Cook Islands.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXII, Issue XXI, 21 May 1904, Page 53

Cook Islands.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) RAROTONGA, 3rd May. The Government schooner Countess ot Ranfvrly arrived here from Malden Island, Penrhyn, and Niue, on the 15th April. and left again on the 17th April for Maukc, Mitiaro, Atiu, & Manuae, and after visiting those islands, arrived at Rarotonga on the 27th April. The schooner finally left Rarotonga for Niue and Auckland, via 'Atiu and Aitutaki, on the 29th April. She carries as cargo from the group for Auckland, a small amount of limejuice and copra, in all, about 35 tong, and should be due at Auckland about the 25th Inst. The vessel wil then return to Rarotonga, via Niue aud Samoa, proceeding to the latter place under special charter, to bring back some 20 or 30 natives of Rarotonga, who have been on a visit to Samoa. On arrival of the schooner at. Auckland, it is probably that Captain Worsley, H.N.R., Will resign bls position as captain of the vessel. It is stated on good authority that the cost to the Cook Islands Administration of running the schooner for the year ending 31st March has been about £lOOO. This Includes the cost of insurance, over £3OO per annum.

Lieut. Col. Gudgeon, accompanied by Mr H. M. Cunnal, surveyor, aud Mr Ravage, Interpreter, visited the inlands of Mauke, Atiu, and Mitiaro In the Countess of Ranfurly. Sittings of the Land Court and of the High Court were held at each Island.

The London Missionary Society’s steamer John Williams arrived from Sydney on Ist iust., after a pleasant voyage. The steamer left to visit the islands of the Cook Group on the 2nd Inst., and will return to Rarotonga in nbout eight days, after which she will proceed to Penrhyn and the Northern Islands, taking with her, In addition to the members of the mission, the Resident Commissioner, Lt. Col. Gudgeon, who will thus pay his annual visit to the Northern Islands. The John Williams is due back in Rarotonga about the 2nd June, after which she will leave for Niue and Samoa. After calling at all the Samoan stations and out stations, she will sail for Sydney, reaching that port about 14th August. Miss Hogg, a lady doctor practising in Sydney, is a passenger by the steamer. The vital statistics of the island of Mangala for 1903, as compiled by the Rev. Bond James, of the London Missionary Society, are as follow:—Births, 54; deaths, 52; marriages, 5; population —males, 740; females, 761; total, lf>o7. Much dissatisfaction is being expressed at the manner in which the main road, round the island is being repaired; in some parts it is impossible to drive a loaded waggon, owing to the wheels sinking into the sand piled on the road inches thick. Under the present system, the work of repairing is done by natives, without any proper supervision, their work being taken as an equivalent to a tax. A reform in the direction of European supervision, paid labour, and a small road tax. payable by each native, as in former times, Is much needed.