Tahiti News.

Search For A Cool Plateau.

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, June 15.

THE Syndicat d’Initiative (Tourist Bureau), in co-operation with the local Administration, is displaying a lot of energy just now in trying to locate a suitable site for an inland settlement; and several expeditions have been taken into the mountains with this object in view, but so far without success.

What is needed is a plateau of suf ficient area and with an available water supply, and sufficiently elevated to guar antee the occasional change of climate desired by jaded coast dwellers and con valescents from pulmonary complaints which are somewhat prevalent in Tahiti.

To be of most benefit the location should also be situated on what we call the “dry” side of the island, where the annual rainfall is not more than about 60 inches per annum.

Tahiti is not a very large island, but the interior of it is singularly inacces sible, hence it may take a long- time to find a spot fulfilling all the requirements, if indeed such a one exists—which many people doubt. When discovered, it is proposed that the Government take over the land, provide reading facilities, and sell building lots to those desirous of having- same. There is also talk of a hotel and sanitarium; but these ambi tious items in the scheme will no doubt have to wait till the finances of the Colony are in a more prosperous condi tion than at present.

The idea is one worthy of encourage ment and we congratulate the “Syndicat d'Initiative” upon the energetic manner in which it is pushing- the scheme along.

An establishment of the kind proposed would undoubtedly prove a boon to everybody in Tahiti, but unfortunately the difficulties in the way of its realisa tion are very great.

Major Pye, of Camden, Sydney, is at present in Tahiti on a short vacation, and is staying at the Punaruu Pass Hotel, A fire, which might have turned into a serious conflagration, broke out in the Stewart Hotel building on June 3.

Luckily it occurred in the early morn ing, when the market was in full swing and there was plenty of voluntary as sistance available. The Stewart building is a four storey one, the lower three being of concrete and the top one eq tirely of wooden construction; it was in the latter that the fire originated but from what cause has not yet been ascer tained. The Papeete fire brigade was on the scene very quickly and, in spite of the fact that there was quite a breeze blowing at the time, the flames were got under control in a most efficient man ner. No damage was done to the neigh bouring buildings which are occupied by S. R. Maxwell and Co., on one side, and the American Consulate on the other.

The yacht “White Shadow”, owned by Mr. T. Wessels, who now appears to have taken up permanent residence in Moorea, has been chartered for a long term by a party of young Americans, who are more or less resident in Tahiti; and, after the installation of a new engine, they will leave for a round-the world cruise.