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Pages 1-20 of 24

Pages 1-20 of 24

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Pages 1-20 of 24

Pages 1-20 of 24

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1894. NEW ZEALAND.

FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION: PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-6, 1893.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency the Governor

No. 1. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Govbenob. My Lord, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 6th August, 1893. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Federal Parliament remained in session till Ist August. A full report of its proceedings is now being mimographed, which is the only means of printing available, and when completed will be sent for your Excellency's information. Meanwhile I have the honour to enclose copies of the following : — 1. Act for establishing a Federal Flag. 2. Act to settle Doubts respecting certain Divorces. 3. Import Duty Amendment Act. 4. Runaway Offenders Act. 5. To regulate the Carrying of Ships' Lights. 6. Amendment Births, Marriages, and Deaths Eegistration. 7. Appropriation Act. 8. Eesolution re British Currency. 9. Eesolution re Central School for the Teaching of English. 10. Estimates of Eevenue and Expenditure for 1893-94. I have enclosed another copy of the Flag Act under separate cover, with the coloured copies of the flag, as requested by your Excellency. No. 2 was passed with the concurrence of the Eev. W. Lawrence, resident missionary, to settle certain divorces which have been somewhat irregularly made. No. 3 was passed with a view to a uniform standard for the valuation of imports. Hitherto the rate has been $5 to the pound sterling. It will hereafter be $666, which is the current local rate of exchange, and the revenue benefit proportionally. No. 4 is to secure the punishment of offenders escaping from the island on which the offence has been committed. No. 5 enforces the carrying of proper lights by native vessels, the masters of which are negligent in this respect. No. 6 merely authorises the appointment of additional Eegistrars. No. 7 appropriates the revenue for the year ending 30th June, 1894, leaving a probable surplus of $926, subject to a permanent appropriation of $800 for unforeseen contingencies. No. 8 shows the strong desire of the natives for the introduction of British currency. The change would, I fear, be beyond the present power of the Federal Government, and must be left till it is strong enough to bear at least a considerable proportion of the loss, and insure a regular supply of coin in the absence of a bank. The proceedings of the Parliament have been marked throughout by intelligence and order. The progress made by the natives in the conduct of business and in the comprehension of their I—A. 3.

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duties justifies strong hopes of success in this novel experiment of self-government by a Maori people, if a few years be allowed. The establishment of the school for teaching English is now tolerably sure, and would go far to make the success a certainty by opening to the natives new sources of information, imparting new ideas, and creating new aspirations. I have, &c, Fbedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 1. Fedeeal Flag Act. Wheeeas the Federal Flag Act, No. 8 of 1892, was reserved by the British Eesident, and has not become law : It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of Cook Islands : — 1. That the flag for the Federation of the Cook Islands shall be described as in the Schedule hereto. Dated at Avarua, the 31st day of July, 1893. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J, Moss, 3rd August, 1893. British. Eesident.

Schedide. The flag to be in proportions of 3 to 2 in length and breadth, with three equal horizontal stripes—red, white, and red alternately. The Union Jack to be quartered in the hoist, and to occupy one-fourth the flag. In the centre of the Union Jack a white oval shield bearing a cocoa-nut-palm in black. The upper and lower edges of the Union Jack respectively.

Enclosure No. 2. Act to legalise ceetain Divoeces. Wheeeas certain inhabitants of the different islands of the Federation have been divorced in other than the islands to which they severally belong, and it is desirable to prevent any doubt as to the validity of such divorces : It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— 1. That the persons named in the Schedule hereto have been and are legally divorced, and that the remarriage of any of the said persons was and is valid and legal.

SCHEDULE. Rarotonga.

Dated at Avarua, 20th July, 1893. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. 3rd August, 1893. Feedeeick J. Moss.

Husband. Wife. Husband. Wife. Avarua. Miti iaro. Sadaraka. Tere. Mangio. Teora. Tuporo. Oki. Puia. Takaia. Mukula. Ah Tβ. Tuame. Wallace. I Rebeka. Puretu. Noongata. Adinada. Upoko. Ngapoko. Makirua. Matepo. Maraea. Pare. Mana. Pirai. Maitu. Teoru. Kfti. Nooangata. Titih Teava. Taunga. Piri. Unu. Taivairanga. Maki. aveha. Tera. Baku. Ngaoi. Vaevae. Veerua. Mata. Mata wera. Terongo. Aaere. Rauange. Teakakou. Teariki. Arerua. Atiu. Kuti. Vaine. Akerongo. Areauri. Ngaurunga. Paku. Ukarangi. Taura. Takaroka. Koro. Vananga. Ngatokoa. Teakariki. Ngateina. Tiare. Upokofcini. Ani. Akimano. Pare. Ngamata. Pukao. Terangi. Ana. Pukenga. Mauke. Aror •angi. Tipapa. Josepha. Tupuna. Tino. Tiriaere. Tamataia. Ngamata. Tua. Aitu \ta~ki. Ngatangiia. Joe. Manavaroa. Toma. Tesepano. Kirikoi. Parai. Noomaunga. Tauariki. Poitu. Tipoki. Aruru. Pange. Teariki. Manea. Takero. Ruatapu. Tiori. Tekura. Ngapoko. Noea. Pua. Tara.

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Enclosure No. 3. Import Duty Amendment Act, 1893. Whereas it is desirable to define more clearly the original cost and charges of all goods on which duty is payable under " The Import Duty Act, 1881": It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— 1. That the term " original cost and charges till landed at the Cook Islands" shall mean the actual cost to the importer at the place from which the goods are exported, together with the value of the packages of any kind in which the goods are contained, and all charges which have been paid or are to be paid till the goods are landed in Earotonga : Provided always that the original cost to the importer shall not in any case be less than the fair market value of the goods on the usual terms of credit in the country from which they were exported. 2. That the valuation for duty shall be expressed in the currency dollar of the Cook Islands, and that for the purposes of this Act the conversion of British money shall be at the rate of six and two-third dollars for one pound sterling, or of American money at the same rate for five dollars, or of French money at the same rate for twenty-five francs, and for the money of other countries in the like ratio. 3. Drawbacks. —The Government is authorised to allow drawbacks not exceeding two-thirds the amount of duty that may have been paid upon any articles exported after paying said duty to places beyond the Federation : Provided that this section shall not come into operation until the Government shall have framed regulations for safeguarding the revenue and fixing the charges to be paid by persons claiming such drawback. Dated at Avarua, 25th July, 1893. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Frederick J. Moss, 27th July, 1893. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 4. Buna way Offenders Act, 1893. It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands : — 1. That, if any person break the law of any one of the islands in the Federation, and escape to any other island of the Federation, to avoid trial or payment of any fine that may have been imposed upon him after trial, the Ariki of the district from which he has escaped may apply to the Ariki of the district to which he has fled in order that the said runaway may be judged or made to pay the fine due from him. 2. Upon such application, the Ariki of the district to whom it is made shall cause the Judge of the district to inquire into the case, and treat the offence as if it were committed in his own district. He shall pay to the Ariki of the district in which the offence was committed any fine collected from the offender. 3. If any Ariki to whom application is made neglect to refer it to the Judge, or if the Judge neglect to try the case and take due action thereon, the district of the said Ariki shall be fined in such sum as the Federal Parliament may decide, and the fine shall be deducted from any subsidies to be paid to the island in which the district is situated. Dated at Avarua, 25th July, 1893. Approved. To go into operation from this date. Frederick J. Moss, 3rd August,. 1893. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 5. Ships' Lights. It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands : — 1. That every sailing-ship belonging to the Cook Islands, or carrying the Cook Islands flag, shall show the same lights, and in the same manner, as are required by the regulations for preventing collisions at sea now in force for the British shipping, under the Orders in Council issued by Her Britannic Majesty. 2. That the Collector of Eevenue at the Port of Avarua shall be the officer responsible for the due observance of this law, and shall complain of any breach thereof. . 3. The penalty for breaking this law shall be a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars, to be imposed by the Supreme Court on the master or other person in charge of any vessel who is convicted of the breach thereof. Dated at Avarua, the 27th day of July, 1893. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Frederick J. Moss, 3rd August, 1893. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 6. Eegistration Amendment Act—Births, Deaths, and Marriages. It is hereby enacted by the British Eesident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands : — 1. That there shall be in future three registration officers in Aitutaki and three in Mangaia, and that section 3 of the Eegistration Act (No. 2) of 1892 is amended accordingly. Dated at Avarua, 27th July, 1893. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Frederick J. Moss, 3rd August, 1893. British Eesident.

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Enclosure No. 7. Appropriation Act, 1893. It is hereby enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— 1. That the expenditure for the public service for the year ending 30th June, 1894, shall not exceed the sums respectively stated, and shall be applied to the purposes respectively named, that is to say,— 1. Fixed appropriation — $ $ Members of Parliament ... ... ... ... 360 Subsidies to local governments ... ... ... 2,400 2,760 2. Collection of revenue ... ... ... ... ... 320 3. Supreme Court ... ... ... ... ... ... 120 4. Post Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 130 5. Shipping office ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 6. Paymaster and Clerk to Parliament and Government ... ... 150 7. Auditor ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 8. Expenses, Chief of Government ... ... ... ... 200 9. Interpreting and clerical assistance ... ... ... ... 180 10. General contingencies ... ... ... ... ... 500 11. Ngatipa (maintenance) ... ... ... ... ... 150 12. Parliament House ... ... ... ... ... ... 900 13. Printing and stationery ... ... ... ... ... 300 14. Passages of members ... ... . . ... ... 90 15. Draining road Ngatipa and bridging creek ... ... ... 160 Total: Six thousand one hundred and forty dollars... $6,140 2. That the Paymaster shall not issue any cheques in payment of accounts unless formally authorised by the Chief of the Government, after they have been certified by the Auditor as being in accordance with this Act. 3. The bankers of the Government shall pay only such cheques as are signed by the Paymaster and countersigned by the Auditor. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Frederick J. Moss, sth August, 1893. British Resident.

Enclosure No. 8. Resolved, " That this Parliament earnestly desires to see British money used instead of the present South American currency, and that the Chairman write to the British Resident asking his advice and assistance in procuring this money for the Federation." 27th July, 1893. Tepou o te Rangi, Chairman.

Enclosure No. 9. Resolved, "That, if the London Missionary Society establishes the projected central school in Rarotonga for the teaching and training of boys and girls from all the islands, including the teaching of English, this Parliament authorises the Government to make agreements for assisting the school by payment of $20 yearly towards the maintenance of the pupils, the total sum in any one year not to exceed $1,000." Rarotonga, 11th July,-1893.

Enclosure No. 10. Estimate of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ending 30th June, 1894.

'evenue. Estimated, 1892-93. Received, 1892-93. Estimated, 1893-94. Import duty Postage and stamps Miscellaneous $ o. 4,650 00 300' 00 80 00 9 o. 3,755 46 1,635 27 112 38 $ c. 4,000 00 1,650 00 100 00 Balance in hand, 1st July, 1893 $5,000 00 $5,503 11 5,750 00 1,316 20 $7,066 20

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Expenditure.

No. 2. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, sth September, 1893. In accordance with my instructions to report specially from time to time on the working of the liquor-law in these islands, I have the honour to state that during the unusually prolonged stay of H.M.S.' " Eingdove " not a single case of drunkenness occurred, either among the ship's men or the natives. The foreign residents are, on the whole, a sober community, but among them are a few—a very few lam glad to say —confirmed inebriates. Among these few some cases of open drunkenness occurred after the departure of the " Eingdove." The licensing officer received authority to close the bond for three days. No liquor of any kind was issued during that time, and the place reverted to its normal condition of sobriety. I have, &c, Febdeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. British Besident.

No. 3. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenob. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, sth September, 1893. I have the honour to report to your Excellency that H.M.S. " Eingdove " left Earotonga on the 19th August, having been detained for twenty-five days in connection with the necessarily protracted proceedings of the Judicial Commissioner, Mr. Eoss, to which I have referred in another despatch. I enclose copy of a letter written by me to Lieutenant and Commander Bain on his departure, covering letters of thanks from the Ariki Makea and from Judge Te Pou to Dr. Andrews, who had been indefatigable in his attendance on the sick, and performed many operations among them. There being no resident medical man in these islands, Dr. Andrews's report on the health and condition of the natives, which I hope to receive from him by an early mail, is likely to be of great value. The "Eingdove" is to call at Penrhyn, Manahiki, and Palmerston Islands on her return to Samoa and Fiji. I have, &c, Frederick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. British Besident.

Voted, 1892-93. I Expended, 1892-93. Vote for 1893-94. 1. Fixed appropriations,— Members of Parliament Subsidies— Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke ... Aitutaki .. Mangaia Earotonga 2. Collection of revenue, — Collector ... Revenue officers 3. Supreme Court, — Chief Judge 4. Post Office,— Chief Postmaster Postmasters, 3 @ $10 5. Shipping-master 6. Paymaster and Clerk to Parliament and Government, &c. 7. Auditor 8. Expenses, Chief of Government 9. Interpreting and clerical assistance .0. General contingencies, rent, stationery, &c. .1. Ngatipa .2. Parliament House and furniture .3. Unauthorised .4. Printing and stationery .5. Subsidies to local governments and inspection .6. Passages of members .7. Draiuing road to Ngatipa and bridge over creek 8 c. 360 00 300 00 300 00 300 00 300 00 200 00 120 00 120.00 100 00 30 00 80 00 150 00 $ c. 360 00 200 00 120 00 120 00 100 00 30 00 80 00 150 00 8 o. 360 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 600 00 200 00 120 00 120 00 100 00 30 00 80 00 150 00 100 00 200 00 180 00 290 00 150 00 750 00 800 00 100 00 200 00 180 00 237 47 150 00 750 00 788 08 100 00 200 00 180 00 500 00 150 00 750 00 800 00 300 00 2,625 00 2,625 00 90 00 90 00 160 00 Total ... $7,455 00 $6,316 55 $6,940 00

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Enclosure. Sir,— I have the honour to enclose letter from Queen Makea and letter from Judge Te Pou thanking Dr. Andrews for the kind services he has rendered to the natives of this island during your ship's stay. I shall feel obliged by your giving the letters to Dr. Andrews, and I take the opportunity of adding a request that Dr. Andrews would kindly send me at his earliest convenience a report on the health and condition of the natives of this island. His opportunities of investigation have been very great, and a report would be proportionally valuable. I am also asked by Makea to express her own and her people's appreciation of the courtesy and kindness shown by yourself and your officers. To this you will permit me to add that the excellent behaviour of your men during an unusually prolonged stay has been to the natives a very gratifying example. I have, &c, Fbedeeick J. Moss, Lieutenant and Commander Bain, E.N., H.M.S. " Eingdove." British Eesident.

No. 4. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 9th September, 1893. Having given considerable pains to get accurate and sound information respecting the past and present institutions of the Maori people of these islands, I have compiled the enclosed paper, which I hope your Excellency will find of sufficient interest to excuse its unavoidable length. Submitting it for your Excellency's consideration, I have, &c, Febdeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. British Eesident.

Enclosure. The Maoei Polity in the Island of Eaeotonga. By F. J. Moss, British Eesident. On the 19th of August, 1893, died Mana-Eangi, chief of the Vakatini branch of the Makea family. He was the son of the great chief Te Pou, whose portrait forms the frontispiece to the Eev. John Williams's " Missionary Enterprise," published in 1835 or 1836, who protected the Tahitian teacher Papeiha, landed under great difficulties in 1823 to open the first Christian mission in Earotonga. Mana-Eangi was then a young man, and took an active part in the protection of the teacher. His age must therefore have been between eighty-five and ninety. His memory was clear to the last, and I had frequent opportunities of obtaining from him, through an interpreter, much interesting information as to the past, and gaining a more clear idea of the present which has sprung from it. Mana-Eangi was the last intelligent living link connecting the old times with the new, and his death seems a fitting occasion to put on record as complete a sketch of the Maori polity as my imperfect knowledge will permit. In 1823, when the mission was begun, Earotonga was, as now, divided among three tribes, each with an independent Ariki at its head. Frequent and sanguinary wars, cannibalism, and the most cruel punishments and practices were the prevailing characteristics. The destruction of life and of food was continual. Polygamy was the rule, with much intermarrying of near blood relations. Conjugal fidelity was enforced among the women, but girls before marriage—though not till of full age—were allowed the greatest liberty. Men approaching them before full age were punished with extreme severity, and very often with death. Marriage was usually with a view to promote the aggrandisement of the family or tribe, and often against the feeling of the parties most concerned. There was no divorce, but the husband might put away his wife for adultery, and administer club law to the male offender. The family—a group of agnates and adopted children—was then, as now, the unit in the State. The authority of the head of the family over lands and possessions was absolute, and carried with it as absolute a consequent control over the members. Community of property was the family rule, though a member might cultivate for himself any particular portion, and keep the produce for his own use —if he could. The gradations of rank were definite, authority was strictly maintained, but intercourse between persons of all classes was, and still is, marked by the most perfect" freedom. Every one knew and kept his own position; but to outward appearance, or to the casual observer, the Ariki, in a mixed assembly, was scarcely to be distinguished from the humblest of the people. None took permanent service in any capacity, and domestic service in our sense of the term was unknown. Land was the great object of ambition. Other forms of property were few. The land carried with it the obligation to support the family, and could not be diverted from that object. The various families were united with kindred families under a chief of the Ngati, known by that chief's ancestral name. The Ngatis in their turn were united under the Ariki of the vaka (or whole tribe). The vaka (canoe) consisted, in fact, of the Ariki and his or her kiatos, a name derived from the spars which connected the canoe with the outrigger (or ama). The kiatos thus consisted of all the tribe excepting the Ariki where the tribe was referred to, of all the Ngati excepting the chief, and of all the family excepting the head, when the term was applied to either of them respectively.

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The whole tribe, or vaka, was known by the name of the Ariki who first led its ancestors to Earotonga. Mataiapos (orgreat chiefs), Bangatiras, Komonos, and, lastly, the Ungas, constituted the tribe. Each of these will be referred to hereafter. The heathen Church and State were practically one. Sometimes the Ariki himself would be the priest, and the awful power of tapu was acknowledged and felt by all. The tapu itself often did good service in the absence of positive public law, and was the most formidable weapon which Church and State could wield. In a community so organized, and with property so limited, the rule of the father of the family sufficed for all ordinary needs. Public laws scarcely existed, and the few relating to land and its incidents were well understood. There were no Judges and no police. Councils of greater or less importance and scope were convened in accordance with the subject to be considered. The person calling the Council would be expected to provide a suitable feast. No one presided at the meeting. No records were attempted ; and the opposition of any powerful chief would prevent a decision, which would only be, in that case, impracticable, and lead to trouble. Contracts were unknown. If land were given, or any other event of importance occurred, a feast gave the stamp and due publicity. The installation of an Ariki was marked with great ceremony, and certain families officiated, by hereditary right, on such occasions. In the case of a Mataiapo (or great noble) the funeral feast was followed by another in which the head of the best and largest pig was set aside for the successor. If taken without dispute the succession was thereby publicly made known. As a rule, disputes, if any, were arranged beforehand. This practice is still observed, and in nothing is more scrupulous care shown than in the distribution of food among the guests in due order of rank and precedence. The pig's head goes invariably to the person of highest rank among them. In 1827 or 1828 the Eev. Mr. Pitman became Eesident Missionary in Earotonga, and was visited by the Eev. John Williams from Eaiatea. They formed a code of laws, but did not attempt to embody in them any of the Maori usages with reference to land or inheritance. The new code related to persons, and chiefly to moral offences or breaches of the Church law. A Judge was appointed for each division of the island, and trial by jury decreed, but, so far as I can learn, never carried out. The Judges were assisted by a numerous body of police appointed by the Ariki, enrolled in the records of the Church, and consisting only of Church members. This police, irresponsible and under no direct control, incessantly spied upon and harassed the people. The fines that they could extract from delinquents formed their sole pay, and were divided at stated intervals between the Ariki, the Judge, and the police. As an episode of that time, Mana-Eangi, one of the most respected and staunch supporters of the Church throughout his life, assured me that the revolt of the people of which we read—the repeated burnings of the house of Tupe, the Judge, and the determined attempts to revert to heathenism—were only caused by the brutality with which the new laws were enforced by the Judge and the police. The most severe public Hoggings and confinement in wells dug in the ground were common punishments for offences which the new law had created, but which public sentiment had long regarded as no offences at all. Mana-Eangi afterwoods took office as Judge, at the request of a new Ariki, for the express purpose of putting an end to this state of things, and held that office, with the love and respect of his own people, and of the foreign residents, till age compelled him to retire. I have referred to this at some length, because it seems to me that this terrible police, with its constant espionage, has done much, both in Earotonga and in all the islands, to counteract the good which the missionaries themselves achieved; they kept the place in perpetual hot water and childish strife. In many obvious ways they lowered the tone and demoralised the people. In Avarua there were six sections, and some of these sections numbered as many as fifty police each, while the whole population of the district, men women and children, could not at any time during the last seventy years have exceeded 2,000. It is now probably about 750 or 800, and the police, failing fines, have happily fallen to three for the whole district. The circumstances of the island induced the Mission to establish three separate stations —one with each Ariki. This was probably unavoidable, but it crystallized the old divisions, and they exist still in all their pristine vigour. The sovereignty of an Ariki was not and is not territorial. It is claimed over all his or her people, whether in the district or beyond. Thus, only last year a crowd of 250 Mangaians came on a visit from their island (120 miles distant) to the people of Earotonga. While here, the Mangaian Judge, who was one of the visitors, held court, and fined Mangaians long resident in Earotonga for offences of drinking, concubinage, &c, and took the fines with him for division among the police and Judges of Mangaia. The population of Earotonga in 1827 must have been at the least 6,000. John Williams speaks then of a congregation of 4,000, and of schools with 3,000 on the rolls. To-day the population of the whole island is probably under 2,000. Why they should hold their own under war and cannibalism, and fade away under the blessings of peace and civilisation, has never been made clear. Some of the reasons alleged would apply equally to the negro races of the world, who yet increase and flourish. But that some undiscovered cause has sapped the vitality of the Polynesian race is too evident. Bum, in their case, and especially in Earotonga, most assuredly is not the cause, whatever other there may be. Turning now to the present time, — (1.) The constitutional unit is still the family (the kopu tangata), which flourishes in all its vigour, though causes incidental to extended production and trade are quietly sapping its influence, and must lead to its decay. It gives a refuge to all, and under it there cannot be pauperism, which is an inestimable gain. But this family communism kills energy and enterprise in a people naturally clever and adventurous, and while it lasts no adequate material progress can be expected. Within the family—with often two or three generations living closely together or under the

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same roof —quarrels and jealousies are frequent; but no member wronged by any other member would think of seeking legal redress, even where the family land had been fraudulently alienated. Between separate families bitter feuds will arise, and be sometimes extended to the Ngati and the tribe. Pride of place and power are the strongest passions, but find vent in a corporate instead of an individual form. The adopted members are numerous in every family, and indistinguishable by any title from the rest. They have the same rights and are under the same obligations. The child adopted is sometimes given in charge to a foster-mother as soon as born; at others the child is left with the parent till weaned. In the latter case the adoptive parent has to provide the mother with the best of food, and to find all necessaries for the child till taken away. The adoption is marked by the usual feast, all the family and friends being present on the occasion. This system of adoption is so old and constant that mothers part with their babies apparently without a pang, but its tendency must be to weaken very materially all family affection. The child adopted must belong to kindred families in order to enter at once into the family. If from other tribes or people he does not become a member till formally admitted, and may at any future time be cast out. Children in this position are known as tama ua (children of the thigh). If a daughter marry, she enters her husband's family if of the same island. If the husband be of a different island, he may be taken into the wife's family during her life. If she die before him she may by oral will have declared that he is not to be disturbed in his relationship. Her will is religiously respected. The head of the family is known to and recognised by all, and the family is designated by his name, with the prefix of ngati applied in this case as in those of larger aggregations. 2. The first aggregation is under the chief on whose land the families have been settled. The sub-tribe thus formed takes its name from the chief, and has almost invariably a common ancestor. To the chief's name the word ngati is prefixed. The power and influence of the chief thus depend on the extent of his land and on the number of the families settled upon it. 3. Lastly conies the Ariki, under whom are many Ngatis. The Ariki's own landed possessions may or may not be extensive. That depends chiefly on whether the ancestor has parted freely with his conquests among his followers, or retained them. Bank and Power. 1. The Ariki is supreme, but largely controlled by the Mataiapos (or nobles). A new Ariki is named by the Arikis of the other tribes from the Ariki family of the deceased's tribe. But the confirmation depends on the Mataiapos, as the installation rests with them. They regard the Ariki as only the first among equals. The Ariki of one district may, through land tenure, be a Mataiapo in some other. 2. The Mataiapos are the most powerful class. Their families have held the land from time immemorial on conditions of public service well understood. If, for any reason, one be displaced, a successor must immediately be appointed from the members of the family. The title and the tenure of the land are perpetual, and cannot be disturbed or interrupted. The heir is the eldest son, unless the holder of the title name another son before his death. The will so declared is obeyed or contested according to the circumstances of the eldest son, and has been the cause of serious quarrel. 3. Bangatiras hold under the Mataiapos, under the Ariki, or other independent land-owner. Their services are public and honourable, but are rendered at the call of the owners of their land, and given to the public in his name. 4. Komonos are the second sons of Eangatiras by a second wife, half-brothers of the eldest, who is the rightful successor. The Komono is of right one of the family. 5. Ungas are the lowest. They hold their land by sufferance, and their services are personal and menial. Their origin is obscure. Mana-Eangi held that they were the descendants of the Maori people found by the first colonists, with whom they quarrelled, and by whom they were conquered and made slaves. Others believe them descended from discarded tama Has, and other offending members of families whose land has been taken from them. The name itself is attributed by some to that of the hermit crab, which lives in the shells of other fish. Others attribute it to the practice of giving them the smallest tuber (the unga) from the tubers of the arrow-root when divided for food. Certain it is that in every division of food at a public feast the Ungas have their share, however small and poor. As slaves this would hardly have been the case. They would have been served apart, and not with the rest.* Land. Very little rural land has been alienated by lease for a definite term and at a definite rent. That held by foreign residents is almost entirely in the Maori tenure, and carries with it the Maori obligations. The chief of these is being overrun by the numerous relations of the native wife, who treats the European as quite one of the family, and, it must be admitted, are perfectly ready to be treated by him in the same way. But in the townships a peculiar state of things has arisen. To bring the people nearer to Church and school a considerable area was set apart in each settlement, and given in trust to the Mission. Any one was entitled to build his house, and have a plot of land in the settlement free of charge, and to be held by him and his family so long as they liked. Many built on these terms, and the system lasted without change for half a century. But about twenty years ago traders began to desire better premises. Pressure was then brought to bear upon the Mission by the great chiefs who had originally given the land in trust. After considerable resistance the pressure was successful. The chiefs resumed possession of such land as remained unoccupied,

• Unga is, no doubt, connected in root with the New Zealand word hunga, which means " folk," " people."— Editor.

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leased it to traders, drew the rent for themselves and their families, and do so to this day. The leases are for periods extending to thirty years, and many are renewable, but, as few of them are yet registered, their exact condition is unknown. Political. The Council for Earotonga still largely retains its old characteristics. Lately it has acted under a chairman, and a record is kept of its proceedings; but the Arikis are always present, and debate or deliberate consideration of any measure is impracticable. The feast as a preliminary has been discarded, which in itself is a great gain. The chief drawback is that chairman, clerk, and others must be appointed as men of rank and without regard to fitness. Public opinion has outgrown the early laws so far that the police found the fines fall off materially. This has led to their gradually quitting office, till the number has fallen to three in Avarua—amply sufficient, as little or no legal crime is ever heard of. In the two other districts, with fewer foreign residents, the growth of public opinion in this respect is slower, but none the less sure. In order to organize a proper Government and Legislature, to pay those intrusted with the administration of justice, and to advance the community generally, a stable revenue is required. In order to raise that fairly it must be levied somewhat in proportion to the ability to bear the burdens, and the Council must be reorganized before this can be effected. I have suggested to the Arikis that they should confine themselves to the right of revision and veto, and leave the Council to be elected by the heads of households without distinction. The Mataiapos insist so far on a separate representation. This would involve a separate representation for the foreign residents, who could not for a moment be placed with the Bikirikis, or common people. If the objection of the Mataiapos can be overcome—and I hope that wdth patience it can be—the Council could be elected by all without distinction, including the foreign residents, one or two of whom might expect election by the natives, whose confidence they have obtained. A Council so formed would be a very great advance, but so far I have not been able to obtain its acceptance. An attempt to properly regulate the election of the Council at Aitutaki has also so far failed, owing to the opposition of the Arikis and old chiefs, who consider that it is "cutting off their heads" to establish such a system. There are, however, many of the more intelligent and the younger who strongly desire the change. The contest will do both sides good in preparing them better for its use when attained. The Federal Parliament stands out as an example, and its influence is being silently felt. Each island sends to it three representatives, chosen as the people of that island may decide. It meets in a house built for the purpose out of the revenue of the Federation. The meeting is on a fixed day, and without being called by any chief in particular. The members are mixed, and many of them of the younger and more advanced generation. The proceedings are in perfect order, and controlled by an elected chairman. A record is properly kept, and questions are decided by the majority. There is an Executive, with Makea as its elected chief. Its operations in a financial point of view have been successful, and a revenue —modest enough in amount —has been raised by import duties and postages sufficient to meet all legitimate demands. The authority of the Government has been shown by the recent extradition of a fugitive charged with a criminal offence from Tahiti, and by the fine levied on the Ariki by whom he was sheltered and protected in Atiu. That fine has now been paid. The example offered by the Federal Parliament, the extension of trade, the increasing wants of the people, the division of labour and its various power of earning according to the skill of the workman, are all tending to destroy the communism of the family and to substitute a system depending on the qualifications of the individual. Eashly or hastily effected, this great change is capable of destroying what is good in the old system and of creating great evils in its place. The capacity of the Maori of this and of the islands of the Cook Group is undoubted. The vessel they are now completing at this island —a schooner of about 100 tons —planned and built entirely by themselves, is of itself a sufficient demonstration. If changes are not too suddenly forced upon them, and free play is given to their faculties by the teaching of English (which the London Missionary Society, I am glad to say, have determined on making part of their mission work without delay), I entertain the strongest hope that the native people of the Cook Islands, able to read English books and trained to self-government, will exercise an important influence in the future over the multitude of islands to which they already have contributed so many missionaries and teachers. The spread of that influence must carry with it the influence of New Zealand, with which the Cook Islands are in such close intercourse, and to which they will be so largely indebted for the help and guidance they now receive.

No. 5. His Excellency the Goveenok to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sib, — Government House, "Wellington, 21st September, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 16, of the sth September, 1 informing me of the departure of the " Eingdove " from Earotonga, and enclosing copy of a letter to Lieutenant Bain. I am glad to learn that you are to obtain a medical report from the surgeon of that ship as to the health of the inhabitants, as it will be valuable for reference. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. Glasgow. 2—A. 3.

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No. 6. His Excellency the Govebnok to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 21st September, 1893. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 17, dated sth September, with a special report as to the working of the liquor-law, and I congratulate you on the satisfactory condition of matters therein disclosed, which appear to be due, in the first place, to the efficacy of the said law, and, in the second, to the manner in which it is administered. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. • Glasgow.

No. 7. His Excellency the Govebnoe to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 21st September, 1893. I have to thank you for your valuable paper on " The Maori Polity" in the Island of Earotonga. It gives a succinct account of the manners and tribal customs of a most interesting branch of the Maori race, and I shall have much pleasure in asking the Government to have it printed among the papers connected with the Cook Islands Protectorate, and also request them to allow it to be published in the " Journal of the Polynesian Society." I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. Glasgow.

No. 8. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 26th September, 1893. I have the honour to enclose translation of a law, passed by the Earatonga Council on the 22nd instant, to reconstitute the Council and to form a Government for the island. The move is important, as the Council has hitherto been much impeded by the presence of the Arikis, and by the absence of elected members to represent the people generally. 2. The chief difficulty was with the Mataiapos, who have really ruled the island. They were loth to share their power with any other class, but gave way on my insisting that, if they retained the power of sending representatives, the foreign residents must have the same right, and could not be classed with any inferior order of the people. 3. The foreign residents will now have the same voice as the natives, and those of them who enjoy the confidence of the natives will have no difficulty in finding support as candidates if they desire to come forward. 4. The Council itself will certainly be more effective as a deliberative body, and the establishment of an Executive will, I hope, be the forerunner of improvements necessary to the progress of the island. A favourable opportunity having offered of visiting the other islands of the group, by a trading vessel that will spend a sufficient time at each island, I leave to-morrow for the purpose, and shall probably be two or three weeks away from Earotonga. Proper arrangements have been made so that the elections to the new Council may proceed in my absence, if necessary. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident. His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. To RECONSTITUTE THE COUNCIL AND GoVEENMENT OF EaeOTONGA. It is hereby enacted by Ihe British Eesident and by the Arikis and Council of Earotonga : — 1. That the present laws, Nos. 4 and 6 of 1891 and No. 1 of 1892, are hereby repealed. 2. That the Earotonga Council shall consist of two Houses —namely, the House of the Arikis and the House of the people. 3. The House of Arikis shall consist of all the Arikis of Earotonga. 4. The House of the people shall consist of twelve members, namely : — (a.) The three Judges of Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu respectively. (6.) Three members to be appointed yearly—namely, one by the ruling Ariki of each district. (c.) Six members to be elected yearly—namely, two by the men and women over twentyone years of age in Avarua, and who have lived not less than twelve months in that district; two in the like manner for the district of Arorangi by its people; two in the like manner for the district of Takitumu by its people. 5. The members shall be chosen from among the men of all the island, and may or may not live in the district for which they are chosen. 6. Ail foreigners who have lived in Earotonga for not less than one year before the election shall be entitled to vote, and may be elected as members. 7. All laws and resolutions shall originate in the House of the people. If passed by them, the law or resolution must be sent to the Arikis. If they approve of the law or resolution, it shall be

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sent to the British Eesident, and shall not be valid till approved by him. The British Resident shall also fix the date when such law or resolution is to take effect. If the Arikis' House has not approved of the law or resolution passed by the House of the people, it shall not go on to the British Eesident, but be null and void. 8. The House of the people shall meet on the 16th day of October in the present year (1893), and on the 15th day of August in all future years. The House may be called together at any time for a special session by a majority of the Arikis. If the appointed day of the meeting be Sunday, the meeting shall be held on the following day. 9. When the House of the people meets for regular session, one of its members shall be elected chairman for the whole year. 10. The place of meeting for the House of the people shall be the Parliament House in Avarua, subject to consent of the Federal Parliament. 11. The House of the Arikis shall meet in such place and at such times as the three ruling Arikis may direct. 12. The work of the Earotonga Council will be to maintain order and peace, and do all that may be necessary for the good of the whole island. But each Ariki will, as heretofore, rule within her own district. 13. The decision of the majority of the Council shall bind the whole Council. The decision of a majority of the Arikis in the House of Arikis shall also bind the whole. 14. The first elections for members of the people shall take place at such time and in such manner, on or before the 14th October, 1893, as the House of Arikis may direct. 15. The Government. —The Government of Earotonga shall consist of the Arikis. The Ariki who is to convene the Government or sign papers and documents for the Government is the Ariki of Arorangi. 16. If any Ariki desires that the Government should be called together, it shall be called together accordingly within five days of notice of such desire having been given. Dated at Avarua this 22nd September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-three. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Fbederick J. Moss, 22nd September, 1893. British Eesident.

No. 9. Mr. F. J. Moss, to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord,' — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 13th November, 1893. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I returned to Earotonga on the Ist November, having been away nearly five weeks, instead of the two or three weeks as anticipated. The detention was fortunate, as it enabled me to deal, in all the islands, with the administration of justice, and to place it on a sounder foundation. 2. The system so long in existence, which gave the Judges and police the power of dividing all fees and fines of Court among themselves as their only official pay, after setting aside a proportion for the Arikis and Mataiapos, who were thus involved in its meshes, has been fully referred to by me in previous despatches. I need only say that increased experience has deepened my conviction that there could be no hope of progress with the widespread demoralisation which the system produced. Officials of all kinds become chiefly extorters of money, or of moneys worth, and the people not only suffer grievous oppression, but lose all heart in its resistance. 3. Mangaia —at which 1 first called—is an exceptionally strong illustration. In it the original system has always been most rigidly enforced, and the authority of the police most strenuously upheld. Being delayed there for ten days, the opportunity was favourable, and I am glad to say that I induced the local Council, after a hard struggle, to pass an Act reducing the police to twelve men, paying them and the Judges from the Federal subsidy, and appropriating all future fines and fees of Court to the public revenue. The remainder of' the police thus disbanded number no less than 143. Most of them are men of influence, and all of them are church members, and they will be likely to give some trouble yet before settling in their new position, and accepting as final the loss of power and of the privileges which attend it. That they will ultimately settle down and apply themselves to coffee-planting and other useful pursuits I entertain no doubt; but no possible evil resulting from their disbandment can be so great as the mere existence of this arbitrary and irresponsible body of 155 men in a population of little more than 2,000, which is that of Mangaia— men, women, and children all told. In maintaining the new law the local government will be supported by the body of the people, and they most likely will find able leaders from among the better-disposed and more intelligent of the old police, many of whom perceive and admit readily the mischiefs of the old system. 4. At Mauke, Mitiaro, and Atiu similar reductions in number and similar appropriations of the fines and fees to public revenue were much more easily effected. The action taken by Mangaia was accepted as a precedent, and similar laws were passed in these islands. 5. At Aitutaki the difficulty was nearly as great as in Mangaia, though for different reasons. The system had long been much relaxed by the resident missionary (Mr. Lawrence) at Aitutaki, and the people were not under the terrorism that so strikingly prevaiLed at Mangaia. But their Arikis had quite lost their hold upon the people ; and the struggle for power, and for the police privileges which followed, was creating much bitterness and confusion. A proposition to form the Arikis into a separate House (as recently done in Earotonga) was rejected almost unanimously. They were satisfied with the existing constitution of their Council, and finally agreed to reduce their police to twelve, to pay them from the Federal subsidies, and to appropriate fees and fines to public revenue.

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6. I have returned well content with the work done, and with strong hope of its striking a heavy blow at the corruption in official life which under the old system was inevitable where Maoris, as a rule,, were concerned. The Judges and the police will no longer have any interest in the imposition of fines, and in the seizure of articles of all kinds to enforce payment, in the most extortionate and arbitrary way. Crime, in the legal sense, is very rare in all these islands. The offences of which these police take cognisance are almost exclusively against the moral law. A very wide field is not only thus opened for their exactions, but the moral sense of the whole people is blunted by unceasing espionage, by a total absence of security from intrusion at all hours of the night or day, and by the fullest publicity being given to every breach of morality. Nor can it be doubted that among the police themselves were a large number that required quite as much looking after as the people in whose affairs they so actively meddled. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Feedeeick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

No. 10. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loud, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 15th November, 1893. I have the honour to report that the elections for the Earotonga Council were completed satisfactorily during my visit to the other islands, and that the Council met at the appointed time, the 16th October. The Council then adjourned till my return, as the Arikis were not agreed as to the address which I had suggested for the opening, and left for their consideration. The chief feature in this address (copy enclosed) was the suggestion that the Council should devise some means of pa\ing the Judges and police of Earotonga fixed yearly salaries, and appropriate the fees and fines to public revenue. The question is more complicated in Earotonga than in the other islands, as the Federal subsidy is not sufficient to meet the larger expense required ; but this difficulty will, I hope, be overcome now that the new Council has been formed. Your Excellency will observe that while Queens Makea and Tinomana are quite ready to adopt the new proposals, Queen Pa, of Ngatangiia, absolutely refuses to allow her district to be interfered with, and has expressed her determination to adhere to the present system. After giving the matter careful consideration, I have advised that her wishes should be attended to, and her district remain under the present system. I feel confident that when her people see the lighter fines and greater freedom sure to follow the adoption of the new system in adjacent districts their dissatisfaction will be great, and compel Queen Pa to ask for the application of the new system to her district also. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G. British Eesident.

Enclosure. [Tbanslation.] To the Council of Earotonga. We have much pleasure in welcoming you as the first Council under the new arrangements, and we hope that your deliberations will lead to the doing of good to the people, and to the advancing of Earotonga. Much is required, and you will think of it for yourselves; but we suggest for your consideration—(l) To put the Arikis' Courts into a suitable condition so that the Judges may receive a regular pay, and not be dependent on the fines which the Courts impose; (2) to see that the police are made as few as possible, and that they also are paid regularly. The fines can then be made much smaller than they are now. They will not be taken by the Judges and the police, but will be paid into the Earotonga revenue. This is the system in all civilised countries ; and, until it is also the system in Earotonga, people cannot feel confidence in the Courts, or that they will get justice in them. In order to make this great change money will be required. It will be for you to say how that money shall be got, so that every one may as nearly as possible, pay in proportion to his means. Those who have much, let them pay much; those who have little, let them pay little. You have already at your command for the next year f 900, and will have to receive from the Federal Government $600 ; estimated revenue from licensing-fees for 1893-94, $600 : total, $2,100. Full accounts of the revenue and expenditure for the last year ending 30th June, 1893, will be laid before you. There are many other things which require to be settled ; but putting the Courts into a proper state, and settling how the money shall be obtained for that, for the making of roads and keeping them in order, for the making and repairing of bridges, and for getting a doctor and a hospital, to save so many of our people from suffering: these are things which it will be for you also to consider. As to schools, we are glad to tell you that the society is establishing one for teaching and training young people, and teaching them to speak English. This school will be at Nikao, and boys and girls from all the islands are to be taught in it, so that they may in their turn go forth and teach others. The Federal Parliament has voted $1,000 a year from the revenue to support

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the children at this school, so that you will not have to provide anything from the Earotonga revenue for that good work. We commend you to God's blessing. Makea, Ariki. Kaeika, Ariki. Earotonga, 16th October, 1893. Tinomana, Ariki. Pa, Ariki, and Kainuku, Ariki, object to these proposed changes, and will not agree to them for their district. For the Government, Tinomana, Ariki.

No. 11. Mr. F, J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 11th December, 1893. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Earotonga Council resumed its sittings on the 17th November, and remained in session until the Bth December, debating during the thirteen sitting-days what to them were very delicate and difficult questions, arising out of the changes proposed in the administration of justice and the appropriation of the fines and fees of the Arikis' Courts. 2. The Ariki Pa, of Takitumu, continued her opposition to any change. Every effort was made to induce her to concur with the Arikis Makea and Tinomana, but she claimed the control of the Ariki's Court, and of the fines which it levied, as an inherent right included in those rights guaranteed to her when the flag was hoisted at Ngatangiia. Finally, as the other Arikis did not agree with her, Pa directed the representatives of the Takitumu District (four in number) to withdraw from the Council, and take no part in its proceedings. These gentlemen, being either in their own persons or through their wives or relatives holders of land from which the Ariki might, under various pretexts, summarily eject them, withdrew accordingly, though with evident regret. 3. The Council proceeded with its work, and resolved, under the circumstances, to make the law applicable to the whole island, instead of making it optional with Takitumu, as had at first been intended. 4. At the final meeting of the Arikis' Council to confirm the laws that had been passed, Pa attended in person with her counsellors, and again declared that the law should not be brought into operation in her district. She was informed that so long as order was maintained, and life and property were secured, no attempt would be made to force the new law upon her or her people. At the same time she was made to understand that her Court would not have the power or the authority of the other Courts which were supported by the law, nor could any of the money appropriated to Ngatangiia be paid till the law was adopted. Ido not entertain any apprehension of difficulty. Pa's people will support and obey her from habit and tradition, but I have little doubt that she will herself be glad to adopt the new system when she sees it working in adjacent districts. 5. I enclose the Acts which were passed during the session. No. 1, 1893, was the Act reconstituting the Council, and forwarded in my despatch to your Excellency of 26th September. The Acts now enclosed are—No. 2, Administration of Justice ; No. 3, Fixed Appropriation (Arikis and Mataiapos); No. 4, Fixed Appropriation (Judges); No. 5, Appropriation for Year ending 30th June, 1894. 6. The Arikis and Mataiapos having now permanently commuted their share of the fines of Court, this question cannot be again raised if the general revenue of the island should increase. 7. As the payment of Judges and police, as well as the above fixed appropriation, does not begin until Ist January next, there was no necessity to provide additional revenue for the current year. To devise some system of equitable taxation suitable to the place and sufficiently elastic will well occupy the next session, and be more easily understood now that the administration of justice has been dealt with. 8. I also enclose papers laid before the Council —Statement of Account for 1892-93 : Statement of Eevenue for 1892-93, Statement of Expenditure for 1892-94, Estimate of Eevenue for Year 1893-94. 9. I trust that your Excellency will approve of the changes made during the present session. They would have been impossible with the Council as previously constituted. 10. The London Missionary Society is vigorously pushing on arrangements for building its central school in this island. English will be taught, and provision made for boarding pupils from other islands. 11. The Bishop of Magare, Vicar Apostolic of the Soman Catholic Church at Tahiti, has informed me officially that he intends to establish a mission in Earotonga. A missionary of long standing in Tahiti —Father Eict —was sent to ask from myself and from the native Government assurances of protection. I replied, and Queen Makea on my advice also replied, that no special assurance was required, but that the same protection would be given as to other persons residing in these islands. A school, at which English will be taught, is also to be connected with this mission, and will be under the charge of two English or Irish ladies. A house and land have been purchased, and the mission will be opened about March or April next. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Frederick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

Enclosure to No. 8.

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Enclosure No. 1. Administration op Justice. It is hereby enacted by the Council of Earotonga, with the approval of the British Eesident: — 1. That from the first day of January, 1894, all fines and fees received by the Arikis' Courts shall be paid to the Clerks of the Courts respectively, and deposited by him at the end of each month with the Ariki of the district to which the Court belongs. 2. At every annual meeting of the Earotonga Council the Arikis shall send the money in their hands to the British Eesident to be appropriated by the Council for public purposes. But none of the said money shall be appropriated by the Arikis, Judges, or police. 3. The Judges shall send monthly to the British Eesident a statement of the cases brought before them and their adjudication thereupon. 4. A Judge may at any time enrol special police for an emergency if the ordinary police are found insufficient to preserve the peace or enforce the decisions of the Court. But such police shall be appointed for a special purpose only, and may be paid at the rate of half a dollar per day while employed. 5. The police shall be appointed by the Ariki, and after appointment be under the direction of the Judge. 6. Any policeman may in case of need call upon any bystanders, in the Ariki's name, to assist him, and any person refusing to give such assistance shall be fined, not exceeding twenty dollars. 7. Any person resisting a policeman in the execution of his duty shall be fined, not exceeding twenty dollars. Dated at Avarua this 24th day of November, 1893. Approved. To come into operation on the Ist January, 1894. Feedeeick J. Moss, Bth December, 1893. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 2. Fixed Appeopeiation (Aeikis and Mataiapos). It is hereby enacted by the Earotonga Council, with the approval of the British Eesident: — 1. That the sums hereinafter named shall henceforth be paid from the revenue of Earotonga, in place of a proportion of fines hitherto paid from the fines levied by the Arikis' Courts. 8 » To the Ariki of Avarua, per year ... ... ... ... 200 To the Arikis and Mataiapos, per year ... ... ... ... 70 270 To the Ariki of Arorangi, per year ... ... ... ... 150 To the Arikis and Mataiapos, per year ... ... ... ... 50 200 To the Ariki of Takitumu, per year ... ... ... ... 150 To the Arikis and Mataiapos, per year ... ... ... ... 50 200 2. This law shall come into operation on the Ist day of January, 1894. Dated at Avarua the sth day of December, 1893. Approved. To come into operation on Ist January, 1894. Feedeeick J. Moss, Bth December, 1893. British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 3. Fixed Appeopeiation (Judges). It is hereby enacted by the Earotonga Council, with the approval of the British Eesident: — 1. That the sum of $440 shall be paid yearly to the Judges of Earotonga, namely :— * To the Chief Judge of Avarua ... ... ... ... ... 200 To the Chief Judge of Aroraugi ... ... ... ... ... 120 To the Chief Judge of Takitumu ... ... ... ... ... 120 Total ... ... ... ... ... ... $440 This law to begin on the Ist January, 1894. Dated at Avarua the sth December, 1893. Approved. To come into operation Ist January, 1894. Feedeeick J. Moss, Bth December, 1893. > British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 4. Appeopeiation Act, 1893. It is hereby enacted by the Earotonga Council :— 1. That the sum of $2,392-50 shall be expended in the manner prescribed in the Schedule attached hereto. 2. That all accounts shall be certified by the Auditor as within the vote in each case, and according to the Schedule.

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3. That Makea Daniela is hereby appointed to keep the accounts and to issue cheques, which shall not be paid until they are countersigned by the Auditor. Dated at Avarua, this 6th day of December, 1893. Approved. To come into operation from this date. Fbedeeick J. Moss, Bth December, 1893. British Eesident.

Schedule. a c. 1. Clerk of Council and Government ... ... ... ... 50 00 2. Paymaster (six months) ... ... ... ... ... 35 00 3. Auditor ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 00 4. Eent of bond ... ... ... ... ... .. 36 00 5. Clerks of Court (six months) — Avarua ... ... ... ... ... ... 45 00 Arorangi ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 00 Takitumu ... ... ... ... ... ... 30 00 6. Police (six months)— Avarua (3 policemen) ... ... ... ... 120 00 Arorangi (2 „ ) ... ... ... ... 60 00 Takitumu (2 „ ) ... ... ... ... 60 00 7. Interpreting and other general contingencies ... ... 200 00 8. Fixed Appropriations, No. 3, 1893— Arikis and Mataiapos.(six months) ... ... ... 335 00 9. Fixed Appropriations, No. 4, 1893— Judges (six months) ... ... ... ... ... 220 00 10. Maintenance of roads— Overseers, Avarua ... ... ... ... ... 200 00 Arorangi ... ... ... ... ... 100 00 Takitumu ... ... ... ... ... 100 00 11. Liabilities for roads (outstanding) ... ... ... ... 294 00 12. Expenses of Council ... ... ... ... ... 80 00 . 13. Eoads and works (Avarua) to be certified to by the members for Avarua ... ... ... ... ... ... 350 00 14. Inspection of above, 5 per cent. ... ... ... ... 17 50 Total: Two thousand three hundred and ninety-two $2,392 50 dollars and a half.

Enclosure No. 5. RAROTONGA COUNCIL. Statement of Accounts foe Yeab ending 30th June, 1893. Bevenue for Year ending 30th June, 1893. ' 9 o. Liquor permits ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,330 74 Special subsidy ... ... ... ... .. ... 1,000 00 ' $2,330 74

Expenditure for Year ending 30th June, 1893.

1 No. Vote. Amount. Vote. Service. Amount expended. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 t 30 20 36 60 20 24 140 300 Clerk to Council Auditor Eent of bond Interpreting Paymaster General contingencies Wheelbarrows, &c. Works (special) Roads, — Taakaru and Pokoinu Pokoinu and Toreaira Toreaira and Taakaru >-. . $ c. 30 00 20 00 36 00 47 00 20 00 6 00 135 50 9 10 11 800 500 800 800 00 500 00 21 00 Total $1,615 50

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Revenue. * o. Per statement ... ... ... ... ... ... 2,330 74 Balance Ist July, 1892 ... ... ... ... ... 965 43 $3,296 17 Expenditure. Per statement ... ... ... ... ... $1,615 Liability for works on road Toriaira and Tuakarua ... 779 2,394 50 Balance, Ist July, 1893 ... ... ... $90167 I hereby certify that I have examined the above accounts, and compared the vouchers therewith, and find the same to be correct. Earotonga, 4th July, 1893. J. Scabd, Auditor.

Statement of Fees levied on Permits for Liquoe received by and due to Licensing Officers, Earotonga, from Ist July, 1892, to 30th June, 1893. Amount of fees upon— So. 9 c 166 T \- dozen bottled beer @ 30c. ... ... 50 00 68 T 8 jj „ wine @ 60c. ' ... ... ... 41 20 535|g „ spirits @$3 ... ... ... 1,607 94 1,699 14 Disbursements. Salary ... ... ... ... ... ... 360 00 Printing tickets ... ... ... ... 8 40 368 40 To J. G. Gamier, Licensing Officer ... ... ... $1,330 74 I hereby certify that I have examined the above accounts, and compared the vouchers therewith, and find the same to be correct. Earotonga, 4th July, 1893. J. Scaed, Auditor.

Enclosure No. 6. Estimated Revenue feom Ist July, 1893, to 30th June, 1894. 8 c. Balance in hand, Ist July, 1893 ... .. ... 90167 Subsidies from C.J. Parliament for year 1893-94 ... ... 600 00 Liquor permits for year 1893-94 ... ... 500 00 Fines from Arikis' Courts ... ... ... ... ... 400 00 Total ... ... ... ... ... $2,401 67

No. 12. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 11th December, 1893. I have the'honour to acknowledge receipt by the October mail, which arrived in November, of your Excellency's despatches of the 21st September, acknowledging receipt of mine of various dates. I have to express my appreciation of the favourable opinion your Excellency is pleased to give on the paper upon " Maori Polity," and to thank your Excellency for that opinion. My despatch No. 25 by this mail will show your Excellency that your suggestion as to caution in the levying of taxation has been attended to. Dr. Andrews writes me that his report on the sanitary condition of the island and diseases of the islanders has been posted in Sydney, but it has not yet arrived. A copy shall be sent to your Excellency when it is received. I send herewith the proceedings of the last session of the Cook Islands Parliament. It is the first attempt at a blue-book by mimograph, in the absence of means of printing, and its shortcomings will, I trust, be on that account excused. Intercourse with the islands being rare at the coming season, I propose availing myself of my provisional leave, and hope to be able to proceed to Auckland by the "Richmond." I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c, Fbedebick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

See Enolosure to No. 1.

No. 13. His Excellency the Goveenok to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sic, — Government House, Christchurch, 26th December, 1893. I have the honour to forward you the accompanying despatch under flying seal from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific enclosing a blank commission appointing you, or such

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person as you consider qualified, a Commissioner of the High Commissioner's Court for the purpose of administering oaths, &c. It will, I think, be satisfactory if you can accept the office. As the double jurisdiction under which the Cook group of islands is at present administered is now unworkable, I am addressing Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies on the question, and am suggesting that they should be placed for the future entirely under the High Commissioner. I have, &c, Glasgow.

No. 14. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Auckland, 3rd January, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's despatch of 26th December, enclosing one from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, with a blank commission for the appointment of some person qualified to administer oaths as a Commissioner of the High Commissioner's Court. In obedience to your Excellency's opinion, I will write to the High Commissioner by the first opportunity accepting the Commissionership, which will not in the least interfere with my duties as Eesident. With regard to the future administration of the Cook Islands, referred to by your Excellency, I have only to express a hope that in any change which may be made their autonomy will continue. To raise up within them a native race of Maoris capable of self-government must, if the experiment be successful, have a material effect on the future of the great number of the islands scattered over the Pacific which are individually too small to support European teachers and missionaries, and also the future of outlying parts of the larger islands and of New Guinea, to which the Cook Islands contribute many missionary teachers. I have full confidence that if allowed a reasonable time for development the experiment will be successful, especially now that the natives are to be taught English. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Frederick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

No. 15. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — . Auckland, 3rd January, 1894. I have the honour to enclose Dr. Andrews's report on the health of Earotonga, which I received by last mail via Tahiti, through Lieut.-Commander Bain, of H.M.S. " Ringdove." The report is a press copy only; and I would have had it recopied, but did not wish to lose time, as, if your Excellency think fit to have the report printed, it would be an advantage that the printing should be done at once, in order that I might correct the proof before returning to Earotonga. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Frederick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Besident.

Enclosure. REPORT ON THE HEALTH OP RAROTONGA, COOK ISLANDS, BY O. W. ANDREWS, M.8., 8.5., SURGEON R.N. General Diseases. Group A. — Sub-group 1. Smallpox. —Unknown. Measles.— Unknown. Enteric Fever. —No case occurred during my visit to the island. Yellow Fever. —Unknown. Cholera. —Unknown. Dysentery. —This disease, I was informed, was very prevalent amongst the natives during the summer months (December, January, February, and part of March). One or two cases occurred at Ngatangia during our stay, but I did not see them. Leprosy, which is usually treated under the head of specific febrile diseases, is alluded to in this report under the heading of skin-diseases. Group A. — Sub-group 2. Ague, Remittent Fever. —Occasional. Cases of malarial fever are met with from time to time in persons who have visited other islands, but the Island of Barotonga appears to be singularly free from the malarial poison. Group A. — Sub-groups 3 and 4. Erysipelas. —No case came under my notice. This disease, which is so frequently met with in temperate climates, is much less frequently met with within the tropics. As it is not unknown in other tropical places, I have no doubt that occasional cases occur in Earotonga. 3—A. 3.

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Syphilis. —This disease is very common amongst the natives. I saw a great many cases of it, both in the secondary and tertiary stages. When it attacks a native it appears to be excessively virulent, which would indicate that syphilis had only been recently introduced—by recently I mean within the last hundred and fifty years. Syphilis was probably introduced into the South Sea Islands by the people engaged in the various navigating expeditions, and also by those engaged in trading in more modern times. M. Nollin, surgeon of the frigate " Boussole," commanded by La Perouse, when he visited the islands of the South Pacific, stated that syphilis was prevalent prior to the arrival of the Europeans. If this had been the case, Ido not think that one would come across cases, as one does nowadays in the islands, in which the symptoms are so severe. The longer a people have been under the influence of a specific poison like that of syphilis the less severe will be the symptoms when they are attacked by it; and conversely, the shorter the time and the less diffused the poison has become amongst them so much more grave will be the symptoms. Syphilis is no doubt one of the causes which predispose to phthisis, which is so common amongst the natives of Earotonga, and of which we shall speak later. Abortions are common in the islands, and to a large extent may be accounted for by the syphilitic condition of the mothers. I saw only one case of inherited syphilis (this one a case of pemphigus infantilis, which I haye alluded to under the heading of skin-diseases), but this would be explained possibly by the virulence of the complaint, which destroys the foetus in the uterus, few syphilitic children being born alive, and then probably only born to live a few weeks. Gonorrhoea appears to be common amongst the natives. They have their own remedies for it, which, according to them, are most efficacious, and so that those cases which I came across were only those which occurred in people suffering from some other complaint. I think that long-stand-ing neglected gonorrhoea (in the females), combined with a too early, frequent, and promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, will go a long way to explain the low birth-rate of the native population. lam indebted to Mr. P. J. Moss, the British Eesident at Earotonga, for the following figures: In 1892 the birth-rate for the Cook Islands was 175, and the population was between 6,000 and 7,000, so, taking 6,750 as the population, we have a birth-rate of 25-92 per thousand. In 1885 the birthrate in England and Wales was equal to 32-5 per thousand. Group B. — Animal Parasitic Affections. Worms. —I met one case of hydatid disease of the liver, and sub-peroniteal tissue in a native named Taukuru, which ended fatally. The man had been some time in New Zealand on a station, and it was shortly after leaving New Zealand that he first noticed the swelling in the region of the liver, and also to the right side and slightly above the umbilicus. Tania solium. —l did not meet with any one suffering from tape-worm (Tania solium). Ascaris lumbricoides, the common round worm, is very prevalent amongst the children. Alcoholism. —Drunkenness, thanks to the legislation of the island, is reduced to a minimum, intoxicating liquors being only obtainable at intervals of a week, and in moderate quantities, on the presentation to the excise officer of a written order signed by some responsible person. They can, however, become more or less inebriated by drinking orange-beer, a mild intoxicant which the natives themselves brew. The drinking of kava is unknown in the island. Group D. Rheumatism. —I met with numerous cases of this amongst the older people; but I was surprised not to meet with more cases than I did when one considers how much of their time the people spend in the water, either bathing or fishing. I should consider the climate of Earotonga one which would prove beneficial to any one suffering from rheumatic affections. Gout. — Unknown amongst the natives. Scrofula is common, as one would expect amongst a people with whom tubercular disease is so prevalent. It shows itself chiefly in enlargement and suppuration of the lymphatic glands, abscesses, and osteitis and caries of the bones. One case which occurred in a young married woman, in which there was extreme ulceration of the skin of the right foot and ankle, with caries and necrosis of three of the metatarsal bones of the same foot, old ulceration in the popliteal space and contraction of the ham-string tendons on that side following synovitis of the knee-joint, necessitated amputation of the right foot above the diseased skin. The patient prior to the operation was in a weak and miserable condition, but rapidly improved both in health and spirits after the amputation. At the time when we left Earotonga, nearly a month after the amputation was performed, she was doing well, and had regained her health very considerably. Local Diseases. Diseases of the Nervous System and Organs of the Special Senses. It has been said that the lower nations are in the scale of education and civilisation the less the frequency of insanity amongst them, a statement which is supported by the testimony of all those who have been brought in contact with savages and uncivilised or semi-civilised people, the reason for which is not far to seek. Man in his primitive condition suffers from none of the anxieties and worries inseparable from the life of man in a civilised country, where the struggle' for existence is carried on not with the hand but with the head. Primitive man leads a life only a little removed from that of the lower animals, and consequently his brain, only partially developed, and incapable of any great mental effort, is never unduly taxed, and therefore runs no risk of giving way under too great a strain. I saw no case of insanity on the island, nor did I hear of one. Idiocy, which arises from a different cause to insanity, is occasionally met with, but it is very rare. I met with one case of deaf-and-dumbness in a boy aged about twelve years. Neuralgia is a complaint the natives suffer from, but only to a small extent.

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Diseases of the Eye. Cataract is not uncommon amongst the aged, the commonest variety met with was the central or nuclear cataract. I saw two cases of pyramidal cataract, which had followed purulent ophthalmia and corneal ulcer. Several cases of muco-purulent or catarrhal ophthalmia were met with; they readily yielded to treatment. Corneitis is fairly common, the commonest variety being the phlegstenular ulcer. Pannus. —l met with one case of this, which was due to trichiasis, or ingrowing of the eyelashes. Tarsal tumour, or Meibomian cyst: I met with one case of this. Inflammation of the Lacrymal sac was frequently met with. Strabismus (or squint), which is common in many of the islands, is not often met with in Earotonga. Ido not remember to have seen a single case of it. There was one case of paralysis of the lower extremity, caused by fracture of the spine at the twelfth dorsal vertebra. The ma.n had fallen some few weeks previous to our arrival from a breadfruit tree. Paralysis .of the lower extremity, bladder, and rectum was complete. There was an enormous bed-sore over the left tuber ischii, which from its size and depth would in all probability shortly prove fatal. I have mentioned this case not as having any bearing on the health of the island, but rather on account of its having been brought under my notice during our visit. Diseases of the Circulatory System. I did not, though I examined many people, come across one case of organic disease of the heart, or of aneurism. Varix among the old was frequently met with. Phlegmasia Alba Dolens. —l had under treatment one case of this most painful affection. Phlegmasia dolens is a painful adematous condition of the leg (usually the left one), which sometimes follows parturition. This case was no exception to the general rule as regards the site, but, instead of following parturition, it preceded it, she having been pregnant when it first appeared about eight months ; nor was this the first occasion on which she had been similarly affected, for she had suffered in like manner during two previous pregnancies. When called to see her I found the left leg swollen, painful, smooth, and of a very waxy appearance, pitting very slightly on pressure. She was unable to move the leg. This complaint, though generally when met with associated with pregnancy, is not necessarily so, for it is occasionally met with in persons suffering from phthisis and. carcinoma. I regret that I did not examine her lungs, but her appearance was certainly not that of one suffering from tuberculosis, nor do I think that she was subject to carcinoma. She was a native of Aitutaki Island, and left before we did. Diseases of the Ear. With the exception of the case of deafness already referred to, no case was met with. Diseases of the Bespiratory System. Diseases of the Larynx. —Chronic laryngitis is frequently met with—in fact, it is rare to meet with a native whose voice is not hoarse, or peculiarly harsh and strident. It arises from any of the following causes, which are given in the order of relative frequency : (1.) Over-exertion of the voice, the result of too early and too prolonged use of the voice. It is a common thing on the death of an important personage for the young people to sing from 8 o'clock in the evening till 6 o'clock the next morning- with only short intermissions, during which they take such refreshments as tea, cocoanut-water, or orange-beer, and biscuits. These sing-sings, or, as they call them, hymenies, are kept up for several nights. But singing and dancing are not confined to obsequious ceremonies ; they are carried on more or less every evening; but it is after a death, or some important national event, that the singing is conducted with most spirit and energy. (2.) Tubercular laryngitis, or laryngeal phthisis. (3.) Syphilitic laryngitis. All these three causes are frequently combined in the same individual. Catarrh, associated with cough, is common, and is often attributable to the habit of bathing, or going out in the rain in their thin calico clothing, and allowing the clothes to dry on them. Another pernicious habit is that of wearing a number of clothes during the heat of the day and discarding them at night, when they assume the loin-cloth, a garment which would be most suitable for use at all times, but which foolish ideas of propriety, which have been instilled into the minds of the natives, lead them to consider too scanty. Bronchitis. —Chronic bronchitis, so common amongst the middle-aged or old at Home, is rare in this island, for this reason : Tubercular phthisis, so prevalent amongst young people, claims its victims usually before the age of thirty, so that the weakly people most likely to suffer in old age from lung-affections have all been eliminated, only the strong attaining to old age. Pneumonia. —No case seen. Phthisis. —Tubercular phthisis, which we have already said above is so common on the island, is the most serious complaint with which we have to deal, and is the principal cause of the death-rate, which the British Eesident, Mr. Moss, says is so fast increasing. According to Mr. Moss, who is the only person on the island who appears to have given a thought to the question, the number of deaths in the group last year (1892) was 135, and, taking 6,750 (as we did before when considering the birth-rate) to be the number of the population, we have a death-rate of 20 per 1,000, which is not in itself an alarming death-rate, for to refer to the death-rate for England and Wales, we find that the mean annual death-rates for the years 1851-85 were as follows:— *

* These tables are from a handbook of hygiene and sanitary science, by George Wilson, M.A., M.D.

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Years. Recorded Death-rate. Corrected Death-rate. 1851-55 ... ... ... ... ... 22-66 22-75 1856-60 21-80 21-77 1861-65 ... ... ... ... . . 22-58 22-46 1866-70 ... ... ... ... ... 22-42 22-25 1871-75 ... ... ... 21-96 21-87 1876-80 ... ... ... ... ... 20-82 20-71 1881 ... ... ... ... ... 18-88 18-88 1882 19-56 19-57 1883 19-54 19-54 1885 ... ... ... ... ... 19-00 19-00 The corrections are an allowance made for deaths of persons not belonging to the district, and for persons belonging to the district which occur outside it. But this death-rate, which is not in itself alarming, becomes so when we consider the smallness of the birth-rate. The question now arises, How is it that phthisis, a disease known to exist for a very long time, has only in recent times reached the Pacific and commenced its ravages ? for there is no doubt that phthisis is a recent importation to the Pacific Islands. We have said, when speaking of syphilis, that we considered it as having been introduced by the early explorers to the South Sea Islands. There is a doubt, and many think good reasons for doubt, as to the introduction of phthisis in this manner. Be this as it may, I think there is no reason why we should not attribute the introduction of consumption to the influence of civilisation, which has wrought so many changes in the natives, and to the direct importation of tubercular virus. "In the light of recent knowledge," to quote from Dr. Alfred H. Carter, " tuberculosis must be regarded as a specific infective disease which only arises on the introduction within the body of a specific bacterial organism which alone constitutes the tubercular virus"; and, again, Dr. Bristowe* says, .... " Careful inquiries, guided by our newer knowledge, are every day rendering it more and more certain that the disease is contagious, and that its spread is due to contagion." It was not till the process of civilisation had well commenced that the decrease in population began. It is not in Earotonga or the adjacent islands alone that the introduction of civilisation has brought about this dire calamity, but it is almost in every island in the Pacific, whether you take such far distant places as the Solomon Islands and New Hebrides, or Fiji, Samoa, and the Society Group it is the same in all; though tuberculosis is not blamed in all cases (notably Fiji), yet I think if the matter were thoroughly investigated they would find it to be far and away the most important factor in the case. In the Island of Aneityumf the Beverend Lawrie informed LieutenantCommander Bain that in three years the population of that island had decreased from 750 to 710; and at Tangoa, an island off the coast of Espiritu Santo, in the New Hebrides, the population in five years had decreased from 103 to 68. During our stay in Earotonga there were six deaths in Avarua alone, two of which were due to phthisis, the first being that of Puananga, who died on the 30th July, 1893, from tubercular enteritis, the second that of Toupako Vania, who died eight days later, on the 7th August, from acute pulmonary phthisis. I saw a great many cases in various stages, the majority being of the chronic type; the few that were of the acute type were far advanced. I think there is a greater number of people on the island suffering from consumption, taking into consideration its population and size, than I have ever seen anywhere else. To sum up, I consider the marked increase of the death-rate of late years is owing to the introduction by Europeans of the tubercular virus, which has found a most favourable nidus in a people debilitated by syphilis and excessive venery, who are clean in their persons, though dirty in many of their habits (such as expectorating on'the floor or walls of their houses), who have been given clothes but not taught how to use them. Tobacco-smoking is commenced at too early an age, and the practice of inhaling a large number of cigarettes every day by the women and even young girls cannot but be detrimental to their health. Drink may have in the earlier days aided in the work of the destroyer, but I think that the number of its devotees was from necessity small, and could only have exerted a slight influence. It is by no means an uncommon thing to hear men and women who have given some thought to the subject say that most of the evils wrought by civilisation are the work of the missionaries. This is no doubt, like many a similar sweeping assertion, to a certain extent true. The missionary has no doubt, like many another European has, brought his quota of the bacillus tuberculosis, but this is not chargeable against his sacred vocation as an introducer of the blessings of Christianity. What I would venture to blame them for is the introduction of radical alterations in dress and mode of life. Many of the missionaries, and generally those whose work has been attended with the greatest amount of success, have endeavoured to alter the dress and habits of their converts as little as is compatible with their change of faith ; but by far the greater number have completely changed the whole system of native living with one exception, and that an important one—viz., the introduction of hygienic reforms into their houses and villages. Of the evils connected with clothing I have already spoken, so nothing more need be said of that. I would say, then, let he that would introduce important changes in the life of any race think carefully before he does so, for to introduce some of the changes which have been made is t<s incur a responsibility the vastness of which only those familiar with the result can appreciate. Diseases of the Digestive Organs. Quinsy is not so common as it is among Europeans. Dyspepsia is very common amongst the middle-aged, especially the female portion of the population. This is in part owing to the large quantity of preserved meats consumed by them whenever their funds will admit of it (not to defective teeth, so fruitful a source of dyspepsia with

* "Theory and Practice of Medicine," 6th edition, 1887. t New Hebrides.

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Europeans), and in part to the habit of smoking cigarettes, of which they smoke and inhale (as has already been said) a large number during the day. Ascites. —One case of abdominal dropsy came under my care in the person of a woman named Muter, aged about thirty-three, which I attributed to peritoneal tuberculosis. As frequently happens in these cases, the tubercle has appeared in the peritoneum and lungs, but not in the bowels; the latter, when I saw her, showed no signs of ulceration ; doubtless the involvement of the bowels is only a question of time. I performed paracentesis on the 27th July, when a little over five gallons of clear straw-coloured fluid was withdrawn. She was greatly relieved by the operation, but about a fortnight later signs were not wanting to show that the peritoneal cavity would soon be filled again. Hernia. —l saw one case of congenital hernia in a man aged about thirty-two, which first appeared three or four years ago ; it was of enormous dimensions, but could be easily reduced. I think that hernia is less common amongst the native population than amongst Europeans. Diseases of the Lymphatic and Glandular Systems. Under this heading the most important complaint to be met with is that condition known as strumous disease of the glands, to which allusion has already been made when speaking of scrofula. Diseases of the Mouth. Banula. —l saw one case of ranula in a boy aged fifteen, which was cured by simply making a free incision into it, and clearing out all the contents of the cyst. Diseases of the Urinary and Generative Organs. Diseases of the Kidneys. —None came under my notice. Stricture of the Urethra. —One case. Hydrocele. —l saw no case amongst the natives. One case, which had attained enormous dimensions, I saw at Earotonga, but as it occurred in a European nothing more need be said of it. Elephantiasis scroti. —This complaint, which is frequently met with in Fiji and Samoa, where a scrotum weighing 501b. is by no means uncommon, does not appear to affect the natives of Earotonga to any great extent. I saw two cases, but they were both of moderate proportions. The disease is believed to be produced by the jigger-worm (Filaria medinensis) or the Filaria sanguinis hominis, which act by blocking up the lymphatics. Diseases of the Connective Tissue and Skin. Scabies. —l met with only two cases of scabies, in the persons of a European and his native wife. The Earotongians are naturally a very clean people, abhorring dirt about the person, so that diseases like scabies and phthiriasis, so common amongst the Solomon-Islanders and NewHebrideans, are very uncommon. I have no hesitation in attributing the source of this complaint in these two cases to the European, who was one of those dirty, idle vagabonds, from which the Pacific Islands are no less free than other parts of the world. Phthiriasis (or lousiness) of the head, due to the Pediculus capitis, is to be met with amongst the natives, but I think scarcely so frequently as amongst the poor and their children in a European country. This is very different to the Melanesian or Papuan race, amongst whom it is the exception rather than the rule to find any one free from lice. This is explainable, I think, by the difference in hair in the two races, the frizzly hair of the Melanesian affording a better nidus for the pediculus than the straight hair of the Polynesian. Erysipelas has already been alluded to under the head of specific fevers. Carbuncle. —l met with a case of carbuncle, which did well after making several free incisions into it. Pemphigus infantilis. —I met with one case of this, which appeared the second day after birth. It consisted of a pustular bulbous eruption on the hands, feet, buttocks, thighs, and chest. This eruption, which is found only in children the subject of hereditary syphilis, is usually confined to the hands and feet. The child appeared to be otherwise fairly healthy and well nourished, and was living when we left, aged about ten days. Children in whom pemphigus appears are as a rule shortlived, dying generally within a week; but Mr. Jonathan Hutchinson, in his work on syphilis, p. 417, records a case which occurred in January, 1882, the subject of which lived long enough to pass into another phase of the disease some two months later. This case was doubly interesting, as it was also the only case of hereditary syphilis which I saw during my month's stay on the island. Bupia. —l saw several cases of rupia of the limpet-shell type (B. promiscens). In every case there was a clear history of syphilis, and the subjects were thin and cachectic. Scleroderma. —l met with one case of this rare disease at Avarua. The subject was a native woman, the wife of a half-caste man, whose name, I think, was Euakai. It consisted of several patches of induration on the right side of the chest and right breast, also on the legs. The integument was considerably thickened, and was a little whiter than the healthy skin, smooth in places, showing signs of old cicatrices, and ulcerating in others. Over the smooth white skin there was a certain amount of anaesthesia, but no analgesia. She did not appear to suffer pain to any extent, and her general health was unimpaired; the body well nourished, and inclined to corpulency. Elephantiasis arabum (or Barbadoes leg).—This disease, which is so common in most of the South Sea Islands, is comparatively rare in this island. I saw several cases, but only one that had attained to a large size, which was in the person of a native of Aitutaki Island, who was on a visit to the island. In this man the right leg was enormously thickened, and had numerous appendages hanging from it. He could only move about with great difficulty. It is possible that many more cases exist than were met with during so short a stay as we made ; but I am inclined to

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think that elephantiasis is not common, for the Europeans, who gave me every assistance in unearthing the various cases of disease, would be certain to have brought to my notice any of the natives whom they knew to be afflicted with this complaint. Lupus is by no means an uncommon disease in Earotonga. I have seen three varieties on this island—viz., Lupus erythematique, L. exedens, and L. non-exedens. One might add syphilitic lupus, which, although pathologically differing from the true lupus, yet similates it so much as to render it in some cases almost impossible to say with certainty whether we have to deal with a case of lupus or of syphilis. I enclose a photograph which I took of a woman named Makatihu as being a very typical case of the first-named variety— Lupus erythematosus. There are several people in Earotonga in whom the septum and cartilages of the nose have been completely destroyed. I could find no signs of hereditary or acquired syphilis in the two cases of this kind which I inquired into, so that I attributed them to Lupus exedens. One case of syphilitic lupus which I had under treatment improved very markedly. Frambrossia (or Yaivs).—l only met with one case of this loathsome disease, which is so common in the Fiji group and West Indian Islands. I think that the personal cleanliness of the natives of Earotonga tends very considerably to reduce the numbers of this, like all skin-diseases to which dirt and unhygienic surroundings would predispose. The case I met with was in a girl who was living in the house of a Mr. EL, close to Aratiu Harbour. She improved very considerably under treatment, but, being discovered in an intrigue, ran away quite suddenly one night from the people with whom she was staying, and I did not see her again. Leprosy. —This disease is very common in many of the islands in the Eastern Pacific and Fiji group. It is, according to the testimony of the European residents in Earotonga, unknown to exist there, but from a case which I saw there late one evening by the dim light of burning candle-nuts lam inclined to think it does exist. The case which I refer to was shown me by Mr. L. Cowen, in the village of Matauera. The subject was a man aged about forty, the father of a numerous family, all of whom appeared to be healthy. His legs were quite paralysed, so that he could only move from one place to another by means of sliding from one stool to another, which he dragged after him. There was no history of any injury received. The knees were bent, the legs wasted, and all over the legs the skin was considerably thickened (not like the thickening of elephantiasis) and scarred; there were no tubercles to be seen. There were anaesthetic and analgesic patches, ulceration of the terminal phalanges of the feet. This anaesthesia and analgesia associated with the terminal phalanges of the feet and hands were the symptoms which most impressed me as being suggestive of leprosy of the anaesthetic type. There was, as I said before, no history of any accident, nor of syphilis. His diet, like that of other natives on the island, consisted of cocoanuts, yams, taro, pork, fish, and fowls. I should not, on the strength of so cursory an examination, like to say whether or not this was a case of anaesthetic leprosy, but I am certainly inclined to think that it was a case of leprosy—at any rate, it was the only one in Earotonga which I saw having any resemblance to leprosy. It would not be out of place, perhaps, in this report to add a short account of some cases of leprosy which I saw at Penrhyn Island and other places after leaving Earotonga. At Penrhyn Island the natives have not only recognised the disease of leprosy, but have discovered that which so many learned men have been so long engaged in trying to establish, and have only recently decided —viz., that the disease is contagious. They have accordingly practised segregation, all the lepers being placed on an islet called Matung and kept apart from the other natives. On the morning of the 22nd August I visited Matung Islet, and was taken by the native interpreter who accompanied me to see only the worst cases, as the time at my disposal was limited. I found a family of seven, consisting of the father, mother, a son and four daughters, all of whom were affected with the disease. The father, named Tonga, aged between thirty-six and forty (it is impossible to ascertain with certainty the age of the native) was tall, well nourished, face not devoid of hair, but scantily covered. On the forehead, between the superciliary ridges, following the natural wrinkles of the skin, was a crop of more or less polished tubercles, which projected from the surface about Jin. to There were several nodules similar to those on the forehead, only less polished, on the inner and lower parts of the ears, the lobule being much enlarged. The body and the extremities were each studded here and tjiere by tubercles; the skin of the right hand and wrist was much thickened and covered with nodules, and here and there deep fissures. Many of the tubercles had broken down and ulcerated, whilst others were in process of breaking down. The feet and ankles were similarly affected, and the terminal phalanx of the left little toe had almost dropped off. The soles of the feet were greatly thickened and fissured in places, Over the whole surface of the extremities there was anaesthesia. On examining the penis and scrotum, I found thickening of the skin and mucous membrane of prepuce, thickening of the skin of scrotum, and one small tubercle in the centre of the front part. There was ulceration of the cornea in the right eye, and thickening of the conjunctiva. He could only see dimly with the right eye, and the left eye was just beginning to be affected in a similar manner. The lips, like the ears, were thickened, though to a less extent. The tongue appeared healthy, with the exception of a few white mucous patches on the dorsum scattered about from the external to the medium line. He complained of no pain, but said he suffered much from a feeling of weakness. His bowels acted regularly, and without pain. Tonga first noticed the growth of the nodules on forehead and body four years ago, when his wife commenced to be similarly affected, also the children. It may be mentioned here that all the children were born before signs of the disease showed themselves in the parents; that from the time of the apparent onset of the disease four years ago sexual functions have been in abeyance, which is another point. I find that my observations on the sterility of lepers are supported by much valuable evidence which was elicited by the Leprosy Commissioners in India. It is important to note that in this case the disease appeared in all synchronously, irrespective of age, which is valuable evidence in support of the view that the disease is contagious.

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23

The wife of Tonga—named Metua Eose—had numerous little nodules on the face and trunk ; the left eye was completely spoiled, the cornea being quite opaque; the lower eyelid was everted exposing a thickened conjunctiva; there was drawing down and thickening of the lower lip and paralysis of the lower extremity. Maria, a daughter, aged about sixteen, of stunted growth, was so wizened and aged in appearance as to be easily mistaken for an old woman. Her face was covered with a crop of shining tubercles, larger and more distinct than, those of her father, and had not commenced to ulcerate. The eldest son, To, was chiefly affected on the face, to the outer of and above the right orbit. Tuakoro, another daughter, had the hands chiefly affected by a crop of tubercles, but there were others scattered about the body. The other two daughters showed signs of commencing disease, such as slight discoloured anaesthetic patches, with a few nodules just commencing to appear. Speech seemed to be unaffected. Tonga complained of want of appetite and a desire to obtain some variety in his food. He said that he and his family subsisted entirely on cocoanuts and the fruit of the screw-pine (Pandanus, sp. unknown). Pish abound in the lagoon and near the reef, but Tonga informed me that they never caught any. There were pigs and fowls on the island, which one cannot but think they occasionally eat, in spite of his assertion to the contrary. The food of the healthy Penrhyn-Islanders affords little variety. Penrhyn is merely a coral atoll. Cocoanuts and screw-pines are the only fruits obtainable. Yams, taro, and arrowroot will not grow, neither will oranges or bananas. Bananas they have frequently tried to grow, but without success. Their food, therefore, consists entirely of cocoanuts, the fruit of the screw-pine, fish (which they eat freely of and frequently eat raw), pigs, fowls, biscuits, and tinned meats (which last two items they obtain from the trader when circumstances permit). The occupation of the natives consists of diving for pearl-shell. From Penrhyn Island we went to the Island of Manahiki, where I was informed there were two lepers residing on the Islet of Toukou. I accordingly visited these people, one of whom, Tukerau, I am inclined to consider a leper, his case being one in which it is impossible to give a decided opinion on, because the physical signs were not well marked, and also because his answers were somewhat unreliable. Leading questions were avoided in this as in all examinations which I made as much as possible, but occasionally they were unavoidable. I obtained the following history from the man : Twenty-five years ago, when about eighteen years of age, he went to Honolulu in an English trading barque, and remained in Hawaii two years and a half, during which time he enjoyed perfect health. In 1871 he returned to Manahiki, to his home at Toukou, and for the next ten years enjoyed good health. In 1881 he commenced to feel pain in the body, face, and ears. The pain was accompanied by swelling, and soon a crop of small red spots made its appearance all over the body, and he began to lose the hair on his face, such as eyebrows and beard ; also the hair on the arms, legs, and body disappeared, but the hair of the head remained unaffected. At the present time there is much thickening of the skin over the ears, accompanied by ulceration. The patches of ulceration are symmetrical, and situated at the upper extremity of that part known as the antihelix. There were cicatrices at the inner side of the inner canthus of the right eye. There is ulceration of the terminal phalanx of the right index-finger and the right toe. There was absence of anaesthesia, but there were a few tubercles scattered about the front of the chest and back. He had been married several years, but has had no children. The other case on the Island of Manahiki which was shown me was a case of pityriasis, and not one of leprosy as was supposed. Mr. Williams, a trader on Manahiki Island, gave me the following account of a case, which I have no hesitation in saying must have been one of leprosy. It occurred quite recently, and will doubtless in time be followed by other cases, as no attempt at isolation in this case was made. The history is as follows: Akata, a native of Manahiki, in the year 1874, or thereabouts, visited Honolulu, where he lived with a leper family for some little time (how long it is not known), and then returned to Manahiki. Two years later he showed signs of being affected with the same disease as the one which had affected those with whom he resided at Honolulu. Swellings appeared over the body and face, the swelling being most marked on the face. This swelling was shortly afterwards followed by a crop of pimples, these pimples being most numerous on the face and lower extremities. They gradually increased in size, became fissured, and finally ulcerated. The terminal phalanges of several toes dropped off. During the progress of the disease he became very weak, but his appetite continued to be fairly good up to the time of his death, in August, 1892. During the whole course of the illness the voice was unaffected. In the Island of Rakahango, or Eeirson, which we next visited, I made inquiries as to leprosy, but could not hear of any case on the island. In the colonial hospital at Suva, Fiji, thanks to the kindness of the Government medical officers, Drs. Pound and Zimmer, I was enabled to see several very typical cases of tubercular leprosy. The photographs of two lepers I enclose, with those of the Penrhyn lepers, and the doubtful case at Manahiki. x\ short account of the two lepers at Fiji whose photographs I have sent: Sibdella, the shorter of the two is an Indian coolie, who arrived in Fiji nine years ago. Two years after his arrival anaesthetic and analgesic patches appeared on the thighs at the junction between the upper and middle chords ; similar patches appeared on the right hand, and then on the face and ears. The terminal phalanges when I saw him were much swollen. Many of the tubercles which had followed the swellings in different parts of the body had broken down and ulcerated, but there wore a great many polished shining tubercles on the face between the eyebrows, following the natural wrinkles of the skin, on the upper lip, and scattered about in various situations on the trunk and limbs, which showed no signs of ulceration. A tubercle, on close inspection, was discovered in the median line or raphe of the scrotum, the skin of which appeared to be thickened. Tongue and eyes unaffected, and from inquiries, the answers to which were somewhat ambiguous, we inferred that the genital functions were unaffected. Linga, the taller of the two, was aged about thirty, a native of the Solomon Islands, had been five years in Fiji, commenced to become sick two years ago, which would possibly be three years after being subject to contagion, though I have no information as to whether he was at once sub-

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jected to the risk of contagion by association with lepers immediately after arrival. The disease first showed itself below the left knee in a slightly discoloured anaesthetic patch, which soon became slightly tuberculated; the edge of the patch was clearly defined. At the present time he has a large number of nodules, less polished than those on Sibdella's face, but still showing the glossrness so generally seen in leprosy of this type. Like the other cases of tubercular leprosy which we have seen, the nodules were situated on the face, between the eyebrows, following the natural wrinkles of the skin, and also on the upper lip and cheeks. The soles of the feet were much thickened, and there was ulceration of the terminal phalanges of two toes. 0. W. Andrews, M.8., 8.5., Surgeon E.N. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £15 2s. Od.

Authority: Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB94.

Price 9d.]

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FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION: PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-6, 1893.], Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, A-03

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FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION: PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-6, 1893.] Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, A-03

FEDERATION AND ANNEXATION: PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-6, 1893.] Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1894 Session I, A-03