THE COOK ISLANDS. [By Telegraph.] [UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION] Auckland. 25th August.

Evening Post, Volume XLVIII, Issue 49, 27 August 1894, Page 4

THE COOK ISLANDS. [By Telegraph.] [ UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION] Auckland. 25th August.

When the a.s. Richmond left Karatonga Parliament was still in session, but was •xpeoted to close on the 17th instant. The Bill substituting British ooin for the cheap dollar so long in rogne in the islands as the currency has been passed, and comes into foroe at the end of this year. The socond thing of importance done by Parliament was a declaration as to the principles of the Maori tenure of land. Those are different in respect to ownership transfer, and capability of being nsed as a security or seized in payment of debt. The first charge on the land is, according to Maori law, the maintenance of the family, and nothing can supersede that charge. ¦ Nothing exists in writing to show this tenure < anthoritativoly. It would not have been possible to make a law retroactive in its '. (pope, so a form of declaration was adopted, ,

Thin matter cannot be too widely made known, as affecting those who have dealings with Cook Islands, and who may fancy that the oommeroial principles whioh have governed English land laws apply also to thoae of the islands. The London Missionary Sooiety is now building at Oaratonga a school in which English is to be taught, and children from other islands are to be trained in it as teachers. The Baratonga Parliament has made a grant of 1000 dollarH in Bupport of the institution. The ooffee season in the group has been a fair one, and planting is extending en all the islands, the price at present obtainable bei g considered remunerative. Thebanaua trade is also assuming large proportions, Auckland being the market to whioh shipments are sent. A Maori fell over a cliff at Slippery Island, and was killed.