III.—Import and Export Trade.
The import and export trade of Tahiti is large and growing steadily; but the proportion of such trade which comes to Australasia is at present rather small. Fifteen years ago the imports were valued at £120,000 a year, one-third of which came from New Zealand and Australia; whereas last year, out of a total of £179,126 worth of imports, only £12,368 worth came from these colonies. This is a deplorable fact, when it is remembered that
page 40
in Tahiti there is an excellent market for New Zealand products, as it has by far the largest European population of any of the islands visited, along with a more general adoption of European habits of life by the natives. The following table shows the volume of trade with different countries :—
Imports and Exports for 1884.
From and to |
Imports. |
Exports. |
Total |
France |
£21,737 |
£8,018 |
£29,755 |
England |
13,500 |
29,500 |
43,000 |
Australia |
11,468 |
650 |
12,118 |
New Zealand |
900 |
120 |
1,020 |
America |
91,645 |
48,914 |
140,559 |
Germany |
12,810 |
35,300 |
48,110 |
Sandwich Islands |
150 |
86 |
236 |
Elsewhere |
26,916 |
22,612 |
49,528 |
Total |
£179,126 |
£145,200 |
£324,326 |
It was only with considerable labour that these results were obtained from the very diffuse statistical information supplied us by the French officials at Tahiti, for the collecting and distributing trade between Tahiti and the neighbouring islands was included in these returns and had of course to be struck out in compiling this table. Appended are the
Shipping Statistics—Port of Papeete—1884.
From and to |
Arrivals. |
Departures. |
Vessels. |
Tonnage. |
Vessels. |
Tonnage. |
England |
2 |
986 |
4 |
2,061 |
Australia |
10 |
3,830 |
2 |
537 |
New Zealand |
4 |
658 |
1 |
52 |
France |
3 |
3,827 |
— |
— |
Germany |
2 |
1,008 |
6 |
2,474 |
America |
19 |
5,917 |
21 |
6,603 |
Elsewhere (chiefly to adjacent islands) |
91 |
5,271 |
90 |
10,079 |
Total |
131 |
21,597 |
124 |
21,806 |
The fact that no vessels were consigned for France illustrates forcibly what has been so often remarked—that Frenchmen found colonies to make commerce for other nations. I should explain that in the foregoing returns I have classed as "German" the ships and goods consigned to Lisbon—that being the port for
page 41
which German vessels generally clear. Of the total imports to Tahiti, fully one-sixth in value, viz., £31,000 worth, are cotton and other soft goods. A portion of this trade might be done through New Zealand; but it will be of greater importance to know those articles which we are in a position to supply better than any other country and the trade for which we ought in the natural order of things to secure. These I shall consider further on. The exports of Tahiti are more varied than those of Tonga or Samoa, and embrace the following, among other products :—
Cotton |
£55,170 |
Copra |
43,350 |
Mother-of-pearl and other shells |
15,300 |
Vanilla |
2,290 |
Oranges |
2,800 |
Cotton seed |
1,550 |
Cocoanuts |
1,340 |
Fungus |
930 |
Citron juice |
275 |
Guava jelly |
20 |
The mother-of-pearl is collected in the Tuamotu Islands, and the cocoanuts are nearly all exported to the United States, where they find a ready market.