Tahiti's Isolation: Vain Plea to Matson Line

Pilsener To’Ee”

Tahiti’S Isolation

Vain Plea to Matson Line From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, Dec. 20.

CO far as present indications disclose there is little prospect for the fulfilment of the hopes of many in Tahiti for a new passenger service between Papeete and the Pacific C oast of North America.

Tahiti once had an ideal service. The steamer Mariposa of the Oceanic (now the Matson) Line came from San Francisco to Papeete every month; remained from four to six days; and then returned to San Francisco.

When the Union S.S. Company instituted its through passenger service to the Coast, the brilliant intellects on the beach at Papeete sent the Mariposa home in ballast. When the Mariposa reached San Francisco, Mr. Spreckels (President of the Line) withdrew the vessel from the run and, it is said, took an oath that so long as the company might be in business, no ship under its flag would ever again go to Tahiti.

The said brilliant intellects lived to repent at leisure and with much gnashing of teeth. But that is another story.

Recently, the Matson Line was approached with the view of interesting it in a passenger service from San Francisco to Honolulu, thence to Tahiti, and return via Honolulu.

The reply by the Matson officials, as reported, indicates that Mr. Spreckel’s vow of 25 years ago has not fallen into desuetude.

There were bright hopes at one time that Papeete would be the “Crossroads £ S„ e no^i‘ fic i n tunate truth is that the “great circle” route from Panama to Austrklasia runs 1,300 miles south and that to the Orient far tQ the north Qf Tahiti . between' thf main Trade^routlTof thS Pacific. By grace of the Government of f™"rles ,T “S and excellent passenger to Panama and France to the East and