Guarding Coconut
p. 54 · Read in the full issue
Plantations.
Tahiti's Stringent Regulations
Against the Rhinoceros Beetle.
Prom Our Own Correspondent.
Papeete, Jan. 14.
AS the Union Line freight steamers call at Western Samoa and often at the Tongan Islands on their voyages from New Zealand to Tahiti, alarm has been aroused as to the possible intro duction, by these carriers, of the dreaded rhinoceros beetle into the coconut plan tations of French Oceania.
To protect the Colony from invasion by this pest, most stringent regulations have been enacted. The importation of plants, soil, sand, copra, grain, fruits, and vegetable products in general from Eastern and Western Samoa, Tongan Islands, New Guinea, the Bismarck Archipelago, Philippine Islands, For mosa, Cuba, Haiti, San Domingo, and Porto Rico has been interdicted.
All other cargo, parcels, and materials from these territories must be fumi gated by hydro-cyanic gas before land ing in Tahiti. A strict quarantine of the baggage, vestments, and personal effects of passengers will be enforced.
Ships from Samoa and Tonga must cease loading and unloading operations an hour before sunset, withdraw to an anchorage at least 400 metres distant from the quay, and remain there until an hour after sunrise. Palms of all varieties may not be cultivated within a radius of 400 metres of the quay of disembarkation at Papeete.