Atiu Newsletter
p. 89 · Read in the full issue
This is a summary of events on one of the less-publicised Cook Is lands —Atiu—in July.
The flying-fish spawning season
had just commenced—best time of the year for fishing. Seventy tuna were caught offshore one day. Then, between work on their tomato crops, the men were preparing to embark on the annual copra excursion to nearby uninhabited Takutea. The 40 men in the expedition hoped this year to harvest about 30 tons from the low-lying 400-acres island. Birds’ eggs and young boobies would be part of the cargo on the homeward voyage.
The women were immersed in a coming baby show—and a concert and-dance to raise funds for prizes.
The Police Force—all two of it— had made special donations to the
prize-money.
Across the road from the Resident Agent’s house Miss Ina John threw
a highly successful house-warming
party, to open her new pandanus roofed house, one of the best on the island.
Money is scarce on Atiu, until the tomatoes are ready—but that will be soon, now.