The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-11-19
a PROTECTORATE.
The Hervey or Cook Group.

The Acting Consul at Raratonga, Mr..
Exham, received authority by the s. 5.
Richmond to proclaim British protec-
torate over RaratOnga and all the islands
of the Hervey group, and the Queens
flag was hOiSted at noon on September
Goth. Mr.. EXham's instructions were TO
recognize the authority of the three
Queens of the group, and also to recog-
nize the chiefs there. The inhabitants
were notified that the ceremony would
take place at noon on September 10th,
and the principal chiefs from all pats OF
the grourS assembled at Queen Makea's
residence. The following proclamation
was read, both in English and IN the
Native language, and it was affixed to
the Queens flagstaff:
Proclamation. By virtue OF lnstruc-
tons received from Her Britannia Ma
iestv's Principal Secretary OF State Tor
the Colonies, contained in despatch
from Sir James Prendergast, Deputy
Governor of New Zealand, dated Govern
ment House, New Zealand, August l6,
1888, hereby declare that Her Britain
mic Maiesty's Government has this DAY
assured a protectOrate OF the group Oh
islands known as the Hervey Cor Cook's)
oroup. situated in the South Pacific
Ocean, between IS deg. and % deg.
south latitude, and 156 deg. and 100 deg.
west longitude, and that the following
islands are included in such protector
ate Raratonga, Maingaia, Aitutakl,
Atiu, Taoki, Mitiaro, Manuae, and all
the small islands or islets depending on
them. Dated at Her Britannia Malesty's
Consulate, Raratonga, this goth day OF
September, 1888. RICHARD EXHAM, Her
Britannia Majesty's Consul. God Save
the Queen"
20
sented with the British flag, which they
were authorized to hoist on their flag
stats, and they were informed that under
the protection of this flag they would be
in no way mOlested or interfered with by
foreign warships.
TSoutheast of Samoa about 700 miles is
the scattered Hervey or Cook Archlpel-
AGO. consisting of nine islands, either vol
canic or coralline, and rendered difficult
| of access by dangerous reefs and the alb
| sence of harbors. RaratOnga, the iarg-
| est, is volcanic and hilly, with fertile and
well-watered valleys. The islands pro-
| duce cOcOa-nuts, bread-truIt, bananas,
| coffee, cotton and tobacco. The natives
of the group are now in an advanced
| state of civilization. They all read the
| Bible, dress after the European fashion,
| and live in stone dwellings grouped in
little townships under separate chiefs.
They seem, however, to be rapidly dim
inishing in number, the present popula..
! ton being perhaps ten thousand, OF
whom six thousand are in Raratong3
alone. They petitioned in 1854 for an
nexation to Great Britain. 1t IS curious
| fact that in Oparo, a small, sterile
| island, there are the remains OF native
forts OF hewn stone on the SUBMITS OF
the highest hills. The stones are well
| squared and smoothed, and joined with
hard cement. Some of them are two
tons weight. The natives have legend
| of migration from Samoa.
| Admiral Fairfax with the Calliope and
Lizard, left Tonga for Samoa, intending
| to cali az Min or Savage Island, and
| establish a prOtectorate over that island,
in compliance with request from the
! natives there.
1t is reported that Captain Aldiner,
during his late cruise, has succeeded In
making one of the deepest soundings
that has ever been made, at few miles
off Kaafa or Pylstaart Island, the most
southern island of the Tongan Group.
He obtained soundings of 4,22S fathoms.