37

A.—3b

Summaet of Expoets from Niue during the year ending the 31st December, 1902. £ s. a. Copra, 413 tons 7 cwt. Oqr. 91b. ... ... ... ... 3,879 16 2 Fungus, 38,9981b. ... ... - ... ... ... 486 1 9 Oranges, 5 cases ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 Hats, 2,766d0z. ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,830 17 0 Curios ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 343 12 11 Arrowroot, 5,7741b. ... ... ... ... ... 63 10 10 Yams, 23 tons ... .. ... ... ... ... 106 2 8 Cotton, 3841b. ... ... ... ..'. ... ... 416 0 6,715 17 4 Drapery reshipped ... ... - ... ... ... 3442 Total exports ... ... ... ... ... £6,750 1 6

APPENDIX A.

COOK AND OTHBE ISLANDS HOETICULTUEE. Eepoet ]!y T. W. Kibk, F.L.S., Chief of Division of Biology and Horticulture, and W. A. Boucher, Pomologist, Department of Agriculture. Division of Biology and Horticulture, Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 2nd February, 1903. Memorandum for the Hon. the Minister for Agriculture. In accordance with your instructions we left for the Cook Islands by the Government schooner " Countess of Eanfurly " on the 12th December, 1902, calling at the Kennadecs to search for the missing boat from the s.s. " Elingamite." Keemadec islands. Here we found growing,— (a.) Seedling oranges of superior flavour, which mature later than those of the Cook Islands, and could, if facilities were available, be placed on the New Zealand market at Christmas time, when a high price is always obtainable. (b.) True Lisbon lemons of excellent quality. The proprietor has also planted several hundred young trees. (c.) Bananas and other tropical plants also grow, but would probably not pay to produce on a commercial scale. The difficulty of securing transport, and the poor landing, also stand in the way. We do not, under existing circumstances, suggest any immediate action with regard to Sunday Island, but venture to express the opinion that ere many years have passed it will have become very valuable, 'and should not be permanently alienated. We reached Earotonga on the 27th December, and at once placed ourselves in communication with Colonel Gudgeon, the Eesident Commissioner, who arranged that we should have opportunities for thoroughly examining the following islands : Earotonga, Mangaia, Mauke, Mitiaro, and Atiu. The ship's other engagements and the weather prevented our landing at Aitutaki; but this, Colonel Gudgeon says, is less to be regretted, as the bulk of the land has already been parcelled out amongst the Natives and planted. We may now give, as briefly as possible, an account of the present condition of the so-called plantations at each of the above islands, and our suggestions for future work. In so doing we feel that our joint experience in California and Queensland entitles us to speak with some amount of confidence. Eaeotonga. Much misapprehension appears to exist with regard to the climate of the Cook Islands, many being under the impression that the temperature of summer makes existence barely tolerable for Europeans. The heat, which is by no means excessive for a tropical country, even in midsummer, is usually tempered by steady breezes from the south, while for nine months of the year the climate is all that could be desired. Area, approximately thirty square miles. Earotonga being not only the seat of administration, but also the commercial centre from which the trade of the Cook Islands is conducted, there is already a population of Europeans sufficiently numerous to make social life enjoyable. There is a regular monthly steamer service, with sailing-vessels calling at irregular intervals. The soil may be generally divided into two classes—volcanic, and decomposed or decomposing coral. The volcanic soil for the most part is of excellent quality ; while it is hardly necessary to state that the decomposed coral, being rich in lime and decayed mineral and vegetable matter, is capable of producing the exuberant tropical vegetation which lends a special charm to the scenery of the island.