NEW ZEALAND AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 12

NEW ZEALAND AND THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.

The following is the concluding portion of the report on the trade of the federated Cook Islands, furnished to the New Zealand Government by Mr V. J. Moss, British Resident at Rarotonga, and dated December 17, 1891 : —

To maintain her hold of this portion of the Pacific, New Zealand must be careful to ship— of her own produce especially— nothing that is nob sound and of good quality. I cannot lay too much stress on this, as I know that a contrary impression prevails in some quarters, and have witnessed the harm done by sending inferior meats, inferior biscuit and flour, and other articles of food which cannot be used, and yet require considerable time to replace them. The small vessels built in New Zealand arc strong and good, but they are not so saleable ns similar vessels built in California. The latter are broader and more shallow, more slightly built, and of less cargo-carrying capacity. But they arc better ventilated, have better accommodation, and arc said to sail better and to be more easily handled. In the eye of the native these qualities more than compensate for inferiority in other respects. The demand for suitable vessels is growing in all the islands. In hams, bacon, cheese, salted pork and beef, tinned meats and vegetables, biscuit, potatoes, onions, and all agricultural produce and live stock, New Zealand should be able to compote successfully with California. But, I must repeat, only good articles should be shipped, ami, in the preparation of tinned meats more taste might be displayed. The various kinds are now .too often, flavourless and woolly, and the labels indicate differences which to the palate are inappreciable. Intrinsically the meat is very good, but, whether from being over-cooked or from what other cnvtsc, is too often rendered flavourless. The American sausage and other meats, from Chicago especially, arc superior to those from New Zealand in flavouring and get-up, though inferior in the original quality. As another illustration, 1 may refer to a favourite dish from America, labelled Pork and beans," but more properly to be called ' Beans and pork," for the beans very largely predominate. This is retailed (21b tins) at lid sterling per tin in Rarotongii, and no doubt gives a good proiit at that price. , „, , , , „ , The tinned mullet is much liked, but the lowprice lately of American tinned salmon has interfeted with the sale. This salmon has been retailed! at 9d per tin. Flour from New Zealand has not been found, to keep so well as flour from California, which commands the market. Biscuits from New Zealand are generally very good, and have a good reputation, but the variety is small. Woollen goods from New Zealand have an excellent name, but the demand is limited. The shoes used are chiefly canvas. Ihe custom of wearing boots and shoes is growing among the natives. , . , . Cotton prints must, above all things, be of "fast" colours. That is the first condition, and one not to be neglected. Native methods of washing, and exposure to the sun, try them, severely. . „ Silk dresses arc getting into use among the natives. A considerable quantity has been lately sold in Rarotonga. The price is '.5s to 3s 6d per yard. This silk is imported from lahiti. Ostrich feathers (for which as much 'as 2gs are sometimes; paid) and artificial flowers arc a good deal used, and imported chiefly from Tahiti. . Buggies and other vehicles are sometimes marieof very good quality in Rarotonga, but are chiefly imported from California, via Tahiti. . The lumber used is becoming almost exclusively Californian— either redwood or pine Kauri is complained of as shrinking too much, bningles and picket palings of redwood are preferred. Long lengths of timber, it is said, can alt>o be obtained at lower prices from California. For .sugar tbe demand is considerable m all tno islands. Much of the white sugar used in Raratonga comes, via Tahiti, from California. , In soap, New Zealand ought to beat California, from which at present some supplies of fair quality come. ,T, T The importing firms in Rarotonga are .—New Zealand: Donald and Edenborough, Goodwin and De Lisle, and the South Pacific Trading Company. Taihiti : Society Commerciale do I'Oceanie (a Hamburg company with its headquarters at Tahiti), and W. Taylor, ban irancisco : Crawford and Co., and E. Piltz.

KXPOBTS OF THE COOK ISLANDS. Coffee is the staple. With proper cultivation the quantity could be increased eight or tenfold. The quality is excellent, tout the coffee is carelessly picked, not properly borted, and hokl too. new. The chief markets are San 1 rancisco and Melbourne. I am told that it costs only L 2 lbs per ton to send coffee from llarotonga to ban Francisco, via Tahiti, but L 5 10s to send it via Auckland The Melbourne market must be better reached through New Zealand. Oranges and other fruits, limcjuice, arrowroot, Ac, I have already referred to. There ought to be a large market, especially for oranges, in the southern parts of New Zealand. A glance at the map will show that Karotonga must sooner or later be recognised as the nearest tropical country from which a direct supply can be obtained, and with which south New Zealand can be connected. Copra and cotton will also be staples, but are not likely to increase to any great extent. The trade with Rarotonga is not alone to be regarded— the Cook Inlands are but a link in. the chain that should bind to New Zealand the splendid archipelagoes of the eastern Pacific. With all thoi>e of the central Pacific, and to some extent with those in the west, her commerce is already extensive. There is no reason why the trade with the eastern Pacific should not add very greatly to that which she already possesses, and which her position and products fit her so well to maintain.

At the R.M. Court at Hamilton on the 19th, a telograph lineman Cross, charged with cruelty to animals by wounding a horse, was fined Lls, and costs. The magistrate said the cruelty was terrible, and had it not been for the good character of Cross he would have sent him to prison.