THE RAROTONGAN DISPUTE.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 3330, 12 January 1898, Page 2

THE RAROTONGAN DISPUTE.

EETUEN OF THE CHIEF JUSTICE. The Chief Justice (Sir James Prendergaat) and his secretary (Mr C. P. Knight) returned to Wellington last night after their visit to Earotonga, where His Honor held an enquiry into the dispute between the chiefs and the British Besident, Sir James arrived at Barotonga on December 24, and left on the return journey to Auckland cn New Tear’s Eve. On the journey from Auckland H.M.S. Torch, whioh proved to be rather a slow vessel, had to slow down to 4) knots an hour for some time on account of heavy weather. The return journey was on the whole a fine one. A call was made at Van Y au the Friendly Islands, for coal, on Tuesday, the 4th instant. The voyage was resumed at 8 o’clock in the evening. Auckland was reached at about 11 o’clock on Monday morning. The Takapnna was just missed, and passage bad to be taken in the Gairloch. The run from Onehunga to New Plymouth was not by any means a smooth one. The Chief Justice caught the train at New Plymouth yesterday morning, and came right through by the Government and Wellington - Manawatn Co.’s line, arriving last night at 10 minutes to 10 o’clock. Though somewhat fatigued by the continuous travelling since his return to New Zealand, Sir James Prendergast is in the best of health after his trip to Earotonga. It is understood that it is quite incorrect to say that the charges made by Earatongan chiefs against the British Besident completely broke down. The fact that evidence was taken for five days of the seven spent by Sir James Prendergast in the group may be taken to show that there was no such thing as a ridiculous collapse of the obaiges. Evidence was taken on Christmas Eve, and also from Monday to Thursday inclusive in the following week. There was a sitting in the morning and another in the afternoon. The afternoon sittings sometimes lastedas late as 7 o’clock. Though the natives talked freely ontside, they showed a strong disinclination to go into details when under examination at the enqniry. A (paper published in the group, the Torea, appears to play some part in the dispute. It is alleged by the natives that it is a Moss organ, A large number of the chiefs display great loyalty to the Queen, Makea. There was a dramatic scene in the course of the enquiry, when about 30 chiefs got up and said, in effect, “ What Makea says we say: remove Mr Moss." Whatever foundation they may hare for their attitude, the chiefs who are in opposition to Mr Moss are determined in-their demand that he should be removed. Among the reasons whioh they advance in support of their demand are his advanced age and his hasty temperament. Sir James Prendergast has brought back with him a large quantity of evidence. Some considerable time is likely to elapse before His Honor’s report is forwarded to His Excellency the Governor.