7

A.—4,

Mangaia is the south-easternmost of the group, is of volcanic origin, and is about thirty miles in circumference ; population, 2,000. The productions of the island are numerous and cheap; they consist of pigs, turkeys, fowls, ducks, yams, sweet potatoes, pineapples, which the inhabitants obtain, in spite of the poverty of the soil, by assiduous labour and care, but little common to these islanders. Barotonga is a beautiful island; it is a mass of mountains, which are high,- and present a remarkable and romantic appearance. It has several good boat harbours. The productions of this island, which is much more fertile than Mangaia, are exactly the same. The population does not exceed 4,000. Atui resembles Mangaia in appearance and extent. It is a mere bank of coral, 10 or 12 feet high, steep and rugged, except where there are small sandy beaches and some clefts, where the ascent is gradual. Mitiero is a low island, from three to four miles long and one mile wide. Mauhi or Parry Island is also a low island ; it is about two miles in diameter, well woodad, and inhabited. Hervey Islands. —This group consists of three islands, surrounded by a reef, which may be six leagues in circumference. Aitutahi presents a most fruitful appearance, its shores being bordered by flat land, on which are innumerable cocoanut and other trees, the higher ground being beautifully interspersed with lawns. It is eighteen miles in circuit. Population, 2,000. TOBAI OB AtTSTBAL ISLANDS. This is a dispersed group lying between lat. 21° 50' S. and 23° 42' S., and long. 147° 11' and 154 W., to the southward of the Society Islands and Low Archipelago. They have not been much frequented, as they are small, and do not offer mariy inducements for the calls of passing navigators. Keemadbc Islands Are a scattered group of small rocky islets to the north-east of New Zealand, within lat. 29° 15' 30" and 31° 37' 30" S., and long. 177° 54' 52" and 179° 14' W. Society Islands. Tahiti. —The area of Tahiti and its dependencies is 1,175 square kilometers; the area of Paumotu Islands, 6,600 square kilometers. Tahiti is about thirty-two miles long from N.W. to S.E. Tetuaroa is a small low island, or rather group of small low islets, about six miles in length, enclosed in a reef about ten leagues in circuit. Moorea, or Eimeo, is ,ten miles distant from Tahiti. There are several large villages on the southern side of the island. Coffee, cotton, sugar, and all other tropical plants succeed well at Eimeo, and sugar is made to a considerable extent. Tapamanoa. —Length from E. to W. is about six miles. Huaheine is the easternmost of the group, which was called the Society Islands by Cook. It is about twenty miles in circumference. Baiatea, or Ulietea, is situate about 130 miles to the N.W. of Tahiti. It is about forty miles in circumference, of mountainous character, covered with vegetation, and well watered. The soil is exceedingly fertile. Taha, or Otaha, lies to the northward of, and is about half the size of, Eaiatea. Bola-Bola, or Bora-Bora, is four and a half leagues N.W. of Tahua, to which it is inferior in extent. Marua, or Maupiti, is the westernmost of the group. It is a small island of about six miles in circumference. Tubai, or Motu Iti, is the northernmost of the group, and consists merely of some very small low islets, connected by a reef about ten miles N. of Bola-Bola. Population (foreigners from all quarters included) spread over Tahiti and the whole of its numerous dependencies is approximately estimated at 21,000, of whom some 500 or 600 are1 Chinamen, labourers, domestic servants, and artisans, whilst a large number are natives of distant islands in the Pacific, imported as contract labourers. Imports, during the years 1869, 1870, and 1871, valued approximately at from £110,000 to £120,000 per annum. About one-third of this consisted of British or British-colonial products and manufactures, imported for the most part from Australia and New Zealand. Exports. —Value of Tahitian and other island products:— In 1869 ... ... ... ... ... ... £105,000 „ 1870 ... ... ... ... ... ... 96,000 „ 1871 ... ... ... ... ... ... 90,000 Cotton was the principal item of export. The value of it in 1871 amounted to about one-half the total value of exports. The apparent falling-off in 1870 and 1871 was owing to a reduction of the valuation of this chief article of export. The important position of New Zealand in relation to the South Sea Islands is shown by the following passage from the British Consul's report from Tahiti for 1871, from which the above figure? are taken:— " The countries for which^the exports of island produce were destined maybe stated as follows : England (chiefly through New"* Zealand or Australia), France, California, Chili, and lately some to Hamburg. "The foreign merchandise mentioned in the return as re-exported was mainly that portion re-shipped for islands in the Pacific beyond the limits of the French Protectorate over Tahiti."

I.—The Islands generally: Mr. Seefl.