Marlon Brando May

Become Landlord Of Royal Atoll

American screen actor Marlon Brando, who has spent much of lis spare time in Tahiti since he >vent there about three years ago :o star in the Mutiny on the Bounty film, may become the andlord soon of historic Tetiaroa Moll, 26 miles north of Tahiti.

Tetiaroa once belonged to

Tahiti’s royal Pomare family.

A CCORDING to Papeete’s “coco nut radio” in late November. 3rando, who was then holidaying in Pahiti, had almost completed negotia ions for the purchase of the atoll.

The present owner of Tetiaroa is drs. Marjorie Doran, step-daughter )f the late Dr. W. J. Williams, who vas given Tetiaroa by the Pomare amily for his services to them. Dr. •Villiams. a Canadian dentist, was British Consul in Tahiti from 1916 o 1935. He died at Tetiaroa in une. 1937.

Tetiaroa is the only atoll in the 'icinity of Tahiti. It is composed of 3 islets, the largest being about two niles long. The combined land area s about 1,600 acres, most of whch las been planted with coconuts.

The atoll commands a clear view >f the impressive mountains of Tahiti md Moorea.

Unlike most atolls, there is no pas age into Tetiaroa’s lagoon, and even anoes must be hauled over the reef, lowever, a jetty has been built out >ver the reef from southerly Rimatuu slet, which makes it easy to get ishore.

The lagoon was once noted for fine leads, but no diving has been carried >ut there in recent years as far as VM knows.

Colonies of Birds Large colonies of terns, boobies md other sea birds, plus good fishing >oth inside and outside the lagoon idd to Tetiaroa’s attractiveness. (A 'iant fish called a hapu, speared un ler water at Tetiaroa in late Novem >er by a team from the laboratory of darine Biology of the University of lawaii, weighed nearly 282 lb.) In recent years, Tetiaroa has isually been inhabited only when

labourers have been there to prepare copra.

However, in the heyday of the Pomare family it was a place of some importance. It was used as a pleasure resort, a beauty parlour and a refuge during political disturbances.

The site of the Royal residence on Rimatuu is still marked by enormous tuu trees, which were apparently planted in very ancient times. The trees cover about three acres of land with much-appreciated shade. The re-

mains of several ancient temples may also k e seen.

Female members of the Pomare f am ily used to go to Tetiaroa for fat tening before marriage, and to live in t ie s h a de of the tuu trees so that t jj e j r s kj ns wou id become fair. Queen Pomare IV, soverign of Tahiti from 1827 , 1877 went to Tetiaroa for , h t purpose as a girl . * Pomare 11, father of Queen Pomare IV, is said to have used Te tiaroa for heathern orgies while

Tahiti was in the process of being christianised.

To the early explorers, Tetiaroa was known as Tethuroa, but few of them actually visited it. One of the few who did was Captain Bligh. This was after three deserters from the Bounty stole a cutter from Matavai Bay in January, 1789.

As soon as Bligh heard that the deserters had fled to Tetiaroa, he sailed to the atoll at the head of a boat party and personally arrested them.

FOOTNOTE : Another Pacific island “paradise” that was on the market in November was Korelevu, an islet of three acres, some five miles off the coast of Taveuni, the third largest island in the Fiji Group.

Korelevu (not to be confused with Korolevu, the pleasure resort on Viti Levu) is owned by Mrs. P. G.

Malley, who would like to sell it for

£B,Ooo To £Lo,Ooo.

According to Suva solicitor Mr, R.

A. Kearsley, who told the Sydney Press about Korelevu, the island has everything for anyone who wants to get away from it all—beaches, coco nut palms, lush vegetation, fishing, peace and quiet, no people, and no where to live. “A gorgeous place,”

Mr. Kearsley said. “No buildings on it.”