In Eastern Polynesia

A News Summary from Tahiti

From Our Own Correspondent.

PAPEETE, March 26.

Captain Andy Thomson, Of The

Cook Island schooner Tagua, which arrived in Tahiti for repairs towards the end of February, reports passing through a severe hurricane near the island of Aitutaki on February 14. The vessel was swept by tremendous seas, one of which smashed and carried away the ship’s dinghy. Considerable other damage was sustained by the Tagua, and for some hours Captain Thomson, who has some twenty years’ experience in these waters, despaired of winning through. A liberal use of oil bags proved the salvation of the vessel and crew.

From his observations. Captain Thomson thinks that the centre of the storm passed close to the Island of Manuac, which is privately owned by Mr. Bunting, a New Zealander largely interested in the Cook Island Trading Co. As all work has been closed down on this island for some months past, owing to the slump in copra values, there is no news' available from this point. The Tagua leaves in a few days’ time on her customary trip through the Cook and Line Islands.

The price of copra, with which nat urally everyone here is most intimately concerned, still remains lamentably low.

Nevertheless, there is a slight improve ment in values as compared with last month, and the market in San Fran cisco and Marseilles is apparently gain ing in strength. As a result there is an increased hopefulness abroad, and a slight loosening up of purse-strings amongst the community in general.

To-day’s figures for copra on the beach is nearly one franc per kilo for bone dry stuff, as against .75 franc at the end of February.

The Economic Situation.

Vanilla, a local product which for merly figured conspicuously in the ex port list, has gradually dropped from 80 francs per kilo for the green beans in 1924, to a mere 5 francs—a figure that scarcely pays the cost of fertilis ing the flower, to say nothing of gen eral plantation upkeep. Business in pearl shell is said to be practically at a standstill also.

Naturally, the local merchants and European planters, with capital invest ments and paid staffs to take care of it, are feeling the effects of the pre sent situation much more acutely than the generality of the native population.

With the latter, there is no real dis tress, but a gradual reversion, as prices decline, to a purely native regime of fish and breadfruit and a curtailment of the white man’s luxuries in the shape of wine, motor cars and cinema shows.

Unemployment, as it is understood in Europe, is unknown here. When things become really bad, there is at least enough to eat.

That the local Administration is hard put to it to balance its budget is apparent, and amongst other innova tions may be noted an import tax of 10 francs per case on petrol, which recently came into force.

New Holiday Resort.

Mr. and Mrs. Pitcairn, proprietors of the Blue Lagoon Hotel, near Papeete, announce the fact that they are ready to receive guests on March 1. This energetic couple, who recently arrived from Los Angeles, have taken over a collection of bungalows about a mile out of town, thoroughly renovated same and installed modern improve ments. The grounds are also assuming a most attractive appearance and a large and airy building over the water is nearing completion as a central din ing and recreation room.

Mr. Pitcairn has also large plans for the filling in and reclaiming of a con siderable area along the foreshore of the lagoon which, when carried out, will add much to the natural advant ages of the site. It is understood that the hotel will be run more or less in conjunction with the Faatcai Hotel, on the neighbouring island of Moorea, and that a launch will be maintained for transport of guests. Mr. and Mrs.

Pitcairn deserve all the success that is coming to them for their faith and enterprise.

Tourist Bureau Established.

Serious efforts are now being made to develop a tourist traffic to Tahiti, as a potential spur to prosperity. As a starter in this direction, a commit tee of influential citizens is working in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce.

Already a Tourist Bureau has been established on the wharf under Gov ernment auspices. Here disembarking passengers can find courteous assist

ance in the hitherto difficult business, for those not speaking French, of pass ing through the Customs and meeting passport regulations, etc. This office is already appreciated and proving of considerable benefit.

New Hotel?

If reports from New Zealand are true, several schemes are afoot, some involv ing large amounts of capital, for the promotion of a large, up-to-date hotel for Tahiti. Whether these will come to fruition remains to be seen, but cer tainly Tahiti is deplorably lacking in first-class accommodation facilities, and the provision of such is an essen tial preliminary to a desirable tourist traffic.

Improved Shipping Service.

The Compagnie Messagerie Maritime has recently opened its own office in Papeete, instead of employing an agent as before. The schedule for 1931 pro vides ten vessels a year between France and New Caledonia, with Martinique, Tahiti, Fiji and the New Hebrides as ports of call.

This will give Tahiti a considerable advantage over 1930 in the matter of passenger requirements; but, as it is said that the M.M. will now carry ores from New Caledonia that were formerly carried by the mining companies them selves, it would seem that we shall be worse off rather than better in the matter of space for export cargo. On the other hand, importers will find some compensation in that goods ordered from Europe will now arrive with much less delay than before.

Zane Grey’S New Yacht.

The steel motor yacht “Fisherman” arrived here this morning after a six teen days’ voyage from San Francisco.

At the order of Mr. Zane Grey (who spends much of his time fishing in these waters) this one-time three masted schooner has been transformed into a modern pleasure cruiser, replete with every luxury. She is equipped with two 125-horse power Washington engines, capable of pushing her along at an easy 12 miles per 1 hour, with something in reserve for emergencies, and has two Atlas engines for gener ators, etc. On deck there are seven power launches, of varying size, the largest two of which are furnished with the latest thing in wireless tele phones for communication between themselves or with the parent vessel.

At present the vessel is manned by American sailors, but it is said that these are to be replaced by Tahitians when she finally leaves this port for the long cruise which is planned. The itinerary will include many points to the westward, until Madagascar is reached. In this locality, Mr. Grey an ticipates getting to work amongst the monstrous sailfish reputed to exist there.

Death Of Mr. Murnau.

News came to hand recently by wire less of the death in California of Mr.

Murnau, the well known cinema pro ducer and director.

The deceased gentleman left Tahiti some months ago for Hollywood, in order to complete the sound effects for a South Sea picture he had been en gaged upon in the Society Group for more than a year past. Mr. Murnau had built himself a luxurious home in the best native style of architecture on the most westerly point of Tahiti, at Punaavia, and it was his intention to maintain a permanent establishment there. He was also the owner of the yacht “Bali” and considerable other property in the Group. He will be sin cerely mourned by a large circle of friends, both European and native, and by his death the community here sus tains a very real loss. A motor car collision between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles is stated to have been the cause of the fatality.

Personal.

Mr. Edmunds for nearly a quarter of a century manager of the English ranch on Easter Island, passed through Tahiti recently en route to New Zea land. He expects to return after a few months and settle permanently in the Society Group.

Mr. Zane Grey and party, at present fishing on the south side of Tahiti, are meeting with fair success, but have not yet beaten Mr. Grey’s record 1,040pounder swordfish caught in the same vicinity last year.

The many friends of Gouverneur Morris will be pleased to learn that he is making a satisfactory recovery from the injuries he sustained in an explosion of a gasoline tank while touring recently in California. Mr Morris and family are expected to re turn to their home at Paca, Tahiti, in April next.

The death occurred on February 19 of Mr. Valentine Wilson, for many years the local manager of the Pacific Coconut Products Corporation Oil Mill.

Mr. Wilson was a prominent Freemason and an esteemed member of the Anglo- American community here.