Pacific Islands Trade.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XVIII, Issue 1717, 7 August 1885, Page 3

Pacific Islands Trade.

REPORT OF THE JANET NICOL HELKGATEE. Aucklasp, AVediiGaday. The Janet Nieol delegates returned to-day from the Islands wiih the delegates sent by the Chambers of Commerce on the first trip of the steamer to Tonga, Samoa, the Society and Cook Croups, with mails under charter with the New Zealand Government. The delegates are quite satisfied that a great lield for commercial enterprise exists iu these islands, and that the surface has scarcely been skimmed by the existing trade, and that New Zealand, it it is not to be entirely outrun iu the race, must establish commercial relations on a systematic basis before the opening of the Panama Canal. In Tonga the English inlluence is steadily supplanting German, and the Government of the country, which has hitherto looked to New South Wales as its commercial entrepot, seeks to enter into emser communication with New Zealand. In Samoa, German pressure is more and more driving the natives to seek shelter under the protection of England. The Genian trader, though still superior to that of other nationalities, is yet slowly declining, and there is eveiy indication that the Deucher IlaudeMuns is on the verge of collapse. In Tahiti and French Polynesia generally there is every desire to siiengthen commercial relatione with New Zealand, and in the Cook Group out colony already has absorbed the principal pan of the trade, 'the indications in favor at binding the whole of me Islands visited wit'u New Zealand, by means of a trading company with an adequate capital, are evident on every tide, and it is of vital importance to oov colony that such a company should be fmly established before the opening of the l inutm Canal. As one strong Auckland company has absorbed almost the whole of toe-.rare ol the Cook Group, so also the c.-tabiiidiuiuut of a strong New Zealand company, with sullicieiit capital, would absorb the eutue trade of the Islands visited, driving out ad competition and establishing New Zealand on the line of the Panama route. When the 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 gratitude by both Europeans and Natives.