SOCIAL LIFE IN THE COOK ISLANDS

Evening Star, Issue 12308, 24 September 1904, Page 2

SOCIAL LIFE IN THE COOK ISLANDS

*~ -■- [From Oue PaeiiUmiintabs Erpoanja.] WELLINGTON, September 24. THE OLD ADAM. A curious sidelight on the way justice' may be administered.appears iri a coriinraaicaition .from the Resident Oomrftissloner, which is quoted in tlie annual,report on lite Ccok and dther Islands, which was presented to Parliament yesterday. The native Judges, it appears/considered that they had a right to the fees and fines of the courts, and with true primeval independence they "objected to be governed by any law than their Own sweet wills." One of these 1 gcntlerh'en, described as the worst offender, was an artist in his way, as lie " embezzled" riot le.<s than £59 in one year" by neglecting to enter the cases heard in a court, book. "The Island Council,"' said tht Commissioner; "pretend to make law*, but do not submit thein for approval None the les9 Miringitarigi (the gcntleihari. referred to above) acts ori! these bogus laws, and keeps the small people iri a" strife of subjection, in order that he and his friends may make,a percentage out of the sale of the Island produce." As a result of the Comroisioner's representations, Miringitangi's ingenious administration of justice was stopped by the abolition of the native Judges, and the appointment of a European Resident. . SOME NEW BEVERAGES. While Bcensing riiatters are in th 6 air, some remarks oh. native drunkenness by the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga are interesting. "Three airy effort on the part of the Government would put a etc-p to the drunkenness that may exist in! Rarotonga is an idea that cannot bo' .efitortiiihed for a moment, for the .natives do not depelid f.n imported liquor, but rhaiiufa'cture intoxicating drinks from the orange, pine, apple, and banana. This is aliriost, invariably done in remote valleys, arid Sunday is tho day chosen for the orgie. Punishment does not deter the offenders from brewing more beer than opportunity offers, arid the riu'asiori influence in each cases is nil. Personally. I fail to sec any difference between; the drinikehriess caused by orarige beer arid that which is the" result 6f iriiported liquor." SOME QUEER ENACTMENTS. Village life within the island of Monihiki is the subject of an ordinance quoted in. the report. There are Seine remarKably quaint enactments in the ordinance'. Dogs are to be destroyed. For allowing pigs to wander there is a fine of ss, arid where the unfortunate- pig baa no owner' he is to be killed; Any person wandering about after 9 p.m. may ba arrested, arid fined 2s, unless h e cau give' a good excttse. Owing to the" waste of green cocoanuts on the occasions of births, deaths, and marriages, it is enacted that not more than 1.000 nnts may be gathered for any such festival. The penalty for adultery is 20$, and any ufrmarried man or woman offending againtt propriety or decency does e6 at the risk of a 4s fine. It costs 10s to fight in the streets or break tlie' Sabrftth: