The Pacific Trade.

Southland Times, Issue 8079, 6 August 1885, Page 2

The Pacific Trade.

[3y Telegraph.]

Auckland, August 5

Tho following is an abstract of the report of tho Janet Nicoll's voyage by the Press Associition's special correspondent: —

The Janet Nicoll returned to-day from the Islands, with tho delegates sent by the Chamber o£ Coramerco to the Tonga, Samoan,- Society, and Cook Groupp, and with the mails under charter with the New Zealand Government. The delegates are satisfied that a great field for comuioro\n\ enterprise exists in the Islands ; that tho surface has scarcely been skimmed by the existing Irade, and lint Now Zealand, if it is not to bo entirely out-run in the pace, must establish commercial relations on a systematic basis bofoio the opening of the Panama Caaal. In Tonga English influence is steadily supplanting tho Ge uoai, and the Government of the f-ountry, which has hitherto looked to New Soutl. Wales as its commercial entrejwf, seeks to enter into closer communication with New Zealand. In Samoa German pressure is more and more driving the natives to seek BheJter unjer the English. The German trade, th^n^h still superior to that of other nationalities, is slowly declining, and th«re is evt-ry indication that the Deutche3 Hmdles Hous^ is on the verge of collapse. In Tahiti and French Polynesia gonerally, there is every desire to strengthen commercial reiatious with New Zealand, and in the Cook Group our colony has already absorbed the principal part of tho trade. Indications in favour of binding the whole of the islands visited with New Zealand by means of a Trading Compiny, with an a lequate captital. are evident on every side, an*l it is of vital hnportaace to our colony that such a company should be fully established bofore the opening of the Panama Canal. As one strong Auckland company has absorbed almost the whole trade of the Cook Group, so also the f stablishment of a strong New Zealand company with sufficient capital would absorb the entire trade of the islands visited, driviog out a'l competition, and establishing New Zealand on the line of the Panima route wheu tho canal is opened. The currency system now in vogue throughout the islands would cause the establishment of any company supported by a bank to be hailed with gratitu-io by bath Europeana and natives.