pay the full line of £10 for attempting to evade the Traders' License Act, in selling bicycles without obtaining a traders' license, this being his second offence. Several other minor cases were adjudicated on. SHIPPING. The s.s. Ovalau arrived from Auckland on the 19th inst., and left the same day for Tahiti. The Ovalau is due from Tahiti today, and leaves for Auckland to-night. The auxiliary "schooner Vaite (Auckland-built), arrived from Tahiti last Sunday, and left again for the group on the 22nd, in charge of Captain Thomas Harries, late of the Torea. I understand that after a trip for overhaul to Auckland, the Vaite returns to trade locally in this group. The schooner Teupokoenua is trading in the group/ and the local schooners Ma\ingaroa and Ngamavuariki, were both at Tahiti, according to latest advices. ' . THE FRUIT TRADE. The orange crop is coming on fast; the first shipments of the season go forward today. I mentioned in my last that bananagrowing is being pushed rapidly forward, although the last shipment of .8000 bunches per Ovalau proved • disastrous to shippers. The fruit was in the first place cut too soon, and then again very bad weather was encountered at shipping. Rain was falling, and heavy seas funning, and as the steamer lies outside the harbour in an open roadstead lighters are used, and with so much handling the fruit was badly knocked about. There might be improvement in the manner in which the Union Steamship Company handle the fruit. " ' Directly the steamer arrives all is rlish and trouble to get her away again. The inward cargo from Auckland is hardly any better, just thrown from steamer to boat, and boat to wharf, in a great hurry and bustle, with the consequence of broken packages galore. There is no excuse for the hurried way in which fruit is hustled 011 board, inasmuch as the steamer always has three or four days' grace in Auckland, before her return trip. LIMEJUICE. The season for limejuice is now coming on. There are prospects of a large crop of limes. Mr. Salmon, of Arorangi, has two machines, or presses, and thus makes excellent juice, much superior to the rude foot-pressed stuff. I hear that other limejuice presses are on the way. Makea Ariki of Avarua also uses an excellent press. - . . . . ..