of Papeete

The Unique Character of Papeete

Prom Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Oct. 4.

rAVELLERS who have visioned Tahiti as a primitive island (so iso lated in the centre of a vast ocean that little if any relationship could exist with the greater countries of the earth), are very much surprised to discover the veri table Cosmopolis our little community has become, in recent years.

Papeete is the dream city which every native on every island of Oceania hopes some day to visit. Sooner or later, they manage to get there. Little colonies of islanders from far away archipelagoes are scattered about Papeete, and are con stantly growing and diminishing as visit ors from the islands come and go. All Polynesia, and even distant Micronesia, are represented.

The major countries of Asia—lndo china, India, China, Japan, Arabia — have contributed, in greater or less de gree, to our population.

Europe, from the three Scandinavian nations in the north, to Spain in the south, from the British Isles in the west to Russia in the east, has one or more native son of each country residing in French Oceania.

The several countries of North and South America, of Australasia and of the French and British settlements of Africa have had some of their citizens as residents or sojourners in these is lands.

The culture of France, directing and modifying the culture of Polynesia, has created in these beautiful islands a gracious charm such as exists in no other land, that has captivated men and wo men of all races, from the four corners of the world.

Monsieur Eugene Marin died at Kone, New Caledonia, early in October. He was 55 years of age.

Sir Harry Luke, K.C.M.G., Governor of Fiji, will set the foundation stone of the new Anglican cathedral at Suva on January 25.