Growers
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
Lucky Copra
French Get Special Bonus and Low Freight
From Our Own Correspondent
Papeete, Feb. 20.
THE owners of coconut plantations, and business people generally, are begin ning to feel the effect of steadily increas ing copra prices.
The price to the producer to-day—de livered in Papeete—is 95 centimes per kilo for bone-dry Tuamotu copra, and 5 cen times less for purely local copra, which usually is subject to a greater percentage of shrinkage than the article produced on the Low Islands. Ninety-five centimes per kilo represents nearly £lO per ton in Australian currency and at this figure a plantation of fair size can be operated at a profit.
In addition to this, it is anticipated that a considerable bonus will be paid by the Government, as was the case last year.
Local freight rates on copra are remark ably low as compared with many other islands. The charge, for instance, from Tautira to Papeete, a distance of more than 50 miles, is only 50 francs per ton (5 centimes per kilo), while schooner freight from nearby islands is even less than this. Only very remote islands pay •a rate which is at all comparable to other Groups. Growers in the Leeward Islands and the Marquesas do not now require to bring their copra to Papeete, as cargoes are now taken direct from those points by the steamers of the Messagerie Maritimes Company, on their return journey from New Caledonia to France.
Unfortunately for the local buyers of copra, the B.S. Eridan, which left here on February 14 was obliged to leave behind about 1000 tons out of the 3000 tons wait ing for her on the Papeete wharf —owing, it is stated, to unexpectedly large ship ments of nickel from New Caledonia. This will now have to wait for the next steamer, due to quit Papeete for Prance about April I—merchants1 —merchants meanwhile carrying the losses incidental to insurance, shrink age, interest, and storage charges.
Mr. Donald John Warren, LL.B. (N.Z.), a member of the legal firm of Messrs, S.
H. Ellis, of Suva, was admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the Supreme Court of Fiji on February 6.
Miss Laura Much, daughter of Mrs. N.
Davidson of Apia, Samoa, died after a lingering illness at Tavistock Hospital, Lyall Bay, New Zealand, on January 26, at the age of 32. She was a well-known and popular member of Apia’s younger set. Miss Huch was a relation of the famous “Queen Emma,” of New Guinea, and of the Coe family, famous in Samoan tradition. She was related also to the Malietoa family, former kings and rulers of Samoa.