The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1908-09-25
TAKITI-A PARADISE IN THE
SOUTH SEAS.
The Climate is EQuable, the Surround
ing Country is Broken and Beau
tiful-A Land of Fruits and
Flowers, and No Vermin.
Columbia State.

Columbia State.
It is indeed pleasure to be allow
ed the privilege Of an hours chat
with DR.. Julius D. Dreher, former
president Of Roanoke college, now
American consul to the island of
Tahiti, the principal one Of the archi
pelago comprising the Society islands.
DR.. Dreher is now on a visit to the
old family home at Selwood, Lexing-
ton county, and runs into Columbia
to see his brother, Mr.. E. S. Dreher,
superintendent of the city schools.
DR.. Dreher talks with animation
and in very interesting manner of
his consular district in the South Pa
eific, the inhabitants, mode Of living,
products and exports. This is Of
more than usual interest, because DR..
Dreher has such a wide circle Of ac-
ouaintances in this and other States.
They will all be pleased to know that
the climate Of Tahiti agrees with DR..
Dreher and he is in robust health. A
short time before getting his consular
appointment, DR.. Dreher was in
train wreck. His escape was miracu-
lous, for he fell through a hole in
the floor cf a car which a moment
afterwards was telescoped. Aside
from the terrific shock and the sun
dry bruises which might have been ex-
pected, DR.. Dreher escaped with but
one wound-a carpet tack sticking IN
the top of his head. Whence came
the tack Providence only knows. DR..
Dreher had about forgotten this de-
tell until he was reminded Of it few
days ago by some friends.
DR.. Dreher's duties cover vide
scope.
"The consulate at Tahiti,' he
said, "was established about 70 years
ago. It embraces not only the Society
islands, but also the Marquesas, Tu-
amotu, Gambler, and Austral groups
Of islands 100 in all, scattered over
an area of the south seas extending
1900 miles from north to south and
1000 miles from east to west. These
islands lie south Of the equator and
about midway between Australia and
the northern part Of South America.
The largest. and far most important,
is the island Of Tahiti, which has an
area of about 400 square miles. Like
most of the Society islands. which
are Of volcanic origin Tahiti is quite
mountainous, the highest peak, Orahe-
ma, having an elevation of more than
1000 feet. The little level land on
the island is quite fertile. Three
fourths of the islands are atolls Of
the Tuamotu archipelago-nar-
row strips of low land Of coral for
nation covered with cocoanut trees
and enclosing lagoons Of salt water,
often of considerable extent.''
Origin of These Islands.
When asked. "What is the origin
of thes islands," DR.. Dreher re-
plied:' That is not an easy question
to answer. but I may say that the
atolls Of the Pacific as we'll as those
Of the Indian ocean have attracted
the attention of many scientific i'll
vestigators, including Darwin, Prof.
J D. Dana. the greatest American
geoloeist and Prof. Alexander Agas-
siz of Harvard. In his work, Coral
Reefs and Islands,, published in
1649. Prof Dana follows Darwin in
adopting the theory Of the subsistence
Of a former land area, but Prof.
Agassiz in his great work, The
Coral Reefs Of the Pacific,' four
volumes, quarto Zone Of text and
three Of plates), published by Har-
ward university in 1903. controverts
that theory and presents arguments
to show that the ocean bed was ele-
waited and then further built up by
coral insects. Almost all the islands
III the south seas have outlying firing
ing coral reefs, generally slightly
submerged, which protect the in
land from damage by the ocean during
storms. Many Of these islands have
no harbor at all. as the outlying reefs
encircle them completely
The City Of Papeete.
With reference to the government
these islands. DR.. Dreher said:
"Thev are embraced in the French
colony Of Tahiti and its dependencies.
the seat Of government being at Pa