PARLIAMENTARY PICNIC.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12270, 14 May 1903, Page 6

PARLIAMENTARY PICNIC.

NOTES ON THE VOYAGE.

SPLENDID TRIP TO RAROTONGA.

A GALE.

' PLANTATIONS DAMAGED.

DISCUSSIONS WITH NATIVE

CHIEFS.

[PRESS ASSOCIATION'.]

Ox Board s.s. Marourika, May 2. The Parliamentary voyagers by the Mapourika were favoured with splendid weather. Occasional head winds raised some choppy seas, which caused some of the excursionists to " seek the seclusion that a cabin grants," but when three days out from Auckland nearly every one had found their sea-legs, and hitherto vacant chairs at the dinner table found occupants. The officers of the ship characterise the trip as having been a phenomenally fine one. On the way down to Rarotonga the time was spent pleasantly enough. A Concert Committee organised concerts for nearly every evening, when songs, readings, recitations, and stories whiled away an hour or two very pleasantly. A card tournament filled up another night. A Recreation Committee arranged for tournaments at deck quoits, bull board, deck bowls, and other board-ship sports. The sighting of a couple of whales, the capture of a seabird, and a few flying fish were events of interest. A good supply of books from the General Assembly Library was placed on board, particularly works appertaining to the South Seas, and members are industriously reading up. Some of them have brought file*, of Parliamentary papers dealing with Island questions, and are study - ing them closely. The general health of the passengers has "been excellent. Early every morning a large class assembles for Sandow exercises, which are followed by cold tub and "hosing down." By Friday night, April 25, notwithstanding pleasant breezes, the heat was beginning to make itself felt, and light clothing has been taken to.

RAROTONGA SIGHTED. On Saturday, at about ten minutes to twelve a.m., Rarotonga was sighted, th_high blue hills being grateful to the sight of those who had grown tired of gazing upon the wide expanse of ocean. Shortly after the Mapourika had dropped anchor she was boarded by Colonel Gudgeon and the health officer. The party then went ashore, and after spending a few minutes in the Govern ment offices proceeded to Queen Makea's residence, where the Hon. C. H. Mills (Minister for Customs) presented her with a memorial wreath, sent down by the Premier, as a token of regard for the late King Ngamaru. The Minister for Customs has been spending a lot of time with the British Resident (Colonel Gudgeon), Queen Makea, and the leading arikis. HEAVY GALE.

On Sunday night (April 26) a very heavy gale blew, the heaviest known- for nine years. Fortunately the wind was off the land, and the Mapourika was under the lee of the island, but at about three a.m. on Monday Captain Crawshaw, fearing a change of wind, ran out to sea for a few miles, coming back to the anchorage after a few hours. The gale did a deal of damage in the plantations. Cocoanuts are strewn all over the. island, banana trees are snapped in two, and all kinds of trees are blown down. By midnight the gale had blown out, and Tuesday morning was fine. Colonel Gudgeon joined the party, and will go to many of the islands, introducing the Minister to the arikis. NATIVE DANCES. During the stay at Rarotonga the natives gave many dances, for which they had been making elaborate preparations for months past. INTERESTING DISCUSSION. Shortly before leaving Rarotonga the Hon. C. H. Mills held a meeting at Queen Makea's, there being several arikis and most of the members 01 Parliament present. A very interesting discussion took place, and the leading ariki present was questioned closely concerning land administration,' education, the liquor trade A and other matters. OTHER ISLANDS VISITED. The Mapourika left about nine p.m. on April 28, and early next morning reached Mangaia, the whole party going ashore, a hearty welcome being extended by the natives. Mi. Mills met the leading chief and presented him with a New Zealand flag. The natives were most hospitable, and made many presents of fruit, and some special presents to the Minister.

Mauke was reached the following moming, and the party were landed in canoes. The natives were exceedingly pleased at i the arrival of so man> Parliamentarians, uid the arikis had a long interview with :he Minister, who presented them with a !sew Zealand flag. *

Leaving Mauke in. the afternoon, the next place called at was Atiu. It was getting dusk when the steamer arrived, and as the natives live some three Ox four miles inland, there were very few to receive the Minister, who, with a- few of the party, went ashore. A flag was presented, and a short speech made by the Minister. The landing here was fraught with difficulty. The natives had no canoes launched, their paddles being all inland at their huts, and the ship's heavy boat was almost unmanageable in the surf. The general opinion formed by the visitors is that these islands are capable of immense development, but it will have to be by European settlers taking up small plantations of, say, 50 acres, and cultivating properly, not by the neglectful methods of the natives.'

On Friday morning (April 31) Aitutaki was reached. Here the party spent nearly the whole day. The Minister had! Hie usual interview with the arikis, and presented them with a New Zealand flag. Colonel Gudgeon and Pa Ariki, from Rarotonga, left the Mapourika, and go back to Earotonga.

In the evening the ship's course was directed for Tahiti, which should be reached on Sunday morning. From thence the party proceeds to Penrhyn, then to Tutuila, Upolu, Nine, Tonga, Suva and Levuka and the Kermadccs.

SOME INTERESTING IMPRESSIONS.

THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE. DISSATISFACTION WITH ARRANGEMENTS. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.! At Rarotonga there appeared to be no programme drawn up for the movements of the party on shore, so that only a lew had an opportunity of knowing what was going on. Some members visited the mission house, and were kindly entertained by the Rev. Mr. Lawrance and his wife. The following day the missionary and his wife gave a garden party. It appears, too, that a very important meeting of arikis was held, but members were not told that the meeting was to fie held. Journeys were made round the island by almost every member ot the party, and much useful information must have been gathered. It is undoubted that much of the land is very rich. Roughly speaking there is a strip of about half-a-mile wide right round the island (20 miles) ui good land, say, 5000 acres. To develop the place there should be established experimental nurseries at Rarotonga, where the whole question of variety and adaptation should be studied, and the best modes adopted for successful cultivation and production. It appears clear the present condition means commercial retrogression or stagnation, bub that by energetic, capable processes the potentialities of the place are considerable. There are many social problems which our Government will require to deal with in the near future—of which education is not the least. The question of land tenure also will require very careful cossiderafcioa. It

requires no 'prophet,to foretell that here we are in the presence of a decaying people—a fine, noble, manly race is passing away. It is paying a. fearful penalty for its contact with , what" is called European civilisation. These children of the sun ere many years are overa century or so— may all be gone. The missionary (the Rev. Mr. Lawrance) told us that the records of his predecessors show that Rarotonga sustained a population of over 7000 people, and that now about 1500 is not far from the present population. As to the work of the missionaries, without forgetting all that may be said by those prejudiced against them, one wonders what would have been the state of the inhabitants of these lovely lands after contact, with wlv're men but for the restraining influences and the work for good performed by these Christian teachers. VIEWS OF THE NATIVES. Mr. Mills and party visited the Royal Palace to bid farewell to the Queen. There were also present Colonel Gudgeon and Ariki Pah. Mr. Mills expressed the thanks of the party for all the kindness they had received, and said it would be his and their endeavour to promote the best interests of Rarotonga. Ariki Pah, on behalf of the Queen, made a very dignified and graceful acknowledgment. Mr. Rigby asked whether the people of Raro-tonga-were in favour of c free and secular system of education being established. Ariki Pah replied that they were, and that they were sure the missionaries could look after the religious instruction of the young. The question of the propriety of grant-in a license for a hotel was. bra'ught up by Mr. Mills; the reply to which was that if such a was established the Government should take control. The ariki did not commit himseli regarding whether a place should be opened. He feared that if a hotel were opened that drink would be sold to the natives. Mr. T. Mackenzie wished to know -whether the arikis favoured leasing their lands, and if they would favour legislation to prohibit the sale of any land by the natives. The ariki replied that they favoured leasing, but strongly objected to selling, and would support prohibitive legislation in that direction. Asked further by Mr. Mackenzie as to the propriety of handing over their lands to Europeans for cultivation and occupation, and its probable effects on the natives, the ariki said that the only lands they purposed leasing were those now reserved by the natives, and they did not intend leasing any lands now cultivated by the natives. Sir W. Steward wished to know the powers now possessed and exercised by arikis. This was very fully and satisfactorily replied to, the ariki stating the law as it stood, and. also that affecting strangers who took up lands.

UNSATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS.

It is to be hoped that the want of arrangements so apparent at Rarotonga will be avoided at other places. If the trip is to be of benefit, then members will require to be afforded better opportunities for hearing from authentic sources what is being now conveyed to the private ear of the Minister. If the expedition has been promoted for giving members a knowledge of the newly-annexed places, then these islands should first be visited, and the members who are not out on -a. picnicking expedition can then get back again to other affairs. After the boat sailed from Auckland a copy of the itinerary was shown to members, which, without a word's consultation with members, increased the trip from six weeks from Wellington to seven weeks ba-ck to Auckland. This, to begin with, was a distinct breach of arrangements. Many members could ill spare the six weeks, and had arranged to be away for six weeks only, and although the duration of the trip had been extended, it was soon seen that many of the most important annexed islands were not included in the list at all, whilst places of no interest to New Zealand were included. Many members are seriously disconcerted by this proceeding, and I am given to understand that representations have been made to the Minister to cut out places with which New Zealand has little or no concern, and add nearer places with which she has, and thus at once curtail the length of the trip and study our own concerns better. The Minister says the trip was planned before he left Wellington. If that be so, then members should have been so notified before the boat left, when some undoubtedly would have remained behind. On Saturday two important meetings were held at 'Rarotonga, one between the Minister and the leading arikis and the other representatives from the traders of the place regarding Customs duties, etc., but not one member knew anything about the matter until all was over. Yet these very questions may come before them in Parliament. A PRESENTATION. While at Rarotonga the Hon. Mr. Mills, on behalf of the Premier, presented to the Queen of Rarotonga two large beautifullyframed portraits of King Edward VII., and Queen Alexandra, together with the New Zealand flag. The presents were gratefully accepted, and subsequently the flag was hoisted amidst hearty cheers.