COOK ISLANDS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19015, 10 November 1923, Page 10

COOK ISLANDS.

MINISTERIAL VISIT. .From Dun Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, November 9. Sir Maui Pomare, Minister in charge of the Cook Islands, returned to Wellington to-day by the Maunganni. He had not been to the Islands for four years, and noticed that improvements had taken place in various directions. The export trade of Rarotonga—mostly fruit and tomatoes —had now increased to £136,000. The experimental farm at Rarotonga continues to prove a source of special interest to visitors from England and America, who go ashore from the mail steamer when she touches at the island. At this experimental form all sorts of tropical fruits are grown with the view of testing their suitability for cultivation on the Island group. During the past year about £137,000 worth of tomatoes were shipped to New Zeland, supplying our market during the winter. This tomamato is a hybridinised species produced from the native tomato and the ordinary variety. The latter has a very thin skin and will not bear transport well. The Rarotongau tomato possesses a thick skin which enables the fruit to be handled and carried with freedom from hruiso or injury. ■ There arc now 800 native children attending school. Sir Maui Pomare also visited Aitutaki. The natives generally wore contented and happy.