COOK ISLANDS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1308, 23 April 1918, Page 4

COOK ISLANDS.

NO LONGER ISOLATED. WIRELESS COMMUNICATION. Earotonga is now able to receive wireless messages from New Zealand. The work of erecting a permanent station lias been in progress for months, but it will 1)0 four or five months before it is completed. Meanwhile a temporary receiving station has been erected. The first message tapped was an Awanui radio reporting the cheering news that the German advance Mas slowing down everywhere. The Cook Islands Administrator reports to the Hon. Dr Fomare, Minister in charge of the islands, that. large gangs of labourers are employed completing the station, and the community wish to express their gratitude to the Minister for his successful efforts over a long period to secure the boon of outside communication. The wireless now available will enable fruit shippers to provide cargoes for New Zealand in better condition than when the movements of steamers were uncertain. Dr Pomare sent the first message from New Zealand by wireless to Rarotonga on Saturday last, as follows: —"To the Resident Commissioner, —I congratulate you and tho people of Rarotonga upon being linked up with the Empire and the world by wireless. Kia ora na koutou. (Prosperity to you all.)"