NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13544, 17 March 1906, Page 8

NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

QTboh Ode Own Cormspootent.)

RAROTONGA, March 5. Owing to meeting with a strong wind when Hearing the island, the Taviuni arrived rather late on the morning of the 26th ult., instead of, as usual, about daylight, or earlier. There was on board a passenger for here—Dr Pomarc, the New Zealand health officer for the Maori districts, who lias come down to eo round these islands on a tour of inspection. He is staying at the Wharo Manuliiri till the arrival of the Countess of Ranfurly, by which vessel lie will visit the i6]ands. The '' Countess" arrived from New Zealand, via Nine and Falmersfon, on the 16th ult., after a rather long passage, having met with bad weather all the way from Niuc. After discharging, she left on the 22nd for the group, and on her return proceeds to I'aJmerston, Manahiki. and Rokahanga, thence to Maiden with labour. Penrhyn will be called at on the way back.

On the 7th ult. one of the chief Arikis of this place. Pa-ariki, died rather suddenly after a short illness. He was associated with Colonel Gudgeon as a judgo of the High and Land Titles Courts, and was. of material assmanco. to him, and will be greatly missed in that, as well as in other capacities.. The funeral took place on the 9th ult., and the. Government offices and the busineiw place.? closed i's a mark of respect for the lata Pa, who was a man well Hked by all. lie was one of the two arikis that wont up to New Zealand with Colonel Gudgeon at the time of the Duke of York's visit. The new Pa-ariki.'a woman iris time, was installed with much ceremony on the 21st February in the presence of a large number of people, including the. greater part of the white population. It was rather a. curious affair. After the service in the church she was placed upon Ih? ancient Arikis' Seat, or throne, Colonel Gudgeon being provided with a chair at her side. Then Moa.tc, the hereditary High Priest, or principal Tohunga, addressed himself to-'i.e Pa-ariki after the old ceremonial fashion, pointing out to her, will a. Rood deal of dramatic force, the nature of the duties that would be hers as the Ariki of Takitumu. He said, inter alia, Pa-ariki, listen carefully to what I am about to say to you. Thus must vou do, according to the traditions of your ancestors, which it is my dutv as the hereditary High Priest of Takitumu, to make known fo you. You arc not to make your habitation in the mountains, for yon are not an ariki of birds. You are not to go to the ocean, for vou nro not an ariki of fishes. Neither must vou go down under the earth, for you are not an ariki of worms. Your place is here in Ngatangiia. where you will dwell and look'after the welfare of your children, the people of Tikilurmi. Colonel Gudgeon then shook bands with J a-ariki and offered his congratulations on nor attaining to such a high dignity, and promised his advice and assistance at all limes on anv matters she might wish to submit, to him. 'She was (hen invested with the Pare Kura, which was probably originally a sort of crown (the name Pare Kura signifying red hat, or head-dress), but. was here represented by a piece of " tappa cloth, which was thrown over her shoulders: after which she was placed in a sort of litter borne by about 50 men, and was carried in turn to each of the four cardinal points of the compass, evidently symbolising the uoundaries of her dominion. At the same time an ancient " karakia," or chant, was sung, at certain places the litter being suddenly hoisted up at arm's length, and at. others lowered almost to the ground. The ceremony, which occupied from 11 in the morning till about 4 p.m., concluded with a big feast and distribution of food, as is the custom on all great occasions. This includes the sending round of huge pieces of beef or pork, together with kits of taro and other vegetables to all the principal peoplo and the whites. By this mail wo hear I hat the New Zealand Government has tinder consideration the establishing of conveniences for fumigating and grading the fruit, produce here, on the island, with an inspector to see that it is properly carried out. This would probably prevent bad fruit from being shipped from this place, and would also enable the fruit to be handled by the consignees in Now Zealand immediately on the arrival of tho steamer, without the usual delay and consequent deterioration of fruit through having to be inspected and. if necessary, fumigated on arrival in Auckland. When there is a large cargo this delay is serious. To be of any benefit to us, "the man. appointed as inspector would require to bo a capable man. whose credentials as an exnert in fruit would be such that his certificate with a shipment of fruit would be unhesitatingly accepted by the authorities in New Zealand. The matter has been laid before the local Fruit Committee by the Resident Commissioner, and a special meeting will be held to consider and report on the proposal. Per Taviuni from Tahiti comes news of a disastrous hurricane at that place, by which great loss of life and very great damage to property was caused, The storm and a sort of tidal wave took place on February sto February 7—just a day or two after the Taviuni's last departure from thero for New Zealand. The loss of life is 125 of all ages, and it is feared that several schooner?, arc also lost. Special anxiety is felt for Captain George Dexter, in the Tahitienne, 3S it is feared that ho is very unlikely to have escaped. Anxiety is also felt for the local schooner Vaitc, which is now .overdue about four weeks from northern islands. The whole of the business front, of Tahiti is completely wrecked, and damage to the extent of thousands of pounds caused. Tho island of Anaa was practically made a clean sweep o f . and 95 persons, mostly natives, lost their lives there alone. It is not yot known to what extent the outside islands are affected, but it is hoped that this group has escaped, for we are just recovering from the hurricano of January last year.

When leaving Tahiti this time the Taviuni, while in charge of a pilot, went on tho reef at the entrance to the harbour, and was only, got off after three hours. Thero appears to have been very slight damage done to her, and she continued her voyage to Now Zealand. . The pilot is supposed to have been under the influence of liquor.