NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13786, 27 December 1906, Page 10

NOTES FROM RAROTONGA.

(Fxoh Oua Own Cohresfokdbht.) RAROTONGA, December 8. The Miinapouri experienced such rough weather at: the island of Mauke last trip that she was unable to ship all the cargo ihere. and left it for ilio Vaite to bring on to Rarotonga if possible, a. couple of days later, to catch her there, she meanwhile proceeding on her wa.v to Mangaia. The Vaitc- arrived with it on the Friday morning just ill lime to catch the sicainer, and immediately transhipped the fruit, tho steamer leaving about 11 a.m. for New Zealand. There is great depression in fruit, circles just now as the last returns received were fearfully bad, and this was the month that in former years has invariably brought good ones. There are some particularly heavy losses this time through a. large quantity of bananas being bought at a.high price in anticipation of a good market. This fruit question is really becoming a serious matter, for returns aro steadily getting worse and worse each season, and if something is not done to assist; tho growers tho industry will bo killed, to the very great detriment, of this group, fur but of an export of about £28,000 from the Cook Islands in 1905, fruit accounted for £17,700. A largely-signed petition goes up this time, asking the Government to give some assistance in the way of a duty on foreign fruit, or by a bonus to shippers here, as was promised last year bv ihe Minister then in charge of the administration of this group, it is to be hoped it will meet with more consideration than oilier petitions which have gone up from here.

So many people are going up from here lately I lml; the placo will be almost deserted this Christinas, and things will bo very quiet. The Rarotongan dancers at Christehnrch have not had a very happy time at the Exhibition, as they have found it so dreadfully cold, and have also been unfortunate enough to have influenza, so they lia-ve decided to come home immediately, and will arrive by next steamer, early in January, It is rather a pity they went up so soon; they should liavo waited till now, when it would have been wanner for them there.

A gross case of tohungaisin lias just resulted in Iho death of a man of high rank here. This man, who has been employed by the Union Steam Ship Company for some years past, was riding a bicycle one night about, a month ago, and collided with a cart, receiving bad but, not, dangerous injury from the shaft. The doctor attended Shim, and gave instructions for his treatment, but had 110 sooner left (he scene than the natives got in one of their own mtdicine-men, who proceeded to perform a totally unnecessary operation on the patient, with the result that, in .spite of a more than ujually robust constitution and of all that Dr Gatley could do. blood poisoning set in, and death resulted about a week ago. ]i; is a- strange thing thai, with a fully qualified medical man provided for them, together wilh all necessary medicines absolutely free, the natives still cling to liicir own barbarous customs, and cheerfully allow themselves to be killed by their own so-called ''doctors." It is more evident every day that, the veneer of civilisation ;-.nd Christianity is nothing more than skin-deep with the whole race. After an exceptionally long spell of dry weather we have had some welcome rain at last.

The Land Court has had a. busy lime lately hearing much-disputed cases,'but is now adjourned till March, as Colonel tiudgeon goes np to New Zealand this boat, returning in February.

TO THE EniTOH,