The Press. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1903 THE MAPOURIKA "REPORT."

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11749, 25 November 1903, Page 6

The Press. WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 1903 THE MAPOURIKA "REPORT."

We have received-copy of on the. famouo visit of the members of the General Assembly to the Cook and other Island*. It it A characteristio circum_tance that this report wAs not hud on the table of the House until some time

after the debate on the Bill to deal with the government of tlie island* bed taken place. It was, therefore, doubly fortunate that members had before them Mr James Allen's intereeting "Impressioos" of the Wands, reprinted from •** The Press," his little pamphlet •erring, it will be remembered, as a text boo- of information to which constant reference wa* mode in the discustion. The official report .now before us conta-Ks a shorthand record of th* interviews and discussions with leading natives, together with, some official statistics which would undoubtedly have been useful bad they been available, as they ought to have been, during the debate on the BO!. Some brief reports by Messrs T. W. Kirk and W. A. Boucher on. the liorticulture of the islands are interesting, and 4o some extent valuable, although rather sketchy, owing, doubtle-s, to the Officer* in qnartion not having sufficient time to go fully into the subject. Is it necessary to add that net only on official reporter, but on official photographer acco-ipanied the expedition! We have heard previously how the Minister in charge of the party endeavoured to emulate his illustrious chief in the length of his speeches, and how, in trying to copy his impreamveneaa of manner, he unfcrtun-tely overdid ft a little. The photographs which i_u*tr*U tiam book show that Mr Mills also shores tho weak-

nees of the Prime Minister for being photographed, especially in conjunction with royal or other important pCTaonageu. Thus we has* Mr "Mills graeioosjy 1»----cciving a present sent from Queen Make*; Mr Mills svotuelly in company with Queen Mokeft and two other. Arikis at Barotonga; Mr Mills, as the cenfr* «c* a group in Makea'a palace; Mr Mills meeting King Togia at Nine, etc., etc. On* oannot but be struck with the almost regal attitude of Mr Mills in all theso picture* He grasps an umbrella with the air of wielding a sceptre. His Panama hat ia planted firmly on hia head, and might be token either for t\ crown or an aureole, according to the augle at which it is viewed. We see no signs of "Hyperion's curls" in' any ot hie portraits, but on every occasion he has i^^- l f»,i the iront ot Jove himnsl! An eye like Mars to threaten and command. An air of gloomy majesty waa icnrcely ever absent from Mr. "Mills's brow, if we may judge from these "wontetfeit presentments," and he generally managed to maintain his commanding air, even under aomewhat difficult circunutanoet, TUta the picture of Mr Mills with Queen Make*, P* Ariki, and THrwrniwa Ariki, at Barotonga, for example. We sm Mr. Mill*, with an elderly iMaori lady In Kuropeen drees on each aide of him, c, wry bene> volent-looking native gentkman forming the fourth of the party. They aro all seated on on ordinary wooden form, and, judging from the pensive and tuMued expression on the faces of the natives, we st flnrt Imagined that there had been a Saltation Army meeting on the islands, and that this waa the penitents' form. A gbuooe at iMr. Milla'a face, however, i« ottficient to dispel thie illusion; at any rate the look of haughty determination which it wean shows that ha at least Is still obdurate and unsubdued. Only in one instance can. we detect any departure from the atern and unbending dignity which must haw created a great impreseion among the natives. This) Is when Mr. Mills ia depicted in the act of planting a ooooanno tree in tbe island of Nine. Instead of attending to buebin and looking at tho tre*, "Mr, Mills, kiveaUng on tho ground, turn* up a menacing «y« at the photograph«c Tha effect i* »s if be waa in the act of taking away s, tree which did not belong to him, and w«* fearful of being detected in the Act*

We turn with tnach i-ttewaot to the " Memorawrutn by Minister hi Charge," Co learn what- are tho t»ttdtetiot_ arrived i$ by Mr MUle ns the result of this netttorahla trip, and whathe baa to propoie ja the way. of poUcy lor the) future. W« sws doomed to Mr JSdfllt, it- is true, indulges hiineali fa <m or two purple paAc-eo. "Look whaw one will," he says, "the rich expansive foliage jjfae. "one tho impression that JSstmm unit " never to get "tared in tbnt tropical region." Th«, ft appeal*, is not ft chawwteTittdo of the natives, juno* Mr Mills deplores the fact that "it ia difficult to 'laatil Into "'their "between »enss.'' Be vseau that the eslaod* behmged "*o> Great' JBrittia before they weivv aime-tnl to New SfeeiAOd, and ■> •trangar deeding the memoraadum might easily 'iufcr t»t the visit of the j£_q-amjte : with Mr Mills on board caved tbe Wands from Wo* fob- -.."-■... - . ''-'.-■ i ' -. ■ bled up by "{Vrtaaay or' some other vocackwa and designing Power. . Bdfe one •ingle practical bat he> te otfer, however, for the imjovmnaut of' th* natives' eoftdJ-an, 'Jar ';the> developtnaot of trade, except that in, tho matter'of' educa-tion-winch "Mr M_li» etyses ''»m adjaj-ot "of dviliMtic*"—4ve the opinion that 1-ngtts-h should W tnaght fat aOJ the sohook. He nsitwef on the »eo»----menda'taon tluft proper boat po«s_ge*fh^d' be cut Owoogh -the rest of hi* -few facte oulkd from thei*ep«rt«of tha Departnsental ofdoers, t_od iptue Jejune re-aarloe *th«reon. Ji we> are to th* Mrtbr-ndum"*a the principal «rJcom**v©f/ 'tho"^iiai(_*v i t»^; : cannot honestly wyfcje worth tike 5960C0 or to +tyeh pmwible, howavex, thai fo tim* to oome the photographs may be regarded at -«t leant tome c*mrpen«a*M- for, thai sxfstkii. tsu« uscarred.,'■..'-.-,■■• ;-..«:■> :".-.'.•.,••