Cook Islands Notes

———♦——— Improving Passages in Lower Group

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Dec. 29.

SCHOONER communication with the Lower Group Islands has now ceased until after the hurricane season, and the Tiare Taporo has already left for the Northern Group, while the Tagua is also sailing North.

The Government agents at both Atiu and Mauke have retired, and no agents are at present at these islands until new appointees arrive after the hurricane season.

The work of widening and deepening the passages in the reefs at the A Fish Drive in a lagoon in the Cook Islands.

Lower Group Islands has been under taken by the Administration, and a month on this work has been put in at Mauke by Captain Willcocks. He has now been transferred to Mangaia to undertake similar work there during the hurricane season.

Retaining Wall At Avarua.

A retaining wall is under course of construction on the water front at Avarua. When completed there is no doubt this will be of great benefit in preventing the encroachment of the seas. During the hurricane of 1926 quite a large piece of the foreshore was washed away here, and further pieces have been steadily disappearing every time it is subjected to heavy seas.

The Girl Guides have been busy raising funds so that they could report a credit balance at the annual meeting, and, to this end, two dances have been held —both proved successful and the monetary gain was sufficient for present purposes.

A sensational burglary took place last month, when the premises of Cook Islands Trading Company were broken into and cash totalling £79 was stolen.

The culprit was caught, tried before judge and jury, and sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.

Bowls Now Popular

The hot weather is now upon us and bowls are the order of the day, the green being well patronised every afternoon. A recent singles competition for a trophy was won by Mr. A.

Barron.

Tennis is a “wash-out” on account of the heat, and swimming has come into its own—many (both Europeans and natives) being seen disporting themselves in the briny in the cool of the evening. The wharf at Avarua appears to be the most favoured spot.

The Cricket Shield competition between native clubs has commenced and very keen interest is being displayed by non-players in the prowess of their district teams.

Fish Drives In The Group.

A fish drive on a rather large scale was attempted during the month of November, but the arrangements fell through and several small drives were held. They were not such a huge success, but all the natives present appeared to be satisfied with their “bags.”

The poison used was the “Utu.” The nut of the Utu tree is ground up and “kikau” (palm leaf) kits, filled with it, are towed through the stretch of lagoon desired to be impregnated. This poison acts as a narcotic on the fish, making them sluggish in their movements, and thus more easily speared by the wily native. Also, once the fish get a proper whiff of the narcotic, they come forth from their hiding places under the rocks in a desire to reach a stretch of unimpregnated lagoon.

The “Utu” is taken into the lagoon

just after the turn of the incoming tide in the early morning, and thus the tide itself helps to distribute the poison.