Ariki of Rarotonga in

Polynesians

Meet

Ariki of Rarotonga in Tonga and Samoa

THE new Ariki Nui of Rarotonga, Mrs.

Takau Rio 'Love, who arrived in Auckland in April, had an interest ing voyage from Rarotonga.

On arrival at Nukualofa, she was most hospitably entertained by Hon.

Ala (Minister of Lands) and his family, who are old friends of her father, the late Ariki Nui.

Later, Mrs. Love was received by Queen Salote, at the Palace, and the two Polynesian aristocrats talked for about an hour on Islands affairs and mutual interests. Mrs. Love, who had not before met Queen Salote, was par ticularly impressed by the Tongan ruler’s grasp of the problems of native adminis tration and her desire for co-operation.

Prince Consort Tugi joined the ship there, for Vavau, and he introduced Mrs.

Love to the Governor of Vavau, who did everything he could to make her short stay as enjoyable as possible.

A long-standing friendship, between the Ariki clan of Tinirau, in Rarotonga, and the Alii Malietoa, of Samoa, was observed when the newly-appointed Malietoa Tanu, a young man, entertained the head of the Tiniraus at his home in Apia. There was a notable programme of native dancing, at the outlying vil lage of Malie, performed in honour of the occasion. The Ariki, who is herself no mean exponent of the Rarotongan “ura”, was charmed by the variety and originality of the Samoan siva-siva. An all-too-short visit was concluded by the ancient Polynesian custom of giving presents, the mats, tapa cloth, etc., being of the finest workmanship.

In Suva, Mrs. Love visited the Cook Is. students at Suva Medical School.

In Apia, Mrs. Takau Love (Ariki Nui of Raro tonga) met the newly-appointed Malietoa Tanu of Samoa.