COOK ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11365, 7 May 1900, Page 6

COOK ISLANDS.

[from 01m own COIUIESPONDENT.] Rakotonoa, April 24. THE FRUIT TRADE.

Considerable shipments of oranges and bananas go forward by this steamer to your port, principally, I hear, shipped by nativo producers for sale and returns. Heretofore it has been the custom to sell fruit hero to local European buyers, and shipped by them to their Auckland agents. At R-arotonga last week, public meetings were held by native growers and others interested, and it was resolved by a majority that oranges should not be sold locally under a certain price; this limit the purchasers declare to be too high, and only means buying at a loss; the consequence has been native companies galore, shipping on their own account. In this action, the truth will doubtless come out, and the growers will discover for themselves the just value of their productions. As far as copra is concerned, there is every prospect of there being a good season, but unfortunately the prices of this product appear to be ruling lowin European markets, and possibly the natives may take the same line as they are at present doing with their fruit, and Ship on their own account.

HIGH COURT. This Court lias held its usual weekly sittings, and there is nothing of interest to report on the transactions. Re the case of Makea Daniela, late paymaster to the Federal Government, who was sentenced at the end of last year to 12 months' imprisonment for embezzlement, this prisoner has served four months of his time in the Rarotonga Hospital; but the authorities decided thai he was to complete his term at the penal island of Mannae. Makea Daniela left for Mannae by the schooner Maungaroa, on April 7. Previous to the prisoner's departure for Mannae his wife appealed to the British Resident to release her husband. The reply from the Resident was published verbatim in the local newspaper, loi Karanga, of April 14. The following is an extract from the Resident's letter:—"l would have supported your petition were it not for the impertinent and uncalled-for interference of the late Resident, who has intimated to your husband that he has laid his case before the Governor of Fiji. What Mr. Moss' aim may be in trying to delude your husband, Ido not know. I cannot recommend the Government to show mercy or generosity to that man where the motives would be beyond all doubt misinterpreted, and the Maoris maliciously led to believe that your husband had been released out of fear of Mr. Moss and his friends in Fiji. Ho might have been released on ticket of leave if Mr. Moss would only have abstained from interfering. As it is, the sentence must be carried out. I cannot interfere."

THE PAGUE. There has been a deal of excitement in the community on hearing that the plague is increasing in the colonies. A meeting of the arikis was held on April 11, which was attended by tho British Resident and tho health officer. It was pointed out that, there were peculiar difficulties in preventing tho disease. The following resolution was passed, " That power bo given to Lieu-tenant-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident, and Dr. W. B. Craig, health officer, to have all done that they deem necessary to prevent the introduction of bubonic plague into these islands, even to the extent of closing the port." SHIPPING.

The schooner Maungaroa, Captain T. B. Nagle, lias just returned from a trading cruise through the Cook Group, and leaves again in a few days for Nine Island. Thence the schooner will probably go on to Auckland for an overhaul. The wrecked schooner Teupokoenua, has ken hauled up by the natives of Aitutaki, and there, is every probability of her being repaired and in commission again shortly. The schoner Ng-v maru-ariki is expected shortly from Tahiti.