RAROTONGA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8693, 9 October 1891, Page 6

RAROTONGA.

[FROM our own correspondent.] Ayakoa, September 13. Br the s.B. Richmond'.lsent you a somewhat long letter giving you particulars of the visit of Mr. Moss, the British Resident, to Mangaia, and the result of his work. Since the return of the party, nothing more has been heard from the inland named, bat we are expecting news every day by the schooner Torea, which . is that way bound, and after calling here is to go on to your port. Mr. Moss has recovered from' his illness, and is awaiting an opportunity ;to proceed over to Aitutaki, the only really British possession of this group. _ The schooner Jessie Nicoll arrived here on the 4th instant from your port, and is now sailing back again with a cargo of fruit, etc. A few days back we received a visit from 140 of the natives of Atiu. They came as visitors to Queen MaKea, and they make a very heavy daily drain upon this good lady's larder. Every evening our visitors favour us with exhibitions of their country singing and dancing. •; I have had placed at my disposal the enclosed copies of two letters. The first is from Sir \V. Fox, president of the New Zealand Alliance, to Mr. Ellis, as secretary to Queen Makea, asking for certain information respecting the new liquor law in force here, and the other letter is Mr. Ellis' reply. As other correspondence bearing upon the liquor traffic* of . this group has already been published, it'is thought that the perusal of these two letters will be of interest to all who have business or other relations within this group : — Office of the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, 320, Victoria Arcade, Auckland, New Zealand, 6th August, 1891. Dear Sir, You will no doubt remember in July, IS9O, writing on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Makea, ana as her secretary, to myselt as president; of the New Zealand Alliance for . the Suppression I of the Liquor Traffic, asking for our assistance in stopping the export of intoxicating liquors from New Zealand into the Rarotonga group of islands. The result was that we appealed to the authorities here, and subsequently in consequence of further information, to the Governor of this colony, the Queen's Minister in England, and other personages in respect of the abolition of the prohibitory law, which we were, informed had been hastily abolished at Mr. Moss' instance, and a licensing law enacted in its place. Yon have probably seen in the Auckland Herald the greater part of our correspondence with these authorities, and you would also note the letters of the " correspondent" in Rarotonga from time to time, which were generally unfavourable to Mr. Moss' action in the matter and its result?. In the. Herald of the 4th instant, however, we observe a letter from its "Correspondent," in which the writer expresses his satisfaction at the establishment ot the RarotoDgan Club, accompanied bv some remarks about teetotallers, " Sir William Fox and his co-blue-ribbonites." and says, "So much for the rash statements that are so frequently made by teetotallers, who ought to be as temperate in their speech as tney would wish us to believe they are in the use of the flowing bowl." etc. As the Alliance has relied much on the previous articles of the Herald correspondent, and has dono all that it could to assist Queen Makea in her efforts to secure the sobriety of her people, we feel somewhat annoyed at the tone of these letters, which appears to discredit the attempts which have been made by us to prevent the free introduction of intoxicants into the Isinnds and to assist in enforcing a prohibitory law. We should feel much obliged, therefore, if you would at your leisure favour us with your opinion. on the state of affairs, particularly on the following points Has the change in the law adopted on Mr. Moss's suggestion lessened or increased the importation and consumption of intoxicants in the Islands ? Are the Queen and her .advisers satisfied with the change ? On behalf of the Alliance, I am, etc. (signed) Wm. Fox. To Ellis, Esq., Secretary Queen Makea, Raratonga >'V Karatonga, September - 10, 1891. Sir. — have to acknowledge your letter of the 6th ultimo, aud in reply beg to inform you that I read your letter to Makea Ariki, and she has desired me. in reply to inform yon that before the appointment of Mr. Moss as British Resident she was not pleased with the manner in which liquor was being introduced into this island, and therefore wrote to you asking vour and the Alliance's'assistance 'to stay its introduction. Upon the arrival of Mr. Moss, amongst other questions that came up foe consideration was that of the liriuor, and after a good deal of discussion, it was agreed to try a new law (now in force), and if that did not answer, then total abolition was to take its place. The new law has now been in force some months, and Makea Ariki has instructed me to inform you that, while thanking you for your past efforts on her* behalf, she is quite satisfied with the new law, and that so long as it was worked as at present, she did not see any reason to alter or interfere with it. In further reply to your letter, I have to inform you that the importation of liquors has greatly decreased, and cases of drunkenness may be said to be a matter of the past. Of course, you are aware that any Europeans can obtain supplies of liquor, the supplying to natives being entirely stopped. The only trouble Makea has now is the manufacture of orange beer. That has somewhat increased, and is being largely indulged in by the natives, and it is feared is doing them a groat deal of injury, for owing to the severe fine attached to the making ot this intoxicant the natives get away into the bush, and there make the beer and drink it, and being unable to return home they sleep off their intoxication exposed to the weather in the open, and thus contract lung and other complaints, to which in some instances they succumb. Makea and her authorities are doing their utmost to stop the use of this beer, but it. is a difficult work for them to grapple with; yet as they are earnest in their endeavours I believe they will ultimately, succeed. Referring to the Herald s letters, from here, I believe there was some i annoyance felt at an item which was printed in the Auckland Evening Star referring to the Rarotonga Club as being a drinking don. I have not seen the item, but Lean say that no drink is either sold or kepi in the clubhouse. Further than jiving you this information Makea docs noN wish to interfere further in this matter. Should you wish for aay further information we should be only too happy to do so upon receipt of a letter from you.—l am, etc., H. Ellis. Sir Wm. Fox, President New Zealand Alliance, Auckland. ,

For the past three weeks wo have been compelled to pub up with mo3b miserable weather, alternate rain squalls mixed with strong southerly veering to N.E. gales. Coffee-drying and other outdoor work in consequence has been almost wholly at a standstill. On the sth insb., a dinner was given by Mr. P. Cowan to the residents of Rarotonga at his residence at Matavera. The occasion was to celebrate the fifth birthday of his eldest son, and also to commemorate the little fellow's selection to a chiefs hip of the island,, he having been nominated as successor to the well-known and important Chief Tau, of the district named. By this appointment Mr. Cowan's son ranks third to Mere Taa, Queen of Ngntangiia. There was a large attendance, the British Resident (Mr. Moss) occupying the post of honour. After ample justice had been done to the good things, one toast was proposed by Mr. Moss, and that :was success and long life to the young chief. To this Mr. Wilis, on behalf of the parents and the lad, responded. Dancing, etc., occupied the rest of the evening most pleasantly. During the evening contributions of coin were placed on the floor by the native chiefs and others as a token of their adherence to their newly-elected senior—senior in rank though junior in years. ' ■ ■ ■

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