OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12066, 9 September 1902, Page 6

OUR ISLAND POSSESSIONS.

INCIPIENT REVOLUTION. [fkom OCE OWN" COBRESPO.VDE.S'TS.] P.AKOTON'GA, August 28. THE latest news from the island of Mangaia is of importance; the island appears to be in a state of almost revolution. Federal laws arc being disregarded, and one or two natives have taken it on themselves to radically govern the island: trade is almost at a standstill, and these few natives are forcing the people to make produce for them for shipment on their own account. I hear that the Resident Commissioner. LieutenantColonel Gudgeon, is only waiting for the arrival of the Government schooner. Countess of Raufurly. to proceed personally to MaDgaia, and endeavour to put the island in a better position. There is little doubt that a European magistrate, with governing powers, is badly wanted at Mangaia. At present the whole Government is in tie nanus of the natives, aud there being no resident missionary on the island at present for the poor natives to go to for advice, the ruling power is entirely in the hands of a few unruly chiefs, whose only wish is to enrich themselves to the detriment of the good and welfare of the lower classes. An agent of the Catholic Mission, Fattier Bemardtne. of Rarotonga, two weeks ago paid a visit to Mangaia, and a hat went forth that no native was to supply him with any food. Mangaia is a stronghold of the London Missionary Society, but at present without a European pastor. It is to be hoped that the Commissioner's projected visit will arrange matters more satisfactorily, and put affairs on a better footing at Mangaia for all concerned. Aitutakt, August 26. We hud something in the shape of a. mild insurrection hero at the end of last month. The affair happened at the Vaipae Settlement, which is notorious for bush-beer drinking and general disorder. A notice in the Cook Islands Gazette of April 29 last of the members constituting the Aitutaki Island Council was the innocent cause of the disturbance. Because the name of Manarangi Ariki had been inadvertently left out of the above notice— though he was retained as a member of the Council all the same—and Iseraela Tama, an influential native of this side of the island, had been gazetted in place of Tamatoaan absent ariki—these Vaipao malcontents made it a pretext for creating a disturbance, vowing vengeance against Iseraela, and threatening to take up arms over the matter. At the same rime a letter was sent to Isaaka. .Judge of Tatttu. informing him of this disturbance, that the Vaipae people would seize arms "to split men's heads," ann risking that the other districts on the island should remain neutral and. leave the road open for the Vaipae people, to attack the ariki settlements (Reureu and Arutanga). Some of these misguided natives even went, so far as to endeavour to obtain arms at Tautu and other settlements, and it was reported that they were fashioning spears, sharpening axes, etc.: in fact all sorts of rumours were afloat, which caused no little commotion and disquietude on this side of the island, but the Resident Magistrate met the difficulty in a common-sense way. and it went no further. The principal men of the other settlements were- much incensed at the Yaipae ringleaders in this silly affair, and said if it bad happened before law was established hi the island Arutanga would have attacked Vaipae at once in reply to their threats, and would not have waited for them to come over to. this side of the island. The mutter Is being inquired into, and the mischiefmakers will be brought to book.