ISLAND NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14018, 25 March 1909, Page 6

ISLAND NEWS.

TONGA. ' ; [from OUR OWN correspondent.] Nukualofa, March 20' ! i" ] The official opening of a .Fresh*- Food ami Ice " depot here took place on the afternoon of Tuesday, 23rd ult., in the presence of ».' ' large gathering of Europeans. Mr. Hamilton Hunter,' British Consul, proposed " Buocew " ■! to tho Now Venture," and this was responded • to by Mr. Cowley, tho proprietor. The health of Mr. E. Cooke, tho engineer frrjm Sydney, who had erected tho machinery, was also pro-'Ck"' posed. Other toasts followed, and a very pleasant afternoon was spent. ■ ' <,> Letters by last mail from Auckland advise that the ketch Kereru is being fitted•uo'-WM# Mr. W. F. Utting for tho Niue Island <S®l and that she is expected to arrive here from ■ that island about April 19. From here she goes to Vavau, to take any " boys " who may bo desirous of going home, as it is some time sine© there has been any communication'^^ l between hero and Niue, and there are gene rally some horses to bo sent across from Vavau. ■••v'; •- Princess Salote celebrated her ninth birth ' " " day on Saturday last, 13th inst., and there / was a largo native gathering in the Palace' « ! '' grounds, where a feast was held in honour ' of the day. w Last, Wednesday was Coronation Day and V . was observed as a close holiday •bvw'allbwipi! Government offices and most of. the storeaWtli At : noon a royal salute of 21 guns was dssSby the Uongan police, acting as guard of honour, and native dances- and:singine- <•*». ' cupied most of tho day . ° . • Bananas are plentiful again,-: but the poo* results for last shipment, consequent udoa « the glut of local fruit in, Auckland,-will have the effect of keeping down the quantity sent'-^H ■by this boat, . Oranges are beginning to ; como in : : again, but,' as wo ■? have ? received : notice thatthe 1 regulations regarding the import of ; Island fruit to the Dominion an! > to fbo strictly enforced, .itis no use ihii)tjin» 1 Tongan oranges, as they arc sure to he oon.tSl demned on arrival in your city. ; . It is rumoured about the beach that two M of the local fruit shippers intend importing & * oil launches for towing punt* of. banwwjr 111 from the outlying towns to Nukualofafor shipment, and this should y mean that the fruit need . not, be cut so early as at present' when sailing boats have to be used for traits! port, much valuable time being' wasted' ' through light -or contrary winds prevailinn during the week before the steamer. ; There is very little, copra about now, owioa $, to the wet weather, consequently the ! pa* chasing power of . the natives is diminished! and the storekeepers are complaining of the dulness of trade. I .v.:,.■; < SAMOA. . [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT! - ' ■ Apia, March 15. :• ' The cacao crop is the heaviest so far. har- • ■ - vested, and its quality is -very ; high indeed. "Very many : new acres . are. now .coming into bearing, , and before long the output will represent a very heavy sum. In three. years I: it may reach approximately 1000 tons. 'V„. K ; Rubber of various sorts is growing well on the different plantations,, but 'it - will still be three years ' before f Samoa ; will i; reap ' returns from this product. Havea Brasileansir j is the favoured sort, tlough castilloa, : kixcia, and ficus rubbers arc also growing. „ ' « : Tho great volcano oiii North Savaii is stUlSsll 1 active," and streams of lava are' always flow ing into , tho sea from the crater eight milei inland. Still it is apparent that the activity is lessening month by' month. *"V Owing to the prevailing unrest, oDr.f-||fl Schulta cannot go forward .to China this month, _ asf wasproposed. •: It is not i: known ; how this will affect the proposed recruitin* of 600 or 700 new coolies.; * • f I ? • ' ; ' I■< .