Cook Island Notes

From Our Own Correspondent.

RAROTONGA, August 14.

THE local Administration authorities are engaged at present in considering with traders and growlers the question of estab lishing a Board to control the export of fruit from the Cook Group. The scheme makes provision for the liquidation of all native debts owing to the stores. A con tinuation of the existing scheme seems to be favoured by certain interests in New Zealand, including the Chamber of Com merce at Auckland, which hitherto has shown little interest in the fruit business here.

Tourists from the Matson liner “City of Los Angeles,” which called at Rarotonga on July 13, left behind them a good im pression both by their expressions of satis faction at the entertainment arranged ashore and their interest in the small curios and native handiwork which the Island folk had for sale.

It came as a considerable shock to fruit exporters at the island of Mauke when news was received of the grounding of the “Hauraki” off the New Zealand coast. The “Hauraki” had loaded oranges at Mauke under very difficult weather conditions in which the Resident Agent (Captain Velbecame capsized on the reef and nearly lost his life. The delay in the Mauke oranges reaching the Auckland market should not affect the fruit to any great extent, as oranges from that island appear to carry better than the larger quantities which are shipped from Raro tonga.

Nurse Pierard, who has taken over

general hospital and dispensary duties at Aitutaki vice Miss Wiley and Dr. Tinirau, is stationed temporarily at Mauke on spe cial health work. Dr. McKnight, who has been acting-C.M.O., during the absence of Dr. Ellison, is visiting the Northern Islands on the schooner “Tiare Taporo” for the purpose of furthering medical services at those islands.

Keen interest amongst the native mem bers of the Sports Association at Raro tonga has been shown during the last fort night in the results of cricket and football tests played at Aitutaki between teams from that island and Rarotonga. The re sults show that Aitutaki has the best cricketers and Rarotonga the best foot ballers. Tennis matches were also played, in which the visiting Rarotongans were the victors.

Mr. H. S. Manning, a man of very pleasant disposition, has arrived here with his family. He has taken up the duties of sub-manager of the Union Steamship Com pany at the Cook Group.

Dr. and Mrs. Ellison and family have re turned to the Cook Islands after extended furlough in New Zealand.

Mr. G. G. Kermode, District Inspector of Suva, accompanied by Mrs. Kermode and their three younger children, left Fiji for New Zealand by the August Mon terey on nine months’ leave. During In spector Kermode’s absence Mr. M. Mac- Leod, Inspector of Rewa, is acting as District Inspector of Constabulary, Suva.

This is Inspector Kermode’s first leave for six years, and it is his intention to visit New Zealand’s far-famed shooting and fishing resorts during his stay there.