COOK ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11716, 26 July 1901, Page 7

COOK ISLANDS.

[FBOII OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.] | 1 Rabotonga, July 16. ; RETURN OP THE BRITISH RESIDENT. Our British" Resident, Lieutenant ; -V Gudgeon, C.M.G., returned from Auckland ;' by the Taviuni last week. He was warmly received by all his friends, both European 'and native, and received congratulations from all for the honours conferred on him. SOii'Wednesday evening last, the 11th inst., a public meeting was called, at which Colonel ; ; .Gudgeon presented to Makea-ariki, of Avarua, Karotonga, and' chief of the Government of the Cook Islands; also to her con--s;?fort Ngamaru-ariki, the ruler of the Islands •Of Atiu, Mauke and Mitiero, sold medals sent by. the Duke, and Duchess of Cornwall and "York, in commemoration of •their. visit to the colonies. Surgeon-Cap-'tain Geo. Craig was also the recipient of a medal, awarded for services rendered in the »<', South African War. There were also pre-. I sent at the ceremony Pa-ariki, of Takitumu, ■ and John-ariki,' of Mangaia, who had al- : ready received their medals in New Zealand. After the ceremony of decorating, an impromptu dance was got up, and a most | «ajoyable evening was spent. v ; RE-OPENING A CHURCH. " ' On the 4th inst. the Arorangi Church of the London Missionary Society -was • re- |: opened with much ceremony. A sum of £600 has been spent in renovating the building, new pews, windows, doors, pulpit, etc. IfA very large concourse of people assembled 'from all parts of our island to witness the ceremony. After the services held in the .".church, general festivities were engaged hi, and kept up for two days. Queen TinoTOana, of Arorangi, was at the head of af- - fairs, and the Rev. J. J. K. Hutchin, assisted by the pastors of the L.M.S., con"ducted the general services. Mr. Hutchin leaves per Taviuni, en route for England, and is to be relieved in his duties here by :, the Rev. W. N. Lawrence, of Aitutaki. PRODUCE. ' - . ".> , Last account sales of oranges are again Very discouraging. Again the Union Com- : pany's steamers from Tonga and Fiji arVr : rived in Auckland at the same time as our island steamer, thus making a glut in the i i; market. The oranges at this island are now pi getting scarce; although there will be'fair Quantities from the neighbouring islands II for a month or two. There will be no more limejiiice this year. The coffee is all /.picked, and several consignments have already been sold. Copra-making will com- >' mence next mouth, a good crop is expected. . ■ ' . SHIPPING. \; The only vessels in the group are the ; vsVaito and Ngamaru-ariki. There has been |po news of the overdue Maungafroa.