THE COOK GROUP OF ISLANDS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1977, 14 January 1892, Page 18

THE COOK GROUP OF ISLANDS.

In that group of the Pacific Islands named after Captain Cook, and of which Karotonga is the chief, there are at the present moment being worked out problems of a most interesting nature, worthy of close study not only because some of them are object-lessons on subjects agitating older civilisations — as for instance the prohibition question and that of the relation of Church and State — but because they are illustrative of a point of development of missionary influence on heathens reached under almost ideal conditions. Nowhere in the world were the indigenous population so easily made amenable to missionary influence, and nowhere has any heathen race so completely assimilated its own laws and customs to those of a Christian character. The number of islands in the group is seven, and they lie about 1700 miles from Auckland, and about 4000 from Sau Francisco. The total native population is enly some 7 300, and there are something less than 60 foreign residents who are engaged in trade and planting. These are chiefly British, with a mixture of Americans, Germans, French, aud Chinese. Karotonga has a resident missionaiy, aud a native school for the training of teachers. Mangaia has also a resident missionary and a native school, as also has Aitutaki, while the three remaining islands have each a native missionary from Rarotonga. The superficial area of the group is very small — Rarotonga being only 25 miles in circuit, but the group is somewhat scattered, and extends over an ocean surface of about 200 miles in length and about the same in breadth. The soil is fertile, and the islands scenes of the greatest tropical beauty. The natives correspond almost exactly to the Maoris, and are of so gentle a disposition that criaies of violence are almost unknown. They were brought under missionary influence about 60 years ago, and from being fierce cannibals the inhabitants have become amenable to laws of a theocratic character, their code being curiously embellished with texts applicable to each. Their ancient customs, among which the tapu was important, gave way to a system which was chiefly ecclesiastical, and it is significant of the power of the church that excommunication or deprivation of church privileges was one of the most severe forma of punish-

ment. In October, 1888, Captain Bourke, of H.M.S. Hyacinth, hoisted the British flag over tho islands, notifying as he did so that all laws and customs in use would remain in force, and the authority of the arikis or hereditary chiefs would not be inter-

fered" with. Some such step was necessary in the interrsts oE tho islanders themselves. Traders in considerable numbers had found their way there, and there was an absolute certainty that complications would arise, and also the possibility of some alien power stepping iv at some chance moment of confusion and annexing the group. Moreover the unchecked dealings of foreigners with the natives would soon have completed the destruction of the race, which set in immediately after foreign intrusion. Centuries of tribal wars had not been able to effect so great a reduction in their numbers, nor so great a prevalence of disease as one half-century of contact with civilisation.

Mr F. J. Moss, who for some time represented Parnell in the House of Representatives, and who was familiar with South Sea subjects, was appointed British Resident in 1890, and early in 1891 he made a report to the Governor in which he recorded his observations. He considered that tho change from the ancient individual manner of living to the grouping together in villages in order to be near the church and tho school, the introduction of new diseases, the absence of healthy mental stimulus, and the too sudden adoption of European dwellings, habits, and clothing — now universally worn — were doing far more than intoxicating liquor to destroy the race. He also attributes much evil to the adoption of galvanised iron for roofing houses. The iron is used without lining, and without any open space between it and the low walls on which it rests, so that the houses become ovens by day and are correspondingly colder at night. According to Mr Moss' report he appears to have been welcomed by the natives of the group, except those of Mangaia, upon whom he imposed a fine for the illegal expulsion of Mr Pearse, the representative there of Messrs Donald and Edenborough, of Auckland, bub his presence has caused some friction with the traders, whose representative is now in New Zealand with a petition, asking that they may be allowed representation in the newly-formed Parliament. Mr Moss himself is alsQ in New Zealand making permanent arrangements for his stay at the islands. Shortly after Mr Moss' first arrival at the islands there was considerable Btir about his alleged substitution of a permissive liquor law for a prohibitive one. What he claims to have done is to have regulated and reduced to order that which prohibition had failed to effect. There had been a permissive law until 1888, when a prohibitive one was passed. But when he landed he found 19 houses openly and at all hours selling liquor to be drunk on the premises. Of course to effectually enforce prohibition (he proper course would have been to forbid the importation of liquor, but it was impossible to prevent evasion with the means at his disposal. Worse still, the natives secretly resorted to the manufacture of beer made from the pulp of oranges and consumed while in a condition of fermentation, and which is far more deadly than almost any imported liquor. As the natives reaeited a law which applied to them only, and as such a law was unworkable under the circumstances, Mr Moss advised the enactment of a permissive law under which liquor may be sold only to those who hold a permit — if Europeans, from the licensing officer, and if a native from his ariki. The licensing officer has charge of all liquors, and issues them for sale on permit only. Drunkenness is punishable by flue up to sdol, and any habitual drunkard, or any person to whom liquor is known to be injurious, may be prohibited at the instance of his friends, or of the licensing officer, or of a policeman. The policemen, it will be borne in mind, are civil officers, who enforce church discipline, and are proportionately very numerous. Mr Moss declares that the permissive law has produced good results, and his statement is supported by that of the Rev. Mr Chalmers, the resident missionary. The new constitution provides for a Parliament consisting of twelve members, all of them natives, who make general laws, but each island keeps its own form of local government, and elects its members according to local custom. An executive was appointed, and all arikis are ex offido members of it, Parliament meets onceayear, and all

laws are in English and Maori. A Supreme Court has been established for the purposo of differentiating b3twejn offences which are purely civil and those whi.h are ecclesiastical, and which should be dealt with privately by the church. Formerly all offences were dealt with in open court, and all will agiee with the Eesident that it is preferable to have some of them, notably offences against the person, disposed of without demoralising publicity. As to the claim of the foreign traders to representation in the Parliament, it may be said that while it is desirable that representation should invariably accompany taxation, it does not appear that they will suffer by postponement. At present only sufficient revenue is collected by means of an import duty as will suffice to meet the executive needs of the Government. When the Parliament begins (o make general laws it will be necessary to secure adequate representation, but there is no question yet except of the sufficiency of the revenue to meet the simple wants of tho State, and probably foreign councils would hamper discussion in purely domestic affairs.