First Of Season's Oranges

For Nz

Rarotonga. April 22.

THE first fruit of the season was lifted by the trans-Paciflc steamer “Wai tomo” which took 8,900 cases of oranges for New Zealand on April 6. A much greater quantity could have been shipped on this occasion had more space been available. Much of this carry over of fruit had gone bad before the arrival of the “Maui Pomare” which was working in the group from April 9 to 16. The latter vessel collected the following quan tities of oranges; Mangaia 2,002 cases; Mauke 1,809 cases; Atiu 4,083 cases; Raro tonga 2,035 cases.

Prior to the arrival of the “Waitomo” there appeared to be a strong possibility of a hitch when the Cook Islands Pro gressive Association started agitation for an increased price to 12/- per case for oranges. It would have been a serious loss to the island had the ship been turned away, for the people were much in need of money at the end of the hurricane season. With the removal of the bulk of the early crop there will not be very many oranges forthcoming from Raro tonga for the remainder of the season.

This season’s price for oranges is better than th§ last. The growers are to be paid 7/6 per case plus the promised bonus of 3/- per case paid to all who plant new trees or take reasonable care of existing trees.

There has been satisfactory response to the administration’s campaign for re planting and greater care of plantations.

The Governor of French Oceania, M. J. C. Haumant, and Madame Haumant, returned to Tahiti on February 28, from the South Pacific Conference in Australia.