AITUTAKI.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11202, 24 October 1899, Page 6

AITUTAKI.

[FROM OUR own CORRESPONDENT.]

m . . October 3. , 10st important event that has happended here for some time was the arrival last Sunday of the British Resident, Lieuton ant-Colonel Gudgeon and Mrs. Gudgeon. He, as Chief Judge of the High Court, camo to hold a sitting Of that tribunal, and was accompanied by the Registrar of the Court, Dr. W. B. Craig, and by Mr. Fred Goodwin, clerk and interpreter to the Cook Island, Government. They came in the London Missionary steamship John Williams, direct from Rarotonga, together with the missionary party, consisting of the Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchon and Miss Large, of the London Mis' sionary feocioty. The three latter wero 011 their way to attend the annual committee meeting of tho London Missionary Sooioty to bo held at Maugaia, at which'island the John Williams would call on her way back to Karolonga, tho Rev. Mr. Lawrence of this island accompanying the party. Tho only civil case brought before the High Court was one by John Strickland, a half-caste of Aitutaki, who sued tho local Government for tho restitution of Manuae, a small cocoamit island, 40 miles from Aitutaki, formerly leased to him, or in default £100. It appears that the plaintiff assigned the island to the Cook Islands Trading Company for a debt, but he alleged that ho understood at tho time that it was tho copra he assigned, and not the island, that the agreement drawn out by ICohn on behalf of the company was in English only, and they did not understand it. All the witnesses, to a greater or lesser extent, corroborated this viow of the case. The plaintiff's brother, the Rev. George Strickland; London Missionary Society, ill addition, averred that the natives were under the influence of drink when they signed the document, and that none of them knew sufficient English to understand the meaning of the contents. The case was adjourned to Rarotonga for the evidence of Captain Harries and Mr. C. KOIIII. Mr. Large, the revenue officer hore, prosecuted two of the native crew of the John Williams for being under the influence of drink the previous day, and obstructing hint while ho was engaged examining their seamen's chests, which had beon brought on shore. Nearly .the whole of the men of the John Williams belong to Aitutaki, and it is the custom to give them 48 hours' liberty on shore, when the vessel comes to this island, their chests which they bring 011 shore with them usually contain a large quantity of new goods for free distribution amongst tlioir friends; these goods hod previously been admitted freo, but are so 110 longer. The offenders were convicted, and the Chief Judge in imposing a light fine of 10s each, said that a groat deal of smuggling had been done by the men of the John Williams in times past, but in future those convicted of the offence would be severely punished. Tho only other business transacted by the High Court was the investigation of several applications for divorce, four of which were granted, those of three women and one man, and ono deferred.

While he was in Aitutaki the British Resident hold a poll of the people on the liquor question. Mr, Large putting tho questions, and tho Rev. W. W. Lawrence acting as scrutineer. A law just passed by the Cook Islands Parliament, prohibits the making or drinking of bush beer, which lias been such a source of trouble in this island in times past, under a heavy penalty. The issue to be decided by the poll _ was whether the introduction of intoxicating liquors to this island, by the few Europeans here, should be longer continued. All adult natives of both foxes wore allowed to vote, and the result of the poll was that the Prohibitionists won by two to one. Absolute prohibition, as in the case of Mangaia, is now the law of this island, and every true friend of the Maori race will rejoice that it is so, for drink amongst aboriginal native races everywhere has proved to be an unmitigated curse.

Mr. J. T. Large, in addition to being revenue officer and postmaster here, has now been appointed by the Federal Government, Cluct Magistrate of Aitutaki, and as such will exercise complete supervision over the three native judges and the police, none of the former being able to hold a Court unless the Chief Magistrate be present. In the investigation of native land troubles, Mr, Large is invested with powers very similar to those of a judge of the Native Land Court in New Zealand, and is assisted by two assessors, one being chosen by'each of the contesting parties. The administration of justice on this island under the native -judges has long been a scandal,

One of the Chief Magistrate's first administrative acts was to stop a wheel of fortune gambling; machine, which had been demoralising the natives for tlio previous fortnight. This ho did on the petition of the Rev. W. W. Lawrence, and of several leading natives. The British Resident, when ho arrived, confirmed. Mr. Largo's action in this matter,....