Tahiti Notes

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, June 20.

GENERAL regret is felt at the depart ure from the colony of one of the oldest residents of French Oceania, Mon sieur E. E. Charlier, who sailed for France on June 4.

During more than 30 years, Monsieur Charlier has held high office in the col ony: Justice of the Superior Court, Pro cureur de la Republique, Governor of the Colony, Tresorier Payeur, Conseiller Prive, Officier de la Legion d’Honneur.

The whole colony and especially those in the colony who are honoured by his friendship, send with him their affection and their earnest wishes that his future years may be as full of happiness and contentment as his past has been of hon ourable and distinguished service.

Death Of M. Sari

A radiogram on June 9 announced the death at Paris of Monsieur Emile Sari, the Delegate for French Oceania in the Superior Council for the Colonies. The passing of Monsieur Sari will make nec essary a new election in the colony to choose a representative in his stead.

Brewery Sold

The local brewery—known as La Bras serie de Tahiti hitherto operated by Monsieur Fermann, has been purchased by Monsieur Emil Martin, the proprietor of the electric light and power company of Papeete. Monsieur Fermann is retiring from active work. The brewery will be operated by Monsieur Martin with a new staff.

Municipal Council

A special election for additional mem bers of the Municipal Council was held at Papeete on May 30. Heretofore the Council has been comprised of 15 mem bers, lately reduced to 13 by death and resignation. By virtue of an old law of 1884, which provides that the Council shall be increased in number of members in proportion to the increase in popu lation, the number has now been in creased to 23 members. It was to elect the ten new members necessary that the special election was held.

Famous Plantation

Otumaoro plantation, the most exten sive and best developed coconut estate on Tahiti, has recently passed ownership to Monsieur A. Faugerat, Chef du Service de I’Enregistrement et des Domaines of the Colony. Otumaoro is beautifully situ ated on the west side of Tahiti, at the boundary of the districts of Faaa and Punaauia, It extends inland —a series of branching valleys—far into the hills.

Monsieur Auguste Goupil, the founder of the large and influential family of that name, assembled and planted the proper ties in the late decades of the last cen tury.

Successful Concert

A soiree, for the benefit of the Pro testant School of Papeete and under the patronage of His Excellency, the Gover nor, was held at the local theatre on the evening of June 2.

The varied programme of singing, cos

lume dances and tableaux was presented by the pupils and younger graduates of the school. It was a. charming perfor mance. The large audience, which filled the theatre to overflowing, were so de lighted with the perfection of each pre sentation, that every number had to be repeated. The actors and those who trained them are to be congratulated.

Requests from all quarters that a sec ond performance be presented were granted, and it was repeated before a very large and delighted audience on June 11. Programme: Comic Film.

Overture by Tahitian choir (words by M. Emile Tetiarahi).

Infants’ number, prepared by the Salle d’Asile.

Saxophone Quartette. by MM. Bambridge, Nordman, and Spitz.

Japanese Fantasy—Miles. Bambridge, Bourne, Higgins, Lucas, Marchal, Miller, Martin, Mers man, Rey, Tumahai, Teariki, Thompson, Varney, Williams.

Guitar Quintette —MM. Bambridge, Coleman, Frogier, Palmer, Spitz.

One Act Play—Miles. Higgins, Lucas, Marchal, Timiona, Vienot.

Songs of Breton —Miles. Adams, Bexter, Gar nier. Mate, Nimau, Vonegut, Wohler; MM. Bam bridge, Dexter, Grant, Ki-Sang, Martin, Peata, Tumahai.

Songs and Dances of Samoa —Arranged by Madame Charles Spitz; by Miles. Bambridge, Bourne, Higgins, Lucas, Miller, Mersman, Martin, Marchal, Nimau, Rey, Thompson, Tumahai, Teariki.

Readers in Central Pacific may be interested to know that the Siva dances, under the training and leadership of Madame Spitz (a charming and beautiful daughter of Samoa) were cheered and re called repeatedly and were declared authentic in execution by members of the audience who have lived in Samoa.

There is one thing a gathering of this kind brings vividly to our attention — that the handsome mothers of our is lands have given us daughters worthy to carry on the reputation of Tahiti for the beauty and charm of her womenfolk.

Religion And The People

May 21 was a gala day in the Rurutu colony on Tahiti, for it was the occasion of the dedication of their new Fare Putuputuraa (assembly house) recently erected in the new section of Papeete, to the eastward of the old. town.

Fare Putuputaraa are auxiliary to the churches throughout the islands. Each district has its central church building, where Sunday services are held morning and afternoon. In the evenings the people gather in their assembly houses of which there are usually several scattered about the district. The presiding officer, a dea con, proposes a verse or verses of scrip ture together with questions relative to the interpretation thereof. A spirited debate follows in which both men and women take part. Some of the speakers are talented orators and exhibit admir able balance in their arguments. At inter vals between speeches there is singing, generally after the Tahitian manner.

The Rurutu people hold tenaciously to their native customs. Their island—one of the Austral Group, south of Tahiti — is indeed one of the few unspoiled by European influences now remaining in the South Pacific.

Cruiser At Tahiti

The French cruiser Rigault de Genou illy arrived at Papeete from Saigon, Indo- China, on June 1. She will remain on the Tahiti station until October. It is customary to keep a warship in these waters during the period between May and October of each year.