Tahiti Oranges

May be Heard of Again

From Our Own Correspondent

Papeete, Apr. 10

A FORTNIGHT ago, this writer had one of the first oranges from a tree growing on the property where he resides.

This is quite significant; for, during the past fifty years, no orange tree has thrived on the coastal lowland of Tahiti.

Orange seeds were introduced by the first LMS missionaries. During the fol lowing century orange trees flourished on all parts of the island. Old Tahitian natives, who had seen Stuart’s Atimaono Plantation in the heyday of that extra ordinary enterprise, have told us of the avenues of orange trees that shaded the roadways of the estate.

Natives going into the foothills and high plateaux of the interior, in quest of mountain plantain or on hunting ex peditions, scattered orange seeds as they travelled. These seeds took root and groves of orange trees grew, without fur ther cultivation, in the highlands.

A blight, which invaded the island about fifty years ago, quickly destroyed every orange tree on the coastal area.

Fortunately, the trees growing on the high mountain slopes and on the plateaux, escaped. The oranges brought down from those highland groves were the sweetest in the world.

Through a long period of years, supplies from this source were amply sufficient.

But, like all good things, this could not endure forever. The increase in the population of the settlements and a steady diminishing supply, have sent the price of oranges to a very high level.

Some years ago, the learned and ener getic Director of the Agricultural Depart ment of the Colony, undertook to conquer the orange blight. His success has opened the proipect that Tahiti may again become an orange orchard—and perhaps, export this delectable fruit to Australasia.

EDITORIAL NOTE: Our correspondent evidently does not know that Australia grows all the oranges she wants. If any politician even suggests that Aus tralia might import the delectable Fiji banana, or Rarotonga’s delicious oranges, he is leaped upon by bewhiskered and clamorous growers from NSW North Coast, and metaphorically torn to pieces.

Among passengers on the flying-boat “Coriolanus” which passed through Bris bane on May 23, en route to Noumea, New Caledonia, was Mr. Jack Hillier of New castle. Mr. Hillier is a well-known jockey and has signed a contract with Amichale Snortive, a French race club at Noumea, for the season commencing in June.

M. Nicholas Hagen has been elected President of the Noumea Chamber of Commerce.