The Cook Islands.

[unclear: Islands] is the natural market for the [unclear: of] the Cook Group, and these are [unclear: ally] the only islands in which New [unclear: ders] have been able to hold their But there, as elsewhere, a watchful eye requires to be kept on the foreigner who is trying hard to secure a footing. French trading seliooners make regular visits to the northern islandw of the group, but British schooner's are not allowed to make trading cruises to French-owned islands. Protests have been made against this one-sided arrangement, but to no purpose, and the French; while taking full advantage of our open-door policy, continue to keep their own doors locked against us.

Eight islands comprise the group proper, viz., Rarotonga, Mangaia, Atiu. Mauke, Mi-tiaro, Aitutoki, Takutea, and Mamtae (Her-vey). In addition to these, seven other islands—Nine (or Savage), Palmerston, Penrhyn, Manihiki, Rakahanga, Suwarrow, and Danger (or Puka Puka)—have been included within the boundaries of the group, or, rather, those of New Zealand, for the whole now form part of the territory of this Dominion. They were annexed in 1900, and Colonel W. K. Gudgeon was appointed Resident Commissioner, a post that the late Mr. F. J. Moss had previously held.

Rarotonga, which, according to some, is the traditional Hawaiki, whence the ancestors of the Maoris migrated, is the most fertile and valuable island of the group, and the finest in point of scenic attractions. It is a particularly good specimen of the volcanic order of islands, and the rugged grandeur of its mountain peaks and the variety and luxuriance of its vegetation combine to present one of the most picturesque [unclear: ncenes] that one could possibly find even in ail these beautiful isles of the South Seas. Attaining, as it does, a height of 3000ft, the island is well watered, and a belt of rich alluvial soil, varying from one to two miles in width, extends all round the mountains to the sea. The circumference of Karotonga is over 20 miles, and it will thus be seen that the area available for cultivation is by no means inconsiderable. At present the land is not being utilised to anything like the full extent of its possibilities, and it is a place that is worth the attention of those in search of suitable areas for tropical plantations.

On Mangaia, one of the largest islands of the group, being 30 miles in circumference, where are considerable areas of waste lands awaiting cultivation, as there are in nearly all the other islands, and there are prospects of rich rewards for those who redeem to usefulness this generous soil, making the fertile flats teem with plantations, the vacant valleys laugh with cotton or smile with coffee or with rubber, and the tropic wilderness to blossom like a garden.

With their great advantages of soil and climate these islands afford a splendid field for enterprise. For the growth of cocoa-nuts, bananas, and other tropical fruits—but particularly bananas—no islands are better suited. Bananas assume a leading position among the exports, and for the year ended 1906 (later figures are not available) the value of this item bad risen to £10,445, as against £8909 in 1905, £4150 in 1902, and £2494 in 1901. The value of the oranges exported to New Zealand for 1906 was also over £10,000, while the copra shipments to various countries totalled 948 tons, worth £13,387. A very satisfactory balance-sheet is presented by the Administration every year, showing a gradually increasing surplus, which for the year ended 1906 had reached £4793.

Messrs. Donald and Edenborough have a large establishment in the Cook Islands, and W. H. Grove and Sons and other Auckland firms are also represented. Donald and Edenborough have been connected with the inland trade for over 30 years, and were the first to open up steam communication with the Cook and several other groups. The firm, which at one time traded to Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa, now confines its attention to the Cook Islands and Tahiti, where by dint of steady perseverance a large trade has been built up. The operations of Grove and Sons and others have likewise been successful. What Auckland needs are a few more firms of this kind to push New Zealand trade along in other islands.