AFFARIS AT RARATONGA.

Tim correspondent of the Auckland Herald gives tin; following particulars of the dispute at Riiriitonga;— Parliament was convened for the 15lh .Tune, and on tho 14lh there was a intuiting of tins Arikis or Queens for the purpose of agreeing to the address to Parliament. Tinomana, the ariki of Arurnngi, who is married to an American, Mr J. Salmon, appeared at this meeting with about 20 of her followers, and. from the first it was plain that she came for a row. As soon as the address, which had been drafted by the clerk of the Council, had been read for approval, Tinomana got up and said that when Captain Bourke, of H.M.S. Hyacinth (now of H.M.S. Riiigarooma), had hoisted the flag at her district, he had given her a document stating that her rule would not be interfered with, and that all laws and customs now in force should remain in force. She went on

to say that the old custom was for the common people to address the arikis, anil that as the Parliament was composed of common people, it was their duty to address the Ariltis, and that she would never consent to lower herself by addressing them. Ariki Pa, of the Ngatangira district, Mr Salmon, ami a few others were hoard to say " thim's me sintiments," and then Tinomana went on to say that the election of Miikcn, ariki of Avarua, as Pa, or head of the Government of tho Cook Islands Federation, was unjust and illegal. Queen Malrea then rose up and spoke, saying that she never sought after the position, that

the arikis of the whole federation had elected her as the fittest person to carry on the Government, as she was ariki of the district where the Resident resided, where the principal

ilacos of business were, and where all the ships

anchored. She further said that she was surprised that Tinomana should speak as she had done, first showing her ignorance and then her jealousy ; that she (Makea) had always looked on and treated Tinomana as her favourite daughter—in reality a cousin, but by native ideas a daughter—and she was sorry to hear her speak as she had done, and she could only attribute it to bad advice given her.

Tinomaua then collapsed and cried, and after ;his Tepou o to Rangi, the chief judge and jhairmau of Parliament, explained the address,

and it was voted. On the 15th the Parliament was formally opened, but as the Atiu members had not arrived business was adjourned till the follow-

ing Monday, on which day all the members attended. The first business proceeded with was the revenue, and hoi- to dispose of last year's surplus, some 2000dol. Tepou o to Raugi said that tho hon. members must bear in mind that Avarua, being the

principal place of trade, having the harbours where the goods were landed on which the duties were levied, required money to put those harbours in repair and to purchase moorings, which up to the present had been provided by private enterprise, and to make roads and bridges, and he asked the hon. members to yote a large portion of the surplus for these purposes.

Whereupon a regular row occurred. The members for Aitutaki (3) got on their feet, and demanded that the money should be fairly

divided, saying, " Omai to matou moni ki kai matou," which means,-"Give us our money to eat," further demanding to know how all moneys were spent. They seemed to think that duties were levied simply to divide out the proceeds to buy them food and clothes. AH the members then joined in a regular argument, and thu chairman, after repeated calls to order, dismissed the meeting till the following Friday, June 24-.

On that day, after the meeting had been opened, the member for Arorangi (Tindmana's district) notified the chairman that he had received orders from his ariki and chiefs to resign, and that Arorangi would secede from the federation, not recognising Makea as Pa of the Government. Tepou explained to Parliament how Makea was elected, told the member for Arorangi that ho and his people were acting under bad advice, and further told him that they would not be allowed to withdraw from the federation.

He then again adjourned Parliament, and a meeting of all the arikis will be held to go into this matter. Mr Moss has a stormy time before

him. His instructions hamper him iv dealing with these unreasonable people who listen to

the advice of every European that has no stake or interest in tho islands, but simply give their advice in the hopes of raising trouble. These sort of Europens take great trouble in making tho natives understand that they "are to rule

themselves, and that Mr Moss is only here to give advice when called on." Mr Moss should have further powers given him. As it is, his hands are tied. He has to deal with so many

divided interests. There are five islands outside Raratonga, and in these five islands there are : In Aitutaki four so-called arikis, in Atua three, in JUaulcc three, in Maihau three,

and in Maugaia one. All these are jealous of each other, and then in Raratonga there are three arikis, also jealous. Now, to federate this m"ass of superstition and jealousy, Mr Moss wants more power than that of a simple adviser. It seems that New Zea-

lanl is only throwing away money in paying such a resident's salary.