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Sess. 11.—1897. NEW ZEALAND.
PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1896.]
Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.
INDEX.
No. 1. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed - Cook Islands, British Eesidency, Rarotonga, 19th June, 1896 Referring to my despatches No. 15, of the 18th October, 1895, !nd No. 20 of the 17th December 1895, in winch I informed your Excellency of the dispute respecting a lease of and at Mauke, and the claim made by Charles Franheim, a German subject, in connect on fherewith I have now the honour to report that the case was heard by Judee Teion in *h«TS M Avarua on the 16th and 17th instant, by the mutual oaJtSIZSS and of tl Aritu o Atm and Mauke, who came with their witnesses from Atiu and Mauke for the purnose I enclose the report of the hearing as given in the Torea newspaper, which is substantially correct. It is only necessary to remark that the lease originally given by Tararn ™i« «?! ? able as to be practically a complete alienation of the land! wlnfe ?he preLnUease" fo ■ IViTot thirty years The area of the land is less than ten acres, estimated by some at only St There has been so much and such frequent disputing at Mauke that I thought the opportunity suitable for recalling to mmd the position occupied by settlers among the natives. As yoKcef lency will observe m the report in the Torea, Franheim has brought upon himself so mffteoubt and loss in the past by mixing himself up with the differences among the natives that I ihink hi U * "* t0 be &™l troublesome affTir has been StiS ' ' I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., P ' J ' BriH.h R oa M« * Governor of New Zealand. ±iritlsh Eeside^-
A.-3, 1896, Nos. 14, 24.
Enclosure. [Prom Te Torea, Saturday, 20th June, 1896.] Aeikis' Covet, Avaeua. The case of Franheim v. Mauke was heard before Judge Tepou, in the Arikis' flonrf hv „« of both parties, to avoid the delay necessarily attendant on convening the Federal Court The case I—A.,1 — A., o.
No. ot ieries. From. Date. Subject. Pagi 1 2 3 i 5 6 British Resident 10 June, 1896 23 July, „ 23 July, „ 22 Aug., , 22 Aug., „ 22 Aug., „ Lease of land at Mauke Visiting islands of Eederation in HM. ships' Opening of Federal Parliament Closing of Federal Parliament: Acts passedj &o Opening of Rarotonga Council Thanks of Her Majesty and Princess Beatrice for'address of sympathy on the death of Prince Henry of Battenbure Registration of London Missionary Society's land at Mangaia 1 2 3 8 19 20 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Governor British Besident 10 Sept., „ 12 Oct., „ 21 Oct., „ 21 Oct., „ 25 Jan., 1897 22 April, „ 26 May, , 20 23 23 31 31 35 Proceedings of Rarotonga Council.. Succession of the late Pa Ariki, of Takitumu Report on the trade of the Cook Islands for 1896 Statements by Mr. Wilkie as to sale of rum, &c Reply to Mr. Wilkie's statements .. Premier British Besident
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occupied all Tuesday and part of Wednesday. Franheim, in 1894, obtained from Tararo a renewable lease of thirty years for three pieces of rural land at Mauke, and claims to have expended $1,000 in cultivating the same. A law passed by the Federal Parliament to guard against secrecy in dealing with Maori lands required that all deeds should be entered in a registry and made public or be null and void. These deeds were then registered, and the lease thus made public, whereupon Rongo Matane, an Ariki of Atiu, at once denied Tararo's right to lease the land. Proceeding to Mauke with Ngamaru and Parua, Arikis of Atiu, Tararo was publicly arraigned there, and admitted that the land was Rongo Matane's, though he considered that he, as a relative of hers, had a right to act as he had done. The land was taken from Franheim by the Arikis, and Tararo was formally displaced as an Ariki of Mauke. Franheim then claimed $1,000 compensation, and sought to recover it from the whole people of Mauke, who he said had, at a public meeting, recognised Tararo's right, and so misled him. It appeared that there are two violently-opposed parties in Mauke, of one of which Tararo is a leader. The meeting in question was not called in the only way in which public meetings are convened in Mauke—namely, by notice in the church or by ringing the church-bell. It was a mere gathering of natives on another subject, to which Franheim, taking other Europeans with him, propounded the question. Some asserted Tararo's right; the others, thinking they had nothing to do with the question, said nothing. However, as it came out in evidence that this meeting was subsequent to the expenditure by Franheim on the land, the Judge decided that it had nothing to do with the case —that Tararo admitted that the land was Rongo Matane's, and that Tararo and his people were alone responsible to Franheim. This point having been settled, Rongo Matane said now that her rights had been proved she did not wish Franheim to lose through Tararo's act, and would voluntarily give him a lease if he abandoned his claim upon Tararo for compensation. The parties retired from the Court, and finally arranged that Franheim should have a lease for thirty years at $150 a year, and acquit Tararo of all liability. This was announced in Court. Mr. Moss, who had watched the case throughout, then said : " I am glad that this dispute has been settled. The settlement shows the kindly feeling of Rongo Matane and the Arikis of Atiu who have come to the help of Tararo, though he had done wrong in dealing with the land. They also do not wish to have it said that a foreigner has suffered by the wrongful action of a Maori placed in authority by themselves. As British Resident I take the opportunity of reminding all foreigners of all nationalities in the Cook Islands that when the British flag was hoisted the Maoris were guaranteed that their laws and customs then in force should be upheld so long as they did no wrong or injustice to any one living among them. Now, in nearly every appeal made to me I have found the complaint resting on some technical ground, or on the absence of some form or proceeding usual in British Courts of law. Every one must clearly understand that such rules of procedure are not at present to be expected in Native Courts, and that so long as substantial justice is done the ends of the Courts are answered. Appeal can always be made to the British resident, who is here to protect people of all nationalities; but the appeal must be on substantial grounds, and not on forms of procedure alone. I wish also to remind residents who were here in 1891 that my instructions—then published—directed me to enjoin upon them that they would be expected to do all in their power to live on friendly terms with the Maoris, to conform to their laws, and thus to aid in avoiding friction in the good government of the several islands. I make these remarks because the case now settled is sure to attract notice throughout the Cook Islands. It seems to me a favourable opportunity of recalling the position to older settlers, and of making known to those who have arrived since 1891 the relative position of the Native Governments and Courts, the British Resident, and themselves in these islands. I wish also to thank Ngamaru Ariki for the great trouble he has taken and the good feeling he has shown in bringing about a settlement of this dispute. I hope it is the last we shall hear of for some time in Mauke."
No. 2. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 23rd July, 1896. I have the honour to report the arrivals of H.M.S. " Goldfinch" on the 17th instant and of H.M.S. "Ringdove" on the 18th. The " Goldfinch" brought Mr. Hamilton Hunter from Fiji to act as Judicial Commissioner in the trial of a civil suit by Emil Pitts, of Rarotonga, against the Natives of Penrhyn for debt. The suit was settled between the parties prior to the arrival of the Commissioner, who has therefore been detained here by the "Goldfinch" waiting for coal to be brought by the Union Steamship Company's steamer " Corinna," which arrived to-day from Tahiti. The " Goldfinch " will therefore leave to-morrow for Penrhyn and Manihiki, which are under the High Commissioner's exclusive jurisdiction. I had hoped that the "Ringdove " would be able to take me round the group, but Captain Bremer informed me that he could only do so on my assurance that it was urgent. The Natives throughout the Cook Group being loyal, orderly, and peaceable, I could not give such an assurance. I beg leave, however, to represent to your Excellency that the time has passed when I could with advantage continue to make use of trading schooners crowded with Natives, of uncertain destination, and in every way unsuitable. More especially does this apply when the Natives observe the very different provision made for the officers of the High Commissioner's Court when they visit these islands. The occasional opportunity of visiting the other islands of the Federation in one of Her Majesty's ships would not only be an advantage in strengthening my somewhat isolated position, but of material service in binding the Natives more closely to the Empire, towards which theii loyalty is strong and undoubted. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G. British Resident.
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No. 3. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 23rd July, 1896. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Federal Parliament met on the 6th instant, and to enclose copies of the following papers laid before them :— (1.) Opening speech of the Government. (2.) Statement of revenue, 1895-96. (3.) Statement of expenditure, 1895-96. (4.) Statement of account, 1895-96. (5.) Message respecting future management of hospital. (6.) Message respecting a wharf store. (7.) Return of births, deaths, and marriages, July, 1895, to June, 1896. The statement of account shows a balance of £481 7s. lid., but certain payments have been made for hospital and schools under resolution of the last session. These payments have to be provided for in the estimates of 1895-96, and reduce the available balance to £263 12s. lOd. Various Bills and other papers have been laid before Parliament, but I defer reporting them till they have been dealt with. The returns from the officers who register births, deaths, and marriages in the several districts show the following results as compared with those of previous years : — Births. Deaths. 1892-93... ... ... ... ... ... ... 157 137 1893-94... ... ... ... ... ... ... 216 151 1894-95... ... ... ... ... ... ... * * 1895-96!!. ..'. ... ... '.'.". '.'.'. '..'. 242 202 These returns are too incomplete as to age, sex, and other details to be of value, beyond showing a surplus of births as compared with deaths, and leading to the reasonable hope that the population is, at the least, no longer decreasing. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G. F. J. Moss.
Enclosure No. 1. From the Goveenment to the Pabliament of the Cook Islands. Salutations ! Again we welcome you to a new session, lay before you the work done in the past year, and recommend certain things to be done in the year to come. The Bevenue £ s. d. From all sources for the year ending 30th June has been ... 1,428 17 8 The balance on hand on Ist July, 1895, was ... ... ... 493 10 11 1,922 8 7 The Expenditure For the year, including over £500 on hospital and schools, has been ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,441 0 8 The outstanding liabilities of all kinds to date are ... .. 217 15 1 1,658 15 9 Leaving an available surplus of £263 12s. lOd. with which to begin the present year. The Imports For the year have been ... ... ... ... ... 25,665 0 0 The Exports Of Cook Island produce have been ... ... ... ... 17,026 0 0 And of produce from other islands, and merchandise re-exported 3,694 0 0 £20,720 0 0 Full accounts and returns will be laid before you. The Hospital, for which you made provision last year, was opened on the Ist May, under the medical care of Dr. Caldwell, M.D., lowa. We are glad to say that it has been used freely, and will, we hope, be of great benefit in the time to come. The arrangements made with Dr. Caldwell terminate at the end of September, and it will rest with you to make provision in the estimates for the present year in the usual way. Schools. The aid given by you in providing school furniture and fittings has been taken advantage of by Rarotonga, in which three free public schools for teaching in English have been established. The salaries of teachers and other expenses are paid by the people of Rarotonga, whose Council has levied an education rate to provide the requisite money. We hope to hear that the other islands of the Federation will also take advantage of your liberal provision and open free public schools for teaching in English by taxing themselves to pay the salaries of the teachers and current expenses.
• No return received.
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Beturns of Births, Deaths, and Marriages. We find that the officers appointed to send in returns of births, deaths, and marriages have not sent them as regularly as necessary for statistical purposes. We consider, therefore, that the money paid to them has been wasted, and, until better arrangements can be made, that the payments on this account should cease. Security of Land Tenure. We have received a letter from the British Resident on this important subject. Experience shows that some just means must be taken to guard against the complete alienation of land by the present owners or their children, and so leaving many families without the means of maintaining life. The subject is one with which the Federal Parliament cannot deal, but we bring it before you in order that members, when they return to their several islands, may be able to explain to their people the thoughts and the recommendations of the British Resident on this important matter. New Laws. The experience of the year has shown that the local laws of the different islands do not provide sufficiently for cases of murderous assault and murder. We shall propose to you a law to bring all such cases before the Federal Court, and to provide the usual death penalty, or other punishment that may be adequate to the offence, which is happily new, and will, we trust, be rare, if it occur at all, in future. The possibility must, however, be provided for. We shall also propose to you a law to authorise the printing of existing federal laws, and the making of such verbal alterations as may be necessary to make their meaning in Maori and in English more clear. We propose that, when printed, the book of such laws shall be certified by the Chief of the Federal Government and the Chairman of the Parliament. The revise will also, of course, be subject to the approval of the British Resident, so that we think that the powers suggested may be safely granted. The means of printing now at our disposal offer a great advantage, but they are small, and much time will be lost if some such course as we suggest. be not adopted. A law will also be necessary to guard against the landing of sick or insane persons from ships visiting the different islands without proper security that they do not become a burden on our revenue and people. We do not propose to lay any other laws before you. The Estimates of expenditure for the year 1896-97 will be laid before you. We shall ask you in them to make some provision towards the erection of a wharf and shed for the Union Steam Shipping Company. The proposal of the company on this subject will be laid before you. The value of a second steam-service is so great to all the islands that the Federal Parliament may be reasonably asked to contribute their share. We commend you to God's grace, and pray that your deliberations may be for the good of the people of the Cook Islands. For the Government, Makea Takau, Chief of the Government.
Sub-enclosure. To the Arikis of Raeotonga and of all the Cook Islands. Salutations !To you and all the owners of the land. I wish again to speak on this occasion, when you are once more gathered together in Parliament. I have told you, year by year, one great danger before you and before your people. The Cook Islands are no longer alone ; they are now linked on to the rest of the world, and people will come from other places seeking to buy your land. Sooner or later you or your children will be consumed by a thirst for money with which to buy many things. Then you will sell the land and spend the money, and you and your children and your people's children be reduced to practical slavery, because you will all be obliged to work for other people, and take such pay as they may be willing to give. You will have to do that or starve. Do not think lam moved by vain fears. This has happened in all countries where the chiefs who owned the land have not cared for the people in time. You have read in Te Torea the words of Tusitala (Stevenson) to the people of Samoa, and the words from Hawaii, and it has been so all over the world. Your land must be used for the sustenance of men. For that God gave you the land, and if you disobey his word the land will sooner or later leave you for ever to go into other hands. What I ask you to do is very simple. In each of the islands appoint wise men able to do the work, and let them allot to every family land enough to grow their own food, and a little coffee or other produce to sell. Let the boundaries of the land be marked by planting a row of lime-trees or other permanent trees, which will give fruit for sale or use. Let the name of the family and of the land be recorded in the books of the Council of that island. Also let each family pay to the owner of the land either food and services, as now, in return for its use, or, better still, a fixed sum of money every year. Then pass in each island a law that this land shall be called " family land" ; that it shall be possessed by the family so long as the rent is paid; and that it shall not be sold, leased, mortgaged, or taken from the family on any pretext, except by a law of the Council of the island in which it is situated, such law to be approved by the British Resident for the time being, like any other law, and to be the only title that can be given to that land. If you do this you and your people will never be reduced to poverty.
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The " family land " should be good in quality, and the sections as close as possible together, so that the people may unite to make roads through it, and to keep them in order when made. Besides the "family land," there will be a great quantity of other land which is now lying waste, and which should be cultivated by leasing it to others if you cannot use it yourselves. But do not think of that till you have made safe your own people. Then see to the other land ; for remember, as Tusitala warned the people of Samoa, God suffers no people long to possess land who allow it to lay waste and idle, instead of being used for the good of man. Do not put off this work any longer, or it may be too late. It is the greatest work you now have to do. It means the salvation of yourselves and of your people in the land of your fathers, which has come down from them to you. Enough. From your friend, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.
Enclosure No. 2. Statement of Revenue for the Year ending 30th June, 1896. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. Import duty ... ... ... ... ... 1,117 10 1 Post Office ... ... ... 123 8 7 Less 2i per cent, commission ... 3 0 2 ■ 120 8 5 Miscellaneous „ „ ... 19 9 6 139 17 11 1,257 8 0 One per cent, special hospital-tax .. ... ... ... 171 9 8 1,428 17 8 Balance on hand Ist July, 1895 ... ... ... ... 493 10 11 £1,922 8 7 J. H. Gaeniee, Collector. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.—J. Soaed, Auditor.
Enclosure No. 3. Statement of Expenditure for the Year ending 30th June, 1896.
Vote. Service. Voted. Expended. Unexpended. Fixed appropriations— Payment of members Subsidies to local Councils— Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro Aitutaki Mangaia Rarotonga £ s. 54 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. 49 10 45 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. Collection of revenue— Collector, Rarotonga Revenue officer, Aitutaki „ Mangaia Atiu „ Mauke „ Mitiaro „ Mamae 30 0 7 10 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 229 10 30 0 7 10 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 10 0 3 4 Federal Court : Chief Judge Post OfficeVoted ... ... £43 10 0 Transferred to hospital 16 10 0 18 0 0 55 10 18 0 0 0 £27 0 0 Chief Postmaster Postal delivery, contingencies Postmaster, Atiu „ Mangaia „ Aitutaki 15 0 7 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 0 0 0 0 0 27 0 0 Carried forward 334 10 0 100 10 0 4 10 p
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Statement of Expenditure for the Year ending the 30th June, 1896— continued.
Makea Daniela, Paymaster. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct. —J. Scaed, Auditor.
Enclosure No. 4. Statement of Account for the Year ending 30th June, 1896. Beceipts. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1895, July 1. Balance on hand as per account ... ... ... 493 10 11 1896, June 30. Revenue as per account from Ist July, 1895, to date 1,428 17 8 I, uAA o / Expenditure. 1896, June 30. Expenditure from Ist July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896 ... 1,441 0 8 Balance on hand ... ... ... •■• ■•• £481 7 3 Makea Daniela, Paymaster. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.—J. Scaed, Auditor.
Vote. Service. Voted. Expended. Unexpended. 5 6 7 8 9 Brought forward Shipping-master, Rarotonga Paymaster and Clerk to Parliament Auditor Expenses, Chief of Government ... Interpreting and clerical assistance— Vote ... ... £45 0 0 Transfer to printing-press 2 8 5 £ s. d. 334 10 0 12 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 £ s. 100 10 12 0 30 0 15 0 30 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 4 10 0 42 11 7 Transfer to hospital 4 15 3 37 16 4 90 0 0 22 10 0 35 16 90 0 22 10 7 0 0 1 19 9 10 11 12 General contingencies ... Ngatipa Printing and stationeryVoted ... ... £90 0 0 Transfer to printing-press 14 3 11 13 14 15 16 Passages of members ... Expenses of Parliament Tereora School: Towards childrens' board Subsidies in aid of Arikis' Court and Police — Mangaia ... Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke Aitutaki ... Rarotonga .. 75 16 1 13 10 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 75 16 10 10 20 0 123 15 1 0 0 0 3"0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 57 0 0 l'"5 0 24 24 24 57 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Fair ... Printing-press and type— Vote ... ... £40 0 0 Transfer from printing, stationery, &c. ... 14 3 11 Transfer from interpreting, &c. ... ... 2 8 5 30 0 0 129 0 0 2 12 17 18 27 18 10 56 12 4 50 0 0 56 12 4 38 4 0 11 16 0 19 20 Care of insane Hospital— Vote ... ... £220 0 0 Transfer from unauthorised 120 0 0 Transfer from Post Office 16 10 0 Transfer from interpreting, &c. ... ... 4 15 3 Advance Account ... Hospital ... ... 15 0 0 General contingencies . 17 12 7 361 5 3 361 5 3 32 12 7 32 12 7 1,465 12 7 1,441 0 8 24 11 11
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Enclosure No. 5. Message No. 1. —From the Goveenment to the Paeliament. It is clear from Dr. Caldwell's report that the hospital is largely used by both Maoris and Europeans, and will require for its support a larger sum than the Government have at disposal. Over £350 has been expended upon the hospital building, and after making provision for keeping the building in order, and paying ground-rent, the hospital duty may be relied upon to yield £170 to £180 a year. The present arrangements for the management end on the 30th September. The British Resident has suggested to us that it would be desirable to form a committee of Maoris and Europeans for the collection of subscriptions and for the management of the hospital, and that the Government should hand over the building to such a committee, should undertake to keep it in repair, and give a subsidy of £180 a year towards current expenditure. The Government recommend this to your consideration. The hospital is Federal property, belonging to all the Cook Islands, and the time for consideration is favourable, as members from all the islands are now here. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Government.
Enclosure No. 6. Message No. 2. —From the Goveenment to the Paeliament. The Union Steamship Company desire to put up a store at Avatiu, to receive produce sent from other islands, or gathered at Rarotonga, for shipment by their steamers. The object is one which concerns all the Cook Islands, but it is not advisable to alienate to a private company or person any portion of the small sea-frontage available. The following arrangement has been therefore proposed, and will be acceptable to the company : — (1.) The company to put up a store 120 ft. by 40 ft., keep it in order, and appoint and pay a storekeeper, who shall be approved by the Chief of the Government. (2.) That this store shall be for the reception of goods to be shipped or delivered from any vessels coming here, the company having precedence. (3.) That certain fees be charged on a scale fixed by the company, subject to approval by the Chief of the Government. (4.) That if Rarotonga supply the piles, or do other work to the value of £25, and the Cook Islands Parliament contribute £50 towards the cost of the store, the company will agree that the store may at any time be taken over by the Federal Government, or the Rarotonga Government, on repaying their outlay after making a fair deduction for wear-and-tear and depreciation, the amount of such outlay not to exceed £200. The Government recommend the offer to your consideration. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Government.
Enclosure No. 7. Retuen of Bikths, Deaths, and Maeeiages for the Year ending 30fch June, 1896. Births. Deaths. Marriages. Atiu ... ... ... ... ... 49 28 10 Mauke ... ... ... ... ... 14 16 Mitiaro ... ... ... ... ... 13 7 5 76 51 15 Aitutaki— Arutanga I 42 31 7 Reureu f ' Vaipae Mangaia— Oneroa ... ... ... ... ... 36 37 5 Ivirua ... ... ... ... ... 18 21 3 Tamarua ... ... ... ... 11 16 1 65 74 9 Rarotonga— Avarua ... .... ... ... ... 38 26 22 Arorangi ... ... ... ... 11 12 9 Takitumu ... ... ... ... 10 8 9 59 46 40 Total ... ... ... ... 242 202 71
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No. 4. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Govebnob. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 22nd August, 1896. Referring to my despatch of the 23rd July (8/96), I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Parliament closed its session on the 11th August, and to enclose, — (1.) Act to prevent the landing of certain objectionable persons in the Cook Islands. (2.) To prevent the reckless landing of sick seamen and others in the Cook Islands. (3.) To authorise the compiling and printing of existing laws. (4.) To punish the crimes of murder and murderous assault. (5.) To form a Hospital Board. (6.) To strengthen the Arikis' Courts. (7.) " Appropriation Act, 1896." (8.) Message No. 3, respecting the returns of births and deaths in the Cook Islands. (9.) Report and supplementary report from Dr. Caldwell on the hospital. (10.) Letter from the Catholic Mission, asking for a new school. (11.) Imports for the year 1895-96. (12.) Exports for the year 1895-96. (13.) Shipping return for the year 1895-96. (14.) Estimates for the year 1895-96. With reference to above, — Nos. 1 and 2 are rendered necessary by recent experience of persons sent here. No. 4 is to meet cases like that of the recent murderous assault and robbery in Aitutaki by an American negro, and for which the laws provide no proper or adequate punishment. No. 5: By forming a Hospital Board the hospital will be brought in closer touch with the people. No. 6 is to protect Arikis' Courts in the outer islands from defiance by traders in those islands, of which there have been a few cases of late. No. 7, Appropriation Act, calls for little notice beyond reference to the item of £40 for opening a road to the residency at Ngatipa. The building which I have hitherto occupied as a dwellinghouse and office is small and very inconvenient, but it seemed to me that the schools, hospitals, and public works of different kinds required all that could be spared from the small federal revenue, and had a prior claim. Year by year, however, cisterns have been built at Ngatipa, and the roof of the outbuildings covered with iron to provide a water-supply. A road will now be made, and I hope soon to see the residency made habitable. No. 10, asking aid for the school of the Sisters of St. Joseph, received much consideration. The members value the service done by the school, but decided that the claim to aid from the public revenue could not be recognised without becoming a bad precedent, and leading to confusion. I would also call to your Excellency's notice the enclosed Bill to provide against mischief to the Federal Government from disputed succession of any Ariki in one of the islands. This Bill, after discussion, was set aside by a large majority, but, though not passed, it will probably do good by bringing to a point the disputed succession in the Takitumu district, from which dispute inconvenience in the conduct of the district business often occurs. I also enclose for your Excellency's information a cutting from a newspaper, Te Torea, in which will be found in Maori and in English the copy of a letter of respect and affection to Sir George Grey, P. 0., X.C.8., on his retirement from public life. The letter is from the Federal Parliament and Queen Makea, to whom, as well as to many of the members, Sir George Grey is well and personally known, while his name has long been as familiar to the Cook Islanders as to the New Zealand Maoris. The Torea also contains an account of the proceedings of Parliament on the closing-day, when the members expressed their strong sense of the help they have received from New Zealand, and were pleased also to show a gratifying appreciation of the work which I have been able to do among them. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.
Sfo. 3.
Enclosure No. 1. No. 1, 1896. —To PEEVENT THE LANDING OP CEETAIN OBJECTIONABLE PeBSONS IN THE COOK Islands. Whebeas it has become necessary to put a stop to the deportation from other countries to the Cook Islands of persons of notoriously Bad character, drunken habits, or of unsound mind, and to guard against such persons being made a burden to the Government and people of the Cook Islands : Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :■ — (1.) That the master of a vessel leaving on shore any person or persons not belonging to the Cook Islands at any of the Cook Islands other than Rarotonga shall not leave the group without proceeding to Rarotonga and reporting the landing of such person or persons to the Collector. (2.) That the Collector may call upon the said master to give substantial guarantee to an amount not exceeding fifty pounds for each person so left that the said person will not become within twelve months from the date of his landing a charge upon the revenue of the Cook Islands or of any separate island of the Federation.
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(3.) That every master of a vessel landing or leaving behind in Rarotonga any person who may have arrived in his vessel shall report the same to the Collector in Rarotonga, and shall, if required by the said Collector, give a guarantee in accordance with the above section No. 2. (4.) That if the master of the vessel neglects to give this guarantee he shall be summoned by the Collector before the Federal Court in Avarua, and the decision of the Judge of the said Court, with the approval of the British Resident, shall be final. (5.) That the penalty for contravention of this Act or any part thereof shall be a sum not exceeding one hundred pounds, recoverable by the Collector in the Federal Court, and paid by him to credit of the Federal revenue. (6.) That the said penalty shall be recoverable from the master of the vessel, and, failing him, from the owners thereof. (7.) That it shall be optional with the master of the vessel to take the person objected to back to the country or island from which he had been brought. In such case the Federal Court is hereby empowered to take all steps necessary to secure the return of the said person, and, failing such return, to keep him in custody and send him by another vessel, at the expense of the master or owners of the vessel by which he was brought to the Cook Islands. Dated at Avarua, this 6th day of August, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 2. No. 2, 1896.—T0 peevent the Reckless Landing op Sick Seamen oe Othees employed in Ships at the Cook Islands. Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands : — (1.) That no seaman or other person employed on board any vessel, and not belonging to the Cook Islands, shall be left in the Cook Islands on account of sickness without provision being made by the master of the vessel or other qualified person or persons, to the satisfaction of the shipping-master, for his support to an amount not exceeding thirty pounds. (2.) The penalty for contravention of this Act shall be a sum not exceeding sixty pounds, recoverable by the shipping-master in the Federal Court in Avarua, and to be paid by him into the Federal revenue. (3.) The said penalty shall be recoverable from the master, or, failing him, from the owners, of the vessel. Dated at Avarua, this 30th day of July, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 3. No. 3, 1896.—F0b compiling and feinting the Fedeeal Laws. Wheeeas the means for printing at Rarotonga are now at command : Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands : —• (1.) The Chief of the Government and the Chairman of this Parliament are hereby empowered to have properly compiled all Federal laws that may be in force at the closing of the present session of Parliament. (2.) The said Chief of the Government and the Chairman of Parliament are also authorised to make such alterations as may remedy obvious defects, or may render the meaning of laws more clear. The compilation so made shall then be submitted for approval by the British Resident. (3.) Such approval shall be publicly notified by the Chief of the Government in the usual form, and the said compilation shall thereafter have full force and effect as the Federal laws of the Cook Islands, and all other Federal laws be repealed. (4.) This Act shall not have reference to regulations made under any Federal law, which regulations shall remain in full force and effect. Dated at Avarua, this 27th day of July, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident. —10th August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 4. No. 4, 1896.—T0 punish the Ceimes of Muedee and Mubdebous Assault. Wheeeas the laws of the several islands of the Federation make no proper provision for punishing the crimes of murder and murderous assault: Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :—- -(1.) That whoever with deliberate intent and with malice aforethought, or while perpetrating any criminal deed, shall kill any person or cause the death of any person shall be guilty of murder. (2.) That whoever with such intent or malice, or while perpetrating any criminal deed, shall do to any person serious injury, imperilling life but not resulting in the death of such injured person, shall be guilty of murderous assault. 2—A. 3.
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(3.) That any person charged with either of the above offences shall be brought before the Arikis' Court of the district in which the offence has been committed, and may by the said Court be sent as a prisoner for trial by the Federal Court in Rarotonga. (4.) That if the said prisoner be found guilty of murder he shall suffer death, or such other punishment as the Federal Court may award. (5.) That if the said prisoner be found guilty of murderous assault he shall suffer such punishment, not exceeding ten years' imprisonment with hard labour, as the Court may award. (6.) That these sentences shall be subject to approval by the Chief of the Government and the British Resident, and when so approved shall be carried out in such manner and by such persons as the Chief of the Government may in writing appoint. Dated at Avarua, this 27th day of July, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident. —10th August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 5. No. 5, 1896.—Hospital Boabd. Wheeeas it is desirable that the hospital should as much as possible be under the supervision of the people, and receive their full sympathy and support : Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— (1.) That the Chief of the Government may at any time authorise the formation of a Hospital Board, to consist of twelve persons, namely,— Six persons elected yearly by all other than Maoris who have been for the previous year resident in the Cook Islands; Six persons, of whom two shall be elected yearly by the Maori people of Avarua, two by the people of Takitumu, and two by the people of Arorangi; And may make all necessary arrangements and regulations for the conduct of such elections. (2.) It shall be lawful for the Government, in the formation of such a Board, to hand over to it the hospital, and to pay to said Board any sums available for the maintenance of such hospital. (3.) The entire management and control of the said hospital shall be vested in the Board, which shall send to the Chief of the Government, not later than the Bth day of July in each year, a full report on the hospital and accounts of its expenditure to the 30th June preceding. (4.) The British Resident and any Ariki of any of the Cook Islands shall, ex officio, be Visitors of the said hospital. (5.) The said Board shall regulate its own proceedings, and, in event of a vacancy among the members, shall appoint some person to act until the next regular election. Dated at Avarua, the 6th day of August, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 6. No. 6, 1896.—T0 steengthen Aeikis' Covets. Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of Cook Islands :— 1. That if any person neglect or refuse to obey the judgment of an Arikis' Court in any of the Cook Islands the Judge of such Court may, with the previous approval in writing of the British Resident, cause such person to be sent in proper custody for trial by the Federal Court in Rarotonga for contempt of Court. 2. That the prosecution shall be in the name of the local government of the island in which the contempt was committed, but the costs of sending the person for trial shall be borne by the Federal Government. 3. That the penalty for such contempt of Court shall be any sum not exceeding twenty pounds, in addition to enforcing the original judgment of the Arikis' Court, and, failing the payment of such .fine and the satisfaction of such judgment, to such term of imprisonment in Rarotonga, not exceeding six months, and with or without hard labour, as the Federal Court may, with the approval of the British Resident, decide. Dated at Avarua, this sth day of August, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 7. No. 7, 1896.—Appeopeiation Act, 1896. 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 the 30th June, 1896, shall not exceed the sums stated in Schedule A of this Act, amounting in all to one thousand seven hundred and forty-two pounds twelve shillings. 2. That the Chief of the Government, with the approval of the British Resident, may authorise the transfer of moneys from any vote (other than a vote for salaries) to any vote (other than a
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vote for salaries) for which it may be found that sufficient provision has not been made in the said Schedule. Also, that a statement of transfers so made shall be laid before Parliament at the next session. 3. That every account against the Government shall, before it is sent to the Auditor, be certified by the British Resident, or by persons appointed for each department or service by the Chief of the Government with the approval of the British Resident; such certificate shall state that the services therein named have been properly performed, or that the articles charged have been duly supplied, and that the prices are fair and reasonable. 4. That the various sums in Schedule B of this Act which have been paid under the authority of Act 4, 1892 (unauthorised expenditure) shall be charged to the purposes named in the said Schedule, to the amount of one hundred and twenty pounds. 5. That no money shall be paid except on cheques signed by the Paymaster and countersigned by the Auditor. Dated at Rarotonga, this 10th day of August, 1895. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—llth August, 1896.
Schedule A.
Schedule B. Hospital—Expenditure during 1895-96 under " Unauthorised " ... £120 0 0
Enclosure No. 8. Message No. 3.—Fbom the Goveenment to the Paeliament. We send you the result of the returns received to date from the officers appointed to keep a record of the births and deaths in the several islands. No returns were sent in for the year
'ote. Service. Amount. Total. Fixed appropriations— Payment of members... Subsidies to island Councils £ 54 180 s. d. 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 2 3 4 Collection of revenue Federal Court ... Post Office salaries, rent, and expenses Three years' carriage of ocean mails, due in 1897 234 0 0 55 10 0 18 0 0 59"'o 0 30 0 0 5 6 7 8 9 10 Shipping-master Paymaster and Clerk to Parliament and Government Auditor Expenses, Chief of the Government Interpreting and clerical assistance General contingencies Liabilities from 1895-96 89 0 0 12 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 45 0 0 90 "O 0 25 2 0 Ngatipa Printing, stationery, &c. ... Liabilities from 1895-96 Compiling and printing the laws of Federation and various islands Passages of members Expenses of Parliament ... Maintenance of children at Tereora School... Subsidies in aid of Arikis' Courts and Police Printing-paper and material for printing laws Care of the insane Hospital Liability for 1895-96... 115 2 0 22 10 0 11 12 90 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 165 0 0 13 10 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 129 0 0 20 0 0 50 0 0 190 0 0 25 0 0 School fittings and furniture— Liability for 1895-96... For new schools 215 0 0 20 162 0 0 60 0 0 Subsidy to proposed wharf and shed Post Office —Rent due, three years Road from Avarua Settlement to back road at Ngatipa 222 0 0 50 0 0 27 0 0 40 0 0 21 22 23 1,742 12 0
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ending 30th June, 1895, and we consider that any fees received by officers during that period should be paid by them to the Federal Government, as they did not do the work for which the fees were given. These returns show that the total number of births during the three years was 615, and the number of deaths 490. The population has thus increased during the three years by 125, and, if these returns be correct, the Maoris are not dying out, as previous figures seemed to show, but are increasing in number. With a hospital and proper treatment it is to be hoped that in future years the deaths will be less, and the increase still more marked. We hope you will impress upon the officers the necessity of sending in their returns every month regularly, and of seeing that they are correct, so that we may all know how the Maori people stand in these islands. We hope the time will soon come when we shall be able to have a census taken in all the islands, like that which was taken last year in Rarotonga, and so know how many people each island contains.
Return of Births and Deaths during the Years ending 30th June, 1893, 1894, and 1896.
Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Government.
Enclosure No. 9. Hospital Repoet to. the 30th June, 1896.—Repoet op Wobk done in Cook Islands Hospital fob Two Months of Quaeteb ending the 30th June, 1896. By Dr. Caldwell, M.D. Beport for May. Number of house-patients during month ... ... ... ... 17 Number of out-patients during month ... ... ... ... 35 Total for month ... ... ... ... ... 52 Number of treatments given house-patients ... ... ... ... 535 Number of treatments given out-patients ... ... ... ... 212 Total treatments given... ... ... ... ... 747 Number of hours per day spent by nurse ... ... ... 15 or 16 Physician's visits to hospital ... ... ... ... ... 78 Physician's hours at hospital ... ... ... ... ... 79 Largest number of patients in hospital at one time ... ... ... 10 Number in hospital at end of the month ... ... ... ... 10 Beport for June. Number of house-patients treated ... ... '... ... ... 21 Largest number at one time ... ... ... ... ... 12 Month closed with ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 Treatments given to house-patients ... ... ... ... ... 596 Namber of out-patients treated ... ... ... ... ... 58 Treatments given out-patients ... ... ... ... ... 375 Whole number patients treated ... ... ... ... ... 79 Total treatments given during month ... ... ... ... 971 Number of prescriptions of medicines during month ... ... ... 115 An average of nearly four hours each day was given by the physician to the care of the sick in the hospital. The time of the nurse given during the two months was more than " full time " — i.e., she put in extra time, counting twelve hours to the day.
* No leturns received.
Year. Rarotonga. Births. Deaths. Mangaia. Aitutaki. Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke. Total. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95* 1895-96 45 65 42 48 49 70 48 34 39 39 24 26 24 42 23 43 157 216 137 151 59 46 65 74 42 31 76 si 242 202 Totals 169 184 156 136 120 81 142 117 615 490
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Bemarks. I believe it to be inconsistent to think of adding to the present capacity of the hospital until we become able to employ a larger working force. Situated as we are near the sea, I do not think it wise for us to ask patients to occupy our native house in its present condition during winter weather. Doubtless the return of summer will render it more popular than it is now. I have experimented and searched thus far in vain for a Maori whom I could interest sufficiently in the humane work of caring for the sick to train him to become a helper. At present the physician is compelled to add to the responsible work of prescribing for the sick—the legitimate work of a doctor—the trying labour of a male nurse. This ought to be remedied at an early day, though at present neither the man nor the means is in sight. I think the present remuneration of our nurse for her faithful services is neither adequate nor just. Government should provide a small fund with which to feed sick paupers. Two such have been with us already, one a Cook Islands Native, the other a stranger from abroad. I should like Government to inform me how long a man must have lived under the Cook Islands flag to entitle him to gratuitous medical care and the benefit of Cook Islands citizenship in obtaining board for 7s. and 3s. 6d. per week. A pressing and urgent need at this moment is a larger water-supply for the treatment-house. If it does not rain within a week I fear we shall be out of water for both treatments and drinking— a real calamity to this useful institution just started with such encouraging prospects. With the methods of treatment here inaugurated water is a necessity. I suggest the sinking of a well near the corner of the treatment-house. I ask the immediate attention of Government to this important matter. Even if an early rain should relieve us from present embarrassment the prospect is that at no remote period the cistern will have to be emptied to repair some " season cracks " that have formed in the plastering. Hence the greater need for a well. Of course, well-water will be greatly inferior to rain-water, but a good well will be a reserve which any dry season will render useful. J. E. Caldwell, M.D.
Gentlemen, — Rarotonga, 13th July, 1896. Upon reading the synopsis of the work done by your honourable body the past week in Te Torea, issued Saturday, the 11th July, I notice that one of your body asked that hereafter you be furnished a report of the diseases treated at your hospital. Please allow me to express my pleasure at reading the request, particularly since I am told that it originated in the mind of a Maori. It is a reasonable request, and when furnished with a suitable book for the purpose I shall take great pleasure in preserving a record of all our important cases for reference. From the brief record I have kept of cases on loose slips of paper I am able to furnish you with the following statistics :— Number of surgical cases (of which six were abscesses and extraction of teeth) ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 Skin-diseases ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Ulcers ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Gonorrhoea ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Inflammation of female pelvic organs (oophoritis with salpingitis) ... 20 Hypertrophy of liver ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Dyspepsia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 7 Syphilis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 9 Phlegmonous inflammation ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Inflammation of ear ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 Bright's disease ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Sciatica ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Pneumonia ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 Elephantiasis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 4 Bronchitis ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Rheumatism ... ... ... ... ... . . ... 2 Heart-disease (hypertrophy with dilatation) ... ... ... ... 1 The above statistics relate to May and June alone. In a few instances the same individual suffered from more than one disease. Owing to the smallness of our working force in the hospital we are not able to give full treatment to all our patients. Under the circumstances, it could not be otherwise, and doubtless, if present conditions continue, this cause will operate to limit the number of patients who will seek our aid. Respectfully yours, To Cook Islands Parliament. J. E. Caldwell, M.D.
Enclosure No. 10. To the Chairman and Members of Parliament. The Catholic Mission calls upon the generosity of your Council in favour of the school. It asks that the parents who send their children to its school be exempted from paying the education rate, that thus they may be enabled to pay for the class-books and class requisites in the school of their choice.
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As the sisters, who devote themselves equally for all their pupils, receive no remuneration, the Mission would be very grateful, in the case that you cannot satisfy its request, if you would help at least by a subsidy, in consideration of the number of children —seventy-five—who frequent the school. The Catholic Mission. 4th July, 1896.
Enclosure No. 11. Imports into the Cook Islands for the Year ending 30th June, 1896.
1896. 1895. Specie from Auckland ... ... ... £258 0 0 £1,026 0 0 Tahiti, Chili dollars, $23,973 = £2,487 5 5 $10,919-90 = £1,205 4 3 £2,745 5 5 £2,231 4 3 J. H. Gaeniee, Collector.
Enclosure No. 12. Exports of Native Produce from the Cook Islands during the Year ending the 30th June, 1896.
Article. From Auckland, N.Z. From Tahiti. From San Francisco. Total Imports for 1896. Total Imports for 1895. Animals Clothing Piece and fancy goods Provisions, salted and preserved Breadstuff's General groceries Spirits Wines Beer Timber, manufactured and unmanufactured Hardware, ironmongery, and shipchandlery Tobacco Other articles £ s. d. 190 4 5 962 19 1 5,085 0 6 1,799 3 6 £ s. d. 87 0 0 75 7 10 2,236 14 11 544 7 1 £ s. d. 20l" 0 3 96 11 10 £ a. d. 277 4 5 1,038 6 11 7,522 15 8 2,440 2 5 £ s. d. 195 8 3 978 8 11 6,605 7 8 2,728 12 1 1,029 13 6 1,968 6 7 469 17 10 34 7 8 31 2 4 2,228 19 7 370 2 5 343 6 1 70 13 4 18 9 7 19 2 5 602 19 0 67 14 8 35 3 0 1,467 10 7 2,347 5 8 540 11 2 52 17 3 50 4 9 3,399 2 6 1,753 2 7 1,817 6 6 530 3 1 104 0 11 59 1 0 2,584 19 3 567 3 11 2,130 14 0 679 10 3 537 8 5 3,347 12 8 2,477 6 0 330 11 9 1,434 12 8 119 1 9 971 17 2 33 14 0 291 12 11 483 7 6 2,698 2 9 533 11 10 2,352 8 0 17,695 13 5 6,138 11 10 1,830 19 0 25,665 4 3 22,719 16 1
To Auckland, New Zealand. To Tahiti. To San Francisco, California. Articles. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. £ b. d. 9 13 4 350 17 11 25 6 6 5,846 7 4 4,349 8 6 549 6 11 3 13 9 10 16 0 3,153 12 6 913 5 10 140 3 8 £ a. d. £ a. a. 3eche-de-mer, lb. 3ananas, bunches ]ocoanuts ]offee, cleaned, lb. ]opra, lb. ]otton, ginned, lb. ?ungus, lb. ... tangoes, cases )ranges, boxes jimejuice, gal. )ther articles — Arrowroot, lb. Old copper, lb. 640 9,085 12,771 169,983 1,285,931 36,583 314 36 17,424 45,917 16,822 31,047 102,482 61 1,196 0 11 321 12 0 0 18 0 30,200 33,000 48" 6 96" 0 0 0 898 180 1 | 10 11 9 15,363 4 0 1,518 10 11 144 6 0
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Exports of Native Produce from the Cook Islands during the Year ending the 30th June, 1896- continued.
1896. 1895. British coin exported ... ... ... £94. Chilian dollars exported to Tahiti ... $9,000 = £900 $7,475 = £1,097 10s.
Produce of Other Islands exported.
Merchandise imported into the Cook Islands and exported beyond the Federation.
J. H. Gaeniee, Collector.
Total Exports, 1896. | Comparative, 1895. Articles. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Beche-de-mer, lb. ... Bananas, bunches ... Cocoanuts... Coffee, cleaned, lb. ... Copra, lb. ... Cotton, ginned, lb. ... Fungus, lb. Mangoes, cases Oranges, boxes Limejuice, gal. Pineapples Other articles — Arrowroot Old copper 640 9,085 42,971 201,030 1,420,413 36,644 314 36 17,424 45,917 16,822 £ s. d. 9 13 4 350 17 11 6,297 73 12 6 8,030 7,042 8 3 223,364 4,767 0 62,241,205 550 4 11 76,857 3 13 9 736 10 16 Oi 3,153 12 6 8,558 913 5 10 ! 11,646 140 3 8l 9,706 10 11 9 £ s. d. 236 3 11 19 12 0 7,898 8 1 7,733 0 6 1,452 7 6 7 11 10 1,705 12 6 308 7 11 79 19 8 I - 50 14 0 17,026 0 11 19,491 17 11
Articles. Quantity. Value. Comparative, 1895. Cotton, ginned, lb. Copra, lb. Pearl-shell, lb. Beche-de-mer Arrowroot 15,179 80,640 56,551 80 £ s. 249 13 252 0 1,314 5 1 0 d. 0 0 3 0 9,292 134,400 68,369 £ s. 154 17 405 0 994 3 d. 4 0 0 "340 2 16 8 1,816 18 3 1,556 17 0
After Duty paid. In Bond. Total, 1896. Comparative, 1895. Do Penrhyn and northern islands ... „ Tahiti „ Auckland, New Zealand £ s. 813 1 1 0 d. 4 0 £ s. d. 851 1 11 £ 1,664 1 212 s. 3 0 1 d. 3 0 3 £ s. 1,203 14 16l'"5 d. 4 5 212"l 3 814 1 4 1,063 3 2 1,877 4 6 I 1,364 19 9
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Enclosure No. 13. Return of Shipping for the Port of Rarotonga for the Year ending 30th June, 1896.
J. H. Gaeniee, Collector.
Enclosure No. 14. Estimates for the Year ending 30th June, 1896. Revenue.
Expenditure.
British. French. American. Native. Totals. Number of Tons. Vessels. Number of Tons. Vessels. Number of Tons. Vessels. I Number! of Tons. Vessels. Number of Tons. Vessels. mwards— Sailing Steam 25 33 2,401 20,544 2 136 2 247 40 2,439 69 33 5,223 20,544 Totals for 1896 58 22,945 2 136 2 247 40 2,439 102 25,767 Comparative for 1895 45 19,087 6 480 1 120 29 1,250 81 20,937 )ut wards— Sailing Steam 20 33 2,104 20,544 1 80 2 247 41 2,586 64 . 33 5,017 20,544 Totals for 1896 53 22,648 1 80 2 247 41 2,586 97 25,561 Comparative for 1895 45 19,087 6 480 1 120 30 1,273 82 20,960
Estimated, 1895-96. Actual, 1895-96. Estimated, 1896-97. Import duty Postal Miscellaneous Hospital duty (9 months) £ s. 850 0 150 0 10 0 130 0 a. 0 0 0 0 £ s. 1,117 10 120 8 19 9 171 19 d. 1 5 6 8 £ s. 950 0 100 0 10 0 190 0 d. 0 0 0 0 Balance in hand, 1st July, 1896 1,140 0 0 1,428 17 8 1,250 481 0 0 7 11 1,731 7 11
Vote. Service. Voted, 1895-96. Expended, 1895-96. Estimated, 1896-97. Fixed appropriations — Payment of members Subsidies to local Councils— Atiu, Mitiaro, Mauke Aitutaki Mangaia Rarotonga ... £ s. 54 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. 49 10 45 0 45 0 45 0 45 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 £ 54 45 45 45 45 s. 0 0 0 0 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 Collection of revenue— Collector, Rarotonga Revenue Officer, Aitutaki ... „ Mangaia „ Atiu „ Mitiaro ... Mauke ... „ Manuae ... 30 0 7 10 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 7 10 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 234 30 0 7 10 6 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 10 0 Carried forward ... 289 10 0 285 0 0 289 10 0
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Expenditure —continued.
3—A. 3.
Service. Voted, 1895-96. Expended, 1895-96. istimated, 1896-97. 'ote. Brought forward ... Federal Court : Chief Judge ... Post OfficeChief Postmaster Postal delivery ... Postmaster, Atiu „ Mangaia „ Aitutaki Rent and contingencies Carrying ocean mails (three years) ... £ a. d. 289 10 0 18 0 0 £ s. d. 285 0 0 18 0 0 £ s. 289 10 18 0 d. 0 0 3 4 15 0 0 7 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 15 0 0 7 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 1 10 0 15 0 7 10 1 10 1 10 1 10 20 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 77 0 0 5 6 7 8 9 Shipping-master Paymaster and Clerk of Parliament Auditor Expenses, Chief of Government Interpreting and clerical assistance 12 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 45 0 0 12 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 35 16 7 12 0 0 30 0 0 15 0 0 30 0 0 45 0 0 10 General contingencies— Liabilities from 1895-96— Three years' rent, post-office Sundry accounts... 90 0 0 90 0 0 90 0 0 27 0 0 25 2 0 142 2 0 Ngatipa 22 10 0 22 10 0 22 10 0 11 12 Printing and stationery Liability, 1895-96 Compiling and printing laws (federal and local) 90 0 0 75 16 1 90 0 0 25 0 0 50 0 0 165 0 0 13 14 15 16 Passage of members ... Expenses of Parliament Tereora School —Towards board children Subsidy in aid Arikis' Court and Police — Mangaia Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro Aitutaki Rarotonga 13 10 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 13 10 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 13 10 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 57 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 57 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 57 0 0 129 0 0 Fair Printing-press and type, paper for laws, &c, with transfers as per account Care of insane Hospital, with transfer as per account — Building, medical superintendent, nurse, contingencies Liabilities from 1895-96 30 0 0 56 12 _4 27 18 10 56 12 4 17 18 20" 0 0 19 20 50 0 0 38 4 0 50 0 0 361 5 3 361 5 3 200 0 0 15 0 0 215 0 0 21 School furniture— Liability, 1895-96 For new schools Wharf shed—Conditional contribution ... 162 0 60 0 50 0 0 0 0 22 Supplementary. 1,454 7 7 1,408 8 1 1,690 12 0 Port Delivery — Mangaia ... ••■ ] Atiu ... ... •■■ [ Aitutaki... ... •■■ ) Road from village to back road at Ngatipa, and repairs to building 12 0 0 40 0 0 1,742 12 0
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Enclosure No. 15. Aeikis' Succession. Wheeeas disputes have arisen as to the rightful succession to the high position of Ariki, and to guard against the Federal Government being involved in such disputes : Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— (1.) That, while it is for each island to settle the succession of its own Arikis in accordance with the ancient laws and customs of that island, every Ariki so succeeding must be formally recognised by the Council of Arikis in the particular island before having the right to take part as an Ariki in the Government of the Federation. Dated at Avarua this day of , 1896. This Bill was set aside till next session.—F. J. Moss, 10th August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 16. [Extract from Te Torea, Saturday, 15th August, 1896.] Cook Islands Paeliament. Monday, 10th August, 1896. Parliament met at 10 a.m. Present: Tepou-o-te-Rangi (Avarua, Chairman), J. M. Salmon (Arorangi), Vaikai (Takitumu), Ngatama (Oneroa), Tangi (Ivirua), Tiraapu (Tamarua), Utakea (Atiu), Kaketava (Mitiaro), Mana (Mauke), Paremo (Arutanga), Daniel (Reureu), and John Pakoti (Vaipae). Prayers. " Appropriation Act, 1896." —This Bill was read and passed. Letter to Sir George Grey. —As the business of the session had now come to a close, a conversational discussion ensued amongst the members on the desirability of sending a letter to Sir George Grey. On his retirement from public life, it was felt by all present to be a fitting time to pay him a tribute of gratitude for the great good he had done for the Maoris of the Cook Islands, as well as those of New Zealand. The following is a copy :— "Rarotonga, 10th August, 1896. " To Sir George Grey, the long time Governor of New Zealand, and the trusted friend of the Maori people. " Salutations ! We, the men sent by the Maori people of the Cook Islands, are met for the fifth year in the Parliament which was formed to make laws under the protection of the Queen and the British nation. Our people are at peace, and prospering, with schools in which their children are taught in English, and we are trying in all our doings to uphold what is right, and to act in the spirit in which you dealt with all Maoris, and never ceased urging them to deal with others. " We have read in the New Zealand papers of your retirement from the Parliament of that country which has helped us so generously in building up our government. Our word to you, 0 Grey, is this: We wish you happiness and health, and to know that our love goes forth with this letter. We wish to tell you that your name will never be forgotten by the Maori people in these islands. Many of us knew you in New Zealand, but all have heard of the great things done by you for Europeans and for Maoris in that country. " May God's blessing rest upon you, and give peace and happiness to you, who have done so much for the peace and happiness of others in your long and honoured life. " From your friends, the Parliament of the Cook Islands. " Tepou-o-te-Rangi, Chairman. " Aroa (love). —Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Government." Parliament then adjourned till Tuesday, 11th August, 1896. Parliament met at 11 a.m. Prayers. The Chairman and Clerk, according to custom, proceeded to Makea's and presented to her, as Chief of the Federal Government, the various laws passed during the session. Makea, having expressed her approval, attached her signature. The Chairman and Clerk then returned to Parliament House, and a message was sent to the British Resident that the work of the Parliament had ended, and the Resident soon after entered, and was received by the members standing. The various laws were presented to him and formally approved, after which he congratulated the members on the good work done, and on the care they had given to its consideration. Only one Bill had been rejected—or, rather, deliberately left over —to " prevent any Ariki taking part in the Government of the Federation unless he had been recognised by the other Arikis of the particular island of which his district was part." He thought the Bill a good one, but as they thought otherwise he was glad they had not passed it. He hoped they would always act on their own opinions. All he asked was that they should give reasons for those opinions, as they had done in the present case. Other points were touched upon, and when Mr. Moss sat down members from each island rose one after the other to thank him for what he had done for the Cook Islands. They were able now to understand much better and to appreciate what a Government meant, and the way it helped on the people by enabling them to work together. They hoped they would have in future only one mind, and that Mr. Moss would remain with them and continue his work for the rest of his life. The Resident thanked them sincerely for the good feeling they expressed, and which to him was a great reward. When he began to form the Government he was told that it would be useless—that the Maoris were like children, that they required some one to act for them,
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and could not be left to act for themselves. He was glad to say that every year they were getting more and more able to act for themselves, and if they had their children taught in English, so as to read English books, they would not only be a.ble to do their own work, but to send out people to do good work in New Guinea and other islands. (Applause.) As to being of one mind, that was impossible. When he looked round he did not find any two of them dressed in the same coloured clothing; and it was the same in all things. The way to w r ork together was for each to think for himself, but when it came to the vote, if four said " Yes," and three said " No," let the three say, "As we are in the minority, we will give way and all work together." That is how the English people and the English Parliament and the New Zealand Parliament worked together, and he hoped they would do the same. Several of the members here wished to say that they were fully aware of the good help New Zealand had given them in forming their Government, and in sending Mr. Moss to guide them. Not only they but their children after them would remember this, and be thankful for it. With this the Parliament ended its session of 1896, and parted with three cheers for the Resident and for Queen Makea. The Bills passed will be found notified elsewhere in our columns.
No. 5. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 22nd August, 1896. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that the Rarotonga Council met on the 15th instant, in accordance with the law, and to enclose the opening address of the local Government. In consideration of its being an unusually busy time, with the export of fruit and other produce, the Council adjourned till the 28th instant. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.
Enclosure. From the Goveenment (the Arikis) to the Council of Raeotonga. Salutations ! We are glad to meet you again in Council, and to inform you what has been done during the past year, and what, in our opinion, should be done for the year to come. The Bevenue £ s. d. From all sources was ... ... ... ... ... 617 17 0 To which add the balance from 1895 ... ... ... ... 114 4 1 £732 1 1 The Expenditure Has been ... ... ... ... ... ... ... £656 8 9 leaving a balance of £75 12s. 4d. with which to begin the present year. Full details will be laid before you, but we bring to your notice that some of the receipts have proved much below the estimate. We invite you to make full inquiry and proper provision under these heads for the future. They are — Arikis'Court receipts, estimated ... ... £120; yielded only £59 16 9 Road-tax „ ... ... 45; „ 25 14 11 Dog-tax „ ... ... 20; „ Nil. Totals ... ... ... ... £185 ... £85 11 8 showing a deficiency of nearly £100 on these items. If the falling-off is due to a decrease in offences it is a matter for congratulation, and indicates a lessening of the burden formerly borne by the people in this respect. The total cost of the three Arikis' Courts and police being £270 a year, it follows that over £200 of the amount had to be provided from other revenue in the past year. The Free Public Schools for teaching in English, which you provided for at last meeting, have been opened, and over 350 children are being regularly taught. Proper provision will require to be made for these schools. We commend them to your liberal consideration, for upon them the future prosperity and progress of Rarotonga will depend. The provision for school-fittings made by the Federal Government leaves you to find the funds for teaching only, and for keeping the school-buildings in proper order. The Hospital is established by the Federal Government, and under their control, but we may congratulate the people of Rarotonga, as well as those of the other Cook Islands, on its opening, which took place on the Ist May. Boad-ivorks. No new roads or works were attempted last year, the funds sufficing only to keep those already made in good repair. We shall be glad to see appropriations for new roads when means are available.
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Water-supply. We regard a proper water-supply, by bringing the water from the hills in pipes, as one of the works to which Rarotonga should look forward. It is a great work which cannot be done at once, but is not to be forgotten when means permit. New Laws. We propose a law to name the various settlements, streets, and roads, so as to save confusion in the time to come, and to preserve the names by which the places have been always known to us and to our fathers. We propose also a law to prohibit the shooting or killing of wild ducks during the months of October, November, and December, which is their breeding season. Other subjects requiring legislation may suggest themselves to you during the session, but we wish to see laws made only when it can be shown that they are actually required. Printing the Laws. Provision has been made by the Federal Parliament for compiling and printing the Federal laws, and with them the laws of Rarotonga and the other islands. This work will take time, and we shall propose a law authorising the compilation, and the sanction in your name of such compilation, so far as Rarotonga is concerned. External Communications. During the year our communications with New Zealand has received a material addition by the Union Steam Shipping Company putting on a regular steamer. We now have two steamers each month, and are brought into closer connection with New Zealand, to whose assistance we owe so much in the past progress of Rarotonga, and the establishment of the self-government we now enjoy. Finally, we have to express our satisfaction at the signs of activity and progress displayed by the increase of planting and of cultivations in many directions, and we look forward, by God's blessing, to your work this session being for the good of Rarotonga and its people. For the Arikis (the Government), Tinomana, Ariki.
No. 6. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 22nd August, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 3rd August, with copy of a despatch from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies, conveying to the Government of the Cook Islands, on behalf of Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness, an expression of their cordial thanks for their address of sympathy on the death of Prince Henry of Battenburg, and to inform your Excellency that a copy has been sent to the Cook Islands Government accordingly. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Feedeeick J. Moss. Governor of New Zealand.
No. 7. His Excellency the Goveenoe to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 10th September, 1896. I have received a letter from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, dated the 19th August, regarding the registration of deeds relating to the property of the London Missionary Society, and enclosing a letter from the Rev. Mr. Cullen, of Mangaia. Former correspondence on this subject, dated Fiji, 23rd September, 1895, and forwarded for your opinion, on its return got lost sight of in the Premier's Office, and has only just been returned to me. The High Commissioner, in his letter of the 9th August, suggested an amendment of the Act No. 1, 1895, to allow Mr. Cullen to register the property of the London Missionary Society, as it is evident that the failure to do so was the result of a misconception on the part of that gentleman. I return to you the whole correspondence, with the request that you will be good enough to take what steps seem best to you in order that the property in question may be registered properly. Be so good as to return the correspondence when done with. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, Rarotonga. Glasgow.
Enclosure No. 1. High Commissioner's Office, Western Pacific, My Loed, — Suva, Fiji, 19th August, 1896. I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter I have received from the Rev. Mr. Cullen respecting deeds relating to the property of the London Missionary Society in Mangaia, and of my reply thereto. The Rev. Mr. Cullen was last year a new-comer in the Cook Group, and consequently unaware of the true position of affairs, and I am sure acted, or failed to act, through misconception, and not any intentional disregard of the law.
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I would therefore respectfully suggest to your Excellency that the Act No. 1, of 1895—" to guard against secret dealings in the land " —might, without public injury, be amended by extending the time for the registration of deeds executed before the passing of the Act. I have, &c, His Excellency the Right Hon. the Earl of Glasgow, &c, John B. Thubston. Governor of New Zealand.
Sub-enclosures. Deae Sib, — London Mission, Mangaia, Cook Islands, 13th June, 1896. In the month of April, 1895, soon after my arrival in Mangaia as agent of the London Missionary Society, I collected all the Native deeds relating to the property of my society in Mangaia, and forwarded them to our business agent in Sydney, requesting him to have the deeds translated by Dr. Wyatt Gill (who is the best living scholar of the Mangaia language), and then, having had the translations sworn to as correct, to forward them with the original deeds to your office in Fiji for the purpose of registration. I took this action simply with the desire to have matters placed on a proper legal footing as soon after my arrival as possible. There was no ulterior motive of any kind. The deeds are not, and as far as I know never have been, disputed by any one, white or Native. Any one of the chiefs or leading men of the island would, if asked, point out the boundaries of my society's property precisely as laid down in the deeds, and would readily acknowledge that it was the property of the London Missionary Society. I am, however, informed from Sydney that there is a difficulty in effecting the registration of these deeds, though in what that difficulty consists lam in ignorance. At the time I sent up the titles there was no possibility of having them registered in Rarotonga ; but in the month of August of last year an Act was proposed to the Native Parliament by Mr. Moss, and passed in a fortnight, compelling all deeds to be registered at Rarotonga before the end of the year or else to become null and void. This Act was sprung upon us without any warning; but, supposing that the Mangaia deeds were by that time safely registered at Fiji, I did not concern myself. When I heard there was a hitch it was already too late to register at Rarotonga. lam under the impression that Mr. Moss's precipitate action is due to his having received an application from the Acting High Commissioner in Suva to obtain his consent to our registration in Fiji; but surely Fiji is before Rarotonga and I was right in going to the fountain-head ! In this dilemma, I am writing to ask your kind advice and assistance. Is it really impossible to have the deeds registered in Fiji, and, if so, will you kindly inform me of the reason ? Would it be possible to lay a complaint before Lord Glasgow that the request for registration has not been complied with, and ask for an inquiry ? —though that surely would be to make a great business of a very small matter. May I repeat that my only desire is to have my society's property established on a business-like footing, with no wish to claim anything that is not fully acknowledged as ours ; and, requesting your kind consideration on our behalf, I am, &c, James H. Cullen, London Missionary Society's Agent in Mangaia. His Excellency Sir J. B. Thurston, K.C.M.G.
High Commissioner's Office, Western Pacific, Sir — Suva, Fiji, 29th July, 1896. J am directed by the High Commissioner to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th June, with reference to the deeds relating to the property of the London Missionary Society in the Cook Group. When application was made for the registration of these deeds in this office the matter was referred to the Governor of New Zealand, as, in the event of there being a local registry in the Cook Group, the Assistant High Commissioner did not think it advisable to register here deeds relating to land in those islands. The Governor of New Zealand sent no reply to this communication, but apparently it was decided to establish a local registry at Rarotonga. Her Majesty's Government recognise in the Cook Group a local Legislature whose laws, subject to approval by the Resident, are binding on all persons, and, whether the deeds of your society were registered here or not, the local law should have been complied with. In informing Mr. Pratt that the Governor of New Zealand had been referred to as to the registration of your deeds I informed him "that registration is not accompanied by any guarantee or title; it simply provides secondary evidence of the contents of documents in the event of the originals being destroyed or lost." Under the circumstances, the High Commissioner recommends that you petition the Governor of New Zealand, with a view to his advising the Federal Government of the Cook Group to consider the case of your society favourably, and to pass an amending Act allowing further time for the production of the deeds. The High Commissioner will also address the Governor of New Zealand on the subject. I have, &c, W. Collet, Secretary. The Rev. James H. Cullen, London Mission, Mangaia, Cook Islands.
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Enclosure No. 2. Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 10th September, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge your letter of the 19th August, enclosing a copy of one from Mr. Cullen, of Mangaia, relating to the registration of certain property in that island, and to inform your Excellency that I have intimated to the Resident in Rarotonga that I consider your suggestion a good one, and have requested him to take steps to have the property in question duly registered. I regret to find that I received a letter on this subject from the Acting High Commissioner dated so far back as 23rd September, 1895, which has not been acknowledged. The fact is that I delayed doing so until it had been referred to the British Resident at Rarotonga, and that on its return it got lost sight of in the Premier's office. I give this as an explanation of the despatch of 23rd September not having been acknowledged. I have, &c, His Excellency Sir John B. Thurston, Glasgow. High Commissioner of the Western Pacific, Fiji.
Enclosure No. 3. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 25th October, 1895. I have the honour to enclose copies of a despatch, with two enclosures, received from the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific regarding the registration of land in the Cook Islands. I shall be glad to hear your views and those of the Government of the Cook Islands on this subject. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, Rarotonga. Glasgow.
Sub-enclosure. High Commissioner's Office, Western Pacific, My Loed,— Suva, Fiji, 23rd September, 1895. I have the honour to enclose copy of a letter I have received from the financial agent of the London Missionary Society with respect to the registration of deeds of land owned by the society in the Cook Islands. The registration of deeds in this office is no evidence of title; its only effect is to provide secondary evidence of the contents of the documents in the event of the originals being destroyed or lost. I should be glad to be informed if your Excellency sees any objection to the proposed registration. If there exists any provision for registration in the office of the British Resident at Rarotonga, I am inclined to think the deeds should not be registered here ; otherwise I do not perceive any reason why they should not. I enclose copies of rules regarding the registration of claims to and documents concerning land. These were issued before Her Majesty had established any protectorates in the Western Pacific. I have, &c, The Right Honourable the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c, H. S. Beekely. Governor of New Zealand.
London Missionary Society, 10, Queensland Chambers, Bridge Street, Sib,— Sydney, 24th August, 1895. The London Missionary Society is- the owner of certain lands in the Cook Islands the deeds of which we wish to have properly registered, so that at any future time we may have no difficulty in proving our ownership. I have with me now the. deeds of our land on the Island of Mangaia, in the above group, which are all made out in the Rarotongan language, which have been very carefully translated by the Rev. Dr. Gill, who I think is known to yourself. I now write, therefore, to know if I may forward these documents to you for registration, and at the same time I beg to state that any fees in connection with such registration will be borne and promptly paid by our society. I have, &c, Thomas Peatt, Financial Agent, London Missionary Society. His Excellency Sir J. B. Thurston, High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, Fiji.
My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 18th November, 1895. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 25th October, enclosing copy of a letter from the Acting High Commissioner of the Western Pacific with reference to the registration of land in the Cook Islands, and asking my views and the views of the Government of these islands thereon. A registry of deeds for the Cook Islands was opened on the 17th July, 1891, in accordance with the Provisional Powers Act passed by the Federal Parliament in its first session in that year. The registration was not compulsory, and gave no additional validity to deeds. Many deeds have been registered, and are continually being registered, here for security against loss or accident; but
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in the last Parliament an Act was passed—2oth July, 1895—"t0 guard against secret dealings in Native lands." All future deeds were required to be registered in the office at Rarotonga within three months of execution, and if not so registered would not be recognised in any Court within the Federation. By the same Act it was provided that all deeds executed at the time of its enactment must also be registered on or before the 31st December, 1895, on the same penalty, of non-recognition in any Court within the Federation. The London Missionary Society's agent in Rarotonga has sent the deeds here to be registered, and I presume the agent at Mangaia was not aware of the passage of the Act of 1895 when sending his to Sydney. There cannot be any objection to the registration of deeds in the office of the High Commissioner as a means of additional security against accidents, but to prevent such registration being used to frustrate the purpose of the Cook Islands Act, "to guard against secrecy in dealing with native lands," it would be desirable that no such deeds should be received at the High Commissioner's office unless previously registered in the Cook Islands. His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., I have, &c, Governor of New Zealand, &c. F. J. Moss.
No. 8. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 12th October, 1896. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Excellency's despatch of the 10th September, respecting registration of the property of the London Missionary Society at Mangaia, and requesting me " to take what steps seem best to you in order that the property in question may be registered properly." I have, in reply, to state that there has not been, and will not be, any difficulty in getting the deeds of the said property registered here; but no application for that purpose has ever been made by the Rev. Mr. Cullen, nor by any one else, on behalf of the society. I am informed by the Registrar that the society's agent at Rarotonga —the Rev. Mr. J. Hutchin —registered all the deeds in his possession for Rarotonga property on the sth November, 1895, and at the same time gave notice that deeds for property at Atiu and Aitutaki would be sent in as soon as the Rev. Mr. Lawrence returned from England, as they were in his charge at Aitutaki. Mr. Hutchin was informed, in reply, that the necessary measures to authorise their registration after the 31st December, 1895, would be taken on Mr. Lawrence's return. I presume Mr. Cullen, as a member of the society's Cook Island committee, is aware that this was done. I have carefully perused the correspondence—three enclosures—sent by your Excellency, and return it herewith, as requested. The Act compelling registration was passed here in July, 1895. The first intimation which I received of Mr. Cullen's application to Fiji was by your Excellency's despatch of the 25th October, 1895. This disposes of Mr. Cullen's "impression " that the passage of the Act, which he says was " sprung upon them," had any connection with that application. Nor is he correct in stating that previous to the passage of the Act there was no possibility of registering in Rarotonga. A registry was opened here on the 17th July, 1891, and made use of by many persons, though registration was only optional. The object in making it compulsory was well known and clear. Chiefs alienated land on renewable leases without the knowledge of their tribe, who, in ignoranGe of such leases, and of the practically permanent alienation they implied, allowed unopposed occupation, which in after years would be pleaded as a full ratification of the act of the chief. To guard against this the registration and public advertisement of such registration were enforced by the Act of 1895, while five clear months were allowed to bring all deeds then in existence under its provisions. It might have been fairly assumed that a measure of this kind would meet with Mr. Cullen's cordial sympathy and support, and I am at a loss to understand what ground he can have for the " complaint," or against whom it can be made, which, in his letter of the 13th June, 1896, he speaks of laying before your Excellency, and of asking "for an inquiry " into the matter. 'I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Feedeeick J. Moss. Governor of New Zealand, &c.
No. 9. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 21st October, 1896. Referring to my letter, No. 10, of the 22nd August, in which I reported the opening of the Rarotonga Council, and sent your Excellency the opening message on that occasion, I have now the honour to enclose cuttings from the newspaper Te Torea of the sth, 12th, 19th, and 26th September, and the 3rd, 10th, and 17th of October, which report the proceedings of the Council to the 13th instant. I have to add that the elected House met yesterday, the 20th, and passed the Appropriation Act, after which the Arikis met and approved it, together with the amendment of "The Public Schools Act, 1895," which were the only two laws passed by the Council during the session. Both were approved by me, and are now in force. The amendment of the Public Schools Act increases the education rate, and places the schools on a sound financial basis. The long and keen discussion which the proposed increase elicited indicates the progress made by the Maoris in the Government, and appears to me of sufficient
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importance to warrant my sending the full reports of the proceedings from Te Torea. The real trouble was between those who wished to revert to the old system of subscription, instead of accepting the new one of systematic taxation. Subscription means that the chiefs call upon their people, and the money obtained, or the labour required, goes to the credit of the chiefs, and is presented in their names. Taxation involves public lists of all who are liable under the law, and makes known those who do not pay, and this last system may now be regarded as established in Rarotonga. The rest of the Council's proceedings were connected with the disputed succession to the rank and lands of a deceased Matiaapo, and to matters of a minor and purely local interest. The succession dispute has been referred by the Council to the three Judges of Rarotonga, by whom it is now being heard, two of the Judges being of tribes different from that in which the dispute has arisen. The action of the Council indicates a satisfactory weakening of the ancient and deeprooted tribal jealousies which rendered joint action in such cases impracticable. In addition to the cuttings from the newspaper, I enclose— (2.) " Public Schools Act 1895 Amendment Act, 1896." (3.) " Appropriation Act, 1896." (4.) Statement of account, 1895-96. (5.) Statement.of receipts, 1895-96. (6.) Statement of permit-fees, 1895-96. (7.) Statement of expenditure, 1895-96. (8.) Estimates for the year, 1896-97. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.
Enclosure No. 1. [Extract from Te Torea, sth September, 1896.] Message No. I.—Fbom the Abikis (the Goveenment) to the Council. Rarotonga, 2nd September, 1896. Salutations ! We ask you to send us information on road rates, dog-taxes, fines and fees of the Arikis' Courts, and education rate, as mentioned below. Without this information we cannot judge what is likely to be the revenue for 1896-97, and, until we can do so, no Appropriation Act can be passed, and no payments be made, except to teachers under the Public Schools Act (No. 1, 1895). Hence it is urgent to have the information as soon as possible, and we suggest that some skilled person should be employed to compile it from the books and records at once to save delay. For the Government, Tinomana, Ariki.
Education Bate. —Names of persons who have paid; amount paid by each person in Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu separately ; and the names of those who have not paid; with the amount still owing by each person separately. Dog-tax. —Names of those who have paid, and amount paid by each person in Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu separately. Arikis' Courts. —Names of persons fined; amount of each fine ; amount paid, and amount still due in each case in Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu separately. Eoad Bate. —Names of persons who have paid ; amount paid by each person ; and amount still due in the following cases: — (1.) The 3s. to be paid by all persons occupying land in Earotonga. (2.) The additional 1 cent per foot on all frontages in excess of 50 ft. in the following districts : From Avatiu to Pue, from Te Tarava to Paraoa, from Turangi to Aroko, from Puna Ariki to Are Mango, from Arekakaia to Aruki, from Uri to Pakau. (3.) The additional tax of 1 cent for every 4 ft. in excess of 50 ft. frontage on all unoccupied land outside those districts.
[Extract from Te Torea, 12th September, 1896.] The usual meetings of the Council took place on Friday, 4th September. The chief business was the consideration of a message from the Government, and a proposal to ask the Government Auditor to look into the accounts of the various Collectors, who were to hand over their books to him, the Auditor to obtain what assistance he might find necessary. Final action was deferred till the meeting on Wednesday, 9th September, when all books and papers connected with the taxes of Court-fees are to be laid on the Council table. Teura, who failed to pay the dog-tax collections in the first instance, sent them on Saturday last, whereupon it was resolved to receive the amount, but that Teura should resign his position, and a new Collector be appointed in his stead. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, 9th September. The consideration of the Collectors' accounts was again adjourned until Friday (yesterday's) sittings. Portions of the road rate and education rate for Arorangi and Ngatangiia were handed in; consideration of remainder deferred to next meeting.
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In explanation, one of the Collectors stated the reason he had not handed in the money before was that he was under the impression the whole of the taxes had to be collected, but would know better another time. The Council then adjourned till Friday.(yesterday).
[Extract from Te Torea, 19th September, 1896.] The Council met on Friday, the 11th instant, and was occupied almost entirely with looking into the books and accounts of the various Collectors of rates and taxes, which had been referred to them by message from the Government. The receipt-books were found in order, and the money which they represented was paid, the Collectors alleging that it had been the old practice not to pay in money till all had been collected. The Avarua books were in proper order, showing lists of persons liable to pay, those who had paid, and those who were still indebted. The Council approved the Avarua books, and directed that similar books should be kept in future in all the districts. The Collectors undertook to do this, and, as last year had been the first in which any attempt had been made at systematic taxation, the Council accepted the undertaking. The British Resident, who w r as present by invitation, agreed with the course the Council had adopted, and undertook to advise the Council in writing on this and the financial question generally. The returns from the Arikis' Courts were all in proper order. They had been sent in monthly, and the fines and fees duly paid. With the several Au's accounts the Council bad nothing to do, nor with the collectors they employed. The Council then adjourned till Wednesday, 16th September. The estimates were brought up, showing that about £100 would have to be provided to make good the new charge of £280 for education. The British Resident wrote to the Council recommending—(l) That books and accounts of all kinds connected with the Rarotonga Government Collectors, and including the fines of the Arikis' Courts, should be audited by the Government Auditor half-yearly, and that a fee of £3 10s. be paid each half-year for the work accordingly; (2) that the Road Rate Act should be amended, and the road-tax fixed at 3s. for each house, and ■Jd. and |d. per foot for surplus frontages respectively (the present Act fixed the tax in dollars and cents, and this led the Collectors into error last year, to the loss of one-third the rate expected); (3) that the education rate payable by adults should be raised from 2s. to 3s. per annum, and the £65 voted for maintenance of roads be abolished ; that instead thereof an Inspector for the whole island should be appointed at £25, and that he should be empowered to call upon each district to supply labour not exceeding ten days per man for maintenance and making of roads therein. No decision had been come to when the Council adjourned till Friday, the 25th.
[Extract from Te Torea, 26th September, 1896.J Last week we published a message which was sent to the Rarotonga Council by the British Resident about raising additional revenue and other matters. The Council replied by suggesting business licenses, hawkers' licenses, and a 10-per-cent. duty on Chili money as a means of raising revenue, instead of raising the education rate for adults to 35., the road rate to 35., and fractional road rates in proportion. The Resident, in reply, suggested that if they objected to increase the road and education rates they might save the money by having only one Arikis' Court instead of three now that the business and the fines had fallen off so greatly. The reply was considered by the Council at its meeting yesterday, but no decision had been come to when we went to Press.
[Extract from Te Torea, 13th October, 1896.J The Council met on Tuesday, the 29th ultimo, to consider the letters from the British Resident respecting future finance, which have been already reported in Te Torea. After some discussion it was decided to ask Mr. Moss to meet the Council, when he explained the necessity of either cutting off some of the expenditure or providing additional funds from ation.The members said that there was great opposition among their constituents to all taxation, especially in Matavera and Titikaveka ; but it was impossible to have only one Judge for all the districts and to save money in that way. It was opposed to their old customs. Other savings suggested were also not acceptable. After much debate it was decided to raise the education rate for adults to 3s. if their constituents approved, and to meet again after consulting with them. A letter from Mr. Macalister, calling attention to the approaches to the bridge at Mail (Muri), was considered. It was pointed out that a great deal had been done to the Muri Road, and that the Muri people deserved credit for what they had done. Mr. Macalister's complaint was reasonable, and should be attended to at the first opportunity. Meanwhile there were no funds available, but, like the old Black Rock Road, it would be made good for the benefit of all as soon as possible. This letter led to a discussion on the subject of roads. The members said there was great difficulty in getting the people to turn out now as they used to do. All wanted payment. Mr. Moss suggested that they should do as in other countries —namely, take the money they got from the road-tax to buy timber for bridges and other necessaries, and to feed the people when they turned out; also, to have lists made of the people in each district, and leave the Au to call on every one in turn to give a certain time to the roads in their district. Those who did not give their own labour should pay some one else to work for them. So long as all alike were compelled to give labour or money no injustice would be done, and no one had a right to complain. 4—A. 3.
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This, also, the members promised to bring before their constituents. They pointed out that taxation was new, and they were told so much of the heavy taxation in Tahiti and other places that their people were easily frightened. Mr. Moss replied that he was glad to find them so careful. It was a healthy sign ; but they must not forget that they would have no taxes which they did not agree to themselves. No one could tax them without their consent. What they had to do was to see that the taxes were fair to all, and the money spent for the good of all; then Rarotonga would flourish, and the taxes come back to them many times over. It was like seed planted in the ground, which cost money, but came back manyfold. The Council then, after a long sitting, adjourned till Thursday, Ist October. The Council again discussed the finance. The Avarua members were in favour of the proposal of the British Resident, but the Arorangi and Takitumu members said that their constituents were much opposed to additional taxation. Mr. Moss was again asked to meet the Council, and told them he would be glad if any one could propose a more pleasant way of raising the requisite money. He could see no other, and felt sure that eventually they would agree with him, and swallow the pill with the best grace they could. The money was going to educate their children, and to what better use could they put it ? This brought out the Takitumu members, who said their people were offended because Mr. Moss had appointed an assistant teacher—Mr. Richard Donaldson—without consulting them. Mr. Moss said it was the first he had heard of it, and that there was evidently some mistake. It was for them, and not for him, to see to these things, and to the appointment of teachers by the Government. Finally he suggested that they should have meetings of their constituents and explain to them fully, and this was agreed to. The Council adjourned till Monday, the sth October.
[Extract from Te Torea, 10th October, 1896.] Monday, sth October, 1896. The Council met at 10 a.m. Present: Avarua —Taraare Katea, Tita; Arorangi —Pirangi, Puai; Takitumu —Vaikai, Tamarua, Rama. In the absence of Tepou-o-te-Rangi, Vaikai acted as Chairman. Prayers by Taraare. The financial question was again brought up. The members for Arorangi and Takitumu informed the Council that their constituents would not agree to any increase in the education or road taxes. A great deal of discussion ensued. A proposal was made to cancel the vote for maintenance of roads (£6O) or the fixed appropriation for Arikis and Mataiapos (£100), in order to meet the estimated deficit. Both of these proposals were opposed by the majority. The Avarua members were of opinion that the only feasible way of meeting the deficit was to increase the education rate from the present 2s. to 3s. per annum, more especially as were it not for the public schools there would not be this deficit. The decision of the members for Arorangi and Takitumu refusing to agree to the proposed increase of the education rate was reported to the British Resident. Mr. Moss therefore sent the following memorandum : "As the Council is resolved not to increase the revenue by adding to the small education tax, while the members for Avarua are willing that Avarua should provide its share, and as the Council also declines to reduce the expenditure by having only one Judge and one Clerk for the Arikis' Courts instead of three, I suggest that the fairest way will be to let the additional rate be paid by Avarua, and leave its present appropriations undisturbed. The difficulty is caused by the sum paid in excess of fines, and the proper course seems to me to make up the other £60 by striking out the votes for fixed payments to Arikis and Mataiapos in Arorangi and Takitumu—£3o each (vote 8). This will save an expenditure of £60, which, with the £35 to be paid by Avarua as additional education rate, will make good the sum required. The sum paid to Arorangi and Takitumu in place of the old fines is £150. The fines received for 1895-96 were —Arorangi, £15 6s. 10d., and Takitumu, £10 18s.; total. £26 4s. lOd. : leaving a deficiency of £123 15s. 2d. on this head. This deficiency is the cause of the present trouble. Avarua is willing to make its share good. If the other districts are not willing, the only resource is to strike the sums named off the estimates. While making the above suggestion, I wish it to be distinctly understood that I still think the best course is to add Is. to the education rate and to leave the estimates in other ways as they stand." This memorandum led to further discussion. The members decided to again confer with their constituents before coming to any decision. The meeting then adjourned till Thursday, the Bth instant.
[Extract from Te Torea, 17th October, 1896.] Thursday, Bth October. The financial question was again under discussion. The Council made a proposition to raise the required school funds by subscriptions in each district. The British Resident, who was again present, replied that the Government was responsible for the teachers' pay, and that it must come from the general revenue. They might, however, relieve that revenue by subscribing for the share of the old Court fines paid to the Arikis and Mataiapos, if they were bent on subscribing, instead of regular and fair taxation. The adjournment hour put a stop to the further debate, but it was continued on
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Friday, 9th October. After a keen contest the resolution to raise the education rate from 2s. to 3s. was carried by sto 4. The Council then adjourned till Tuesday, 13th October. After a short discussion the Bill embodying the above resolution was carried by 7 to 4, and so ended this long contest, not without its uses as an educating process for the Maori. The Council also passed the Appropriation Act. The Bills passed will be submitted to the House of the Arikis, and if they and the British Resident approve them the session will end. Many members expressed the opinion that January or February would be better months for meeting than August, which is the busiest time of the year. The Council then adjourned till Tuesday, the 20th instant, on which day the Arikis' Council will also meet.
Enclosure No. 2. Public Schools Act 1895 Amendment, 1896. It is hereby enacted by the Rarotonga Council: — 1. That for the year ending 30th June, 1897, and subsequent years the sum to be paid annually by all adult persons of the age of twenty years and upwards shall be three shillings instead of two shillings, and that section six of the above Act is hereby amended accordingly. Dated at Avarua, this 13th day of October, in the year of our Lord 1896. Passed by the Arikis' Council, 20th October, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.-—2oth October, 1896.
Enclosure No. 3. Appbopkiation Act, 1896. It is hereby enacted by the Rarotonga Council: — 1. That the money, amounting to eight hundred and one pounds and eight shillings, as per Schedule attached hereto, shall be applied to the purposes respectively stated. 2. That all accounts must be formally certified to by the Auditor as being in accordance with the attached Schedule, and to be applied to the purposes respectively stated. 3. That the Paymaster shall not issue any cheques, nor the Auditor countersign the same, unless the services to be paid for are certified by the head of the department as having been properly performed, or the works and services on roads or bridges to be paid for certified by the Inspector of Works as having been properly done. Dated at Avarua, this 13th day of October, 1896. Passed by the Arikis' Council, 20th October, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—2oth October, 1896.
Schedule, 1896-97.
'ote. Service. Amount. 1 2 3 4 5 Clerk to Council and Government ... Paymaster Auditor ... Rent of bond Clerks of the Arikis' Courts— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Police — Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Interpreting and clerical assistance ... Fixed appropriations— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Judges of Arikis' Courts — Avarua Arorangi Takitumu £ s. 7 10 7 10 7 10 5 18 d. 0 0 0 0 25 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 36 0 18 0 18 0 30 0 0 0 9 0 7 8 40 10 30 0 30 0 0 0 0 45 0 18 0 18 0 0 0 9 Carried forward
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Schedule, 1896-97 — continued.
Enclosure No. 4. Statement of Accounts for the Year ending 30th June, 1896. Beceipts. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance on hand, Ist July, 1895 ... ... ... 114 4 1 Subsidies ... ... ... ... ... 102 0 0 Liquor-tax ... ... ... ... ... 337 10 6 Road-tax ... ... ... ... ... 25 14 11 Dog-tax Court-fees ' ... ... ... .. ... 59 16 9 Education rate ... ... ••• ... ... 92 14 10 732 1 1 Expenditure. Expenditure from Ist July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896, as per statement ... ... ... ... ... ... 656 8 9 Balance on hand, Ist July, 1896 ... ... £75 12 4 Makea Daniela, Paymaster. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.—J. Scaed, Auditor. Rarotonga, 14th August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 5. Statement of Receipts for the Year ending 30th June, 1896. £ s. d. £ s. d. Cash on hand, Ist July, 1895 ... ... ... ... 114 4 1 Subsidies from Federal Parliament ... ... ... ... 102 0 0 Liquor-tax—lst July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896, per account ... ... ... ... ... ... 337 10 6 Road-tax — Avarua ... ... ... ... ... 16 4 7 Arorangi ... ... ... ... ... 910 4 Takitumu Dog-tax— 25 14 11 Avarua Arorangi Takitumu ... Court-fees —■ Avarua ... ... ... ... ... 33 11 11 Arorangi .. ... ... ... ... 15 6 10 Takitumu— ... ... ... ... ... 10 18 0 Education rate— 59 16 9 Avarua ... ... ... ... 62 1 7 Arorangi ... ... ... ... ... 30 13 3 Takitumu 92 14 10 £732 1 1 Makea Daniela, Paymaster. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct. —J. Scaed, Auditor. Rarotonga, 14th August, 1896.
"ote. iervice. .moun Brought forward £ s. 354 19 d. 6 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Roads — Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Expenses of Council General contingencies Inspector of roads Printing laws, &c. Unforeseen charges Public schools, salaries, and contingencies Auditing accounts of road rate, education rate, and dog-tax Collectors 30 0 15 0 15 0 12 0 22 10 5 0 25 0 30 0 285 0 7 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £801 19
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Enclosure No. 6. Statement of Fees on Peemits for Liquor received by and due to Licensing Officer, Rarotonga, from Ist July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896. Amounts received. £ s. d. £ s. d. Fees, Ist July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896 ... ... 391 10 6 Expenditure. Salary Licensing Officer, Ist July, 1895, to 30th June, 1896 ... ... ' ... ... ... 54 0 0 — 337 10 6 Cash deposited ... ... ... ... ... 316 3 8 Fees in course of collection ... ... ... 21 6 10 £337 10 6 J. H. Gaeniee, Licensing Officer. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.—J. Scaed, Auditor. Rarotonga, 14th August, 1896.
Enclosure No. 7. Statement of Expenditure for the Year ending 30th June, 1896.
Makea Daniela, Paymaster. I have examined the above accounts, and compared them with the vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct. —J. Scaed, Auditor. Rarotonga, 12th August, 1896.
Vote. Service. Voted. i Expended. Unexpended. 1 2 3 4 5 Clerk to Council and Government Paymaster Auditor Rent of bond Clerk of Arikis' Court— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu £ s. 7 10 7 10 7 10 5 8 d. 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 7 10 0 7 10 0 7 10 0 5 8 0 £ a. d. 25 0 9 0 9 0 0) 0oj 43 0 0 7 8 9 . Police— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Interpreting and clerical assistance Fixed appropriation— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Judge of Arikis' Court— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Maintenance of roads— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Expenses of Council General contingencies Inspector of roads ... Printing by-laws, &c. ... - Unforeseen expenditure Outstanding account last year Places to lock up offenders ... 36 0 18 0 18 0 37 10 40 10 30 0 30 0 45 0 18 0 18 0 I 0 8 t 72 0 0 25 10 8 100 10 0 81 0 0 11 19 4 10 30 0 15 0 15 0 12 0 22 10 5 0 25 0 30 0 25 0 60 0 0) 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 58 11 10 1 8 2 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 0 22 10 0 5 0 0 20 3 3 28 12 0 25 0 0 40 1 0 0 8 4 16 1 8 0 9 0 19 19 0 601 8 0 561 8 9 39 19 3
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Enclosure No. 8. Estimates for the Year ending 30th June, 1897.
Revenue. Receipts, 1895-96. Ostimated, 1896-97. iubsidies from Federal Parliament 'ermit-fees ... ... .... load rates )og-tax fines and fees (Arikis' Courts) ... Balance from last year Education rate £ s. d. 102 0 0 337 10 6 25 14 11 £ s. 102 0 250 0 50 0 20 0 60 0 75 12 140 0 d. 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 5916 9 92'14 10 £697 12 4 Vote. Expenditure. Expended, 1895-96. Vote, 1896-97. 1 2 3 4 5 Clerk to Council and Government ... Paymaster Auditor Rent of bond ... Clerks of the Arikis' Courts — Avarua Arorangi ... Takitumu ... ... ... £ s. 7 10 7 10 7 10 5 8 d. 0 0 0 0 £ s. 7 10 7 10 7 10 5 8 d. 0 0 0 0 25 0 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 25 9 9 0 9 0 0 0 0 7 8 Police — Avarua Arorangi ... Takitumu Interpreting and clerical assistance Fixed payments — Avarua Arorangi ... Takitumu Judges (Arikis' Courts) — Avarua ... ... ... ,...-■ Arorangi ... ... , Takitumu Roads — Avarua Arorangi ... ... ... ... ... ./., Takitumu Expenses of the Council General contingencies ... Inspector of roads Printing the laws, &c. ... Unforeseen charges Lock-up Public schools — Two for six months Three for one year 36 0 18 0 18 0 25 10 40 10 30 0 30 0 45 0 18 0 13 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 36 0 18 9 18 0 30 0 40 10 30 0 30 0 45 0 18 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 30 0 15 0 15 0 12 0 22 10 5 0 25 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 22 10 5 0 20 3 28 12 40 1 0 0 0 3 0 0 95 0 0 285""0 0 Summary. 793 18 0 Revenue estimated ... ... ... £697 12 4 Expenditure ... ... ... ... 793 18 0 To be provided for ... ... £96 15 8 £96 15 8 18 Supplementary. Auditor (auditing accounts of Collectors of road rates, education rate, and dog-tax) 7 10 0 £801 8 0
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No. 10. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 21st October, 1896. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that a friendly settlement has at last been made between the Aritus of Rarotonga and Muretu and the Mataiapos and people of Takitumu respecting the succession to the late Pa Ariki. I enclose a copy of the resolution of the Arikis' Council, in which the terms of the arrangement are clearly stated. This ends a dispute which has given me considerable anxiety, and threatened to obstruct the working of the Rarotonga Government. The conduct of this dispute throughout and the settlement now made are marked by a moderation of good feeling which does credit to the Aritus and to all concerned. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.
Enclosure. [Extract from Te Torea, 24th October, 1896.] Rabotonga Council. The Delegates' House met on Tuesday, 20th, and passed the Appropriation Act. The only subject discussed was the future management of the roads, but it was decided to leave the present arrangements undisturbed till next year. Arikis' Council. After the meeting of the House of Delegates the Arikis' Council met and approved, without alteration, of "The Public Schools Act 1885 Amendment, 1896," and "The Appropriation Act, 1896," which was then approved and signed by the British Resident, and so became law. Special Meeting. The Arikis' Council then resolved itself into a special meeting to consider the succession to the late Pa Ariki, of Takitumu. There were present—Makea Ariki (Chief of the Federal Government), Tinomana Ariki (Chief of the Rarotonga Government), and Pa Ariki, of Takitumu. Vaikae, Tamarua, and Rama were also present as representatives of the Mataiapos and people of Takitumu. After a considerable amount of discussion, an arrangement was come to by which Maretu is to be the Pa Ariki for his life, without power of naming his successor. This was agreed to by Maretu and the representatives of Takitumu then present. The following is the text of the resolution adopted and duly recorded : "It having been made known to us by Maoate (Judge) and by Vaikae, Tamarua, and Rama, representing the Mataiapos and people of Takitumu, that they desire to carry out the wishes of the late Pa of Takitumu, by maintaining as her successor her adopted son Maretu, and are quite willing that Maretu shall be Ariki for his own life only, and shall have no power to appoint a successor : "It being also acknowdedged by them that the true succession to the high office of Ariki of Takitumu is of right, and has been from old time, vested in the survivors of the Pa family, but who are willing that Maretu should act as Ariki during his life, but that after him the succession should revert to the Pa family : " Besolved, That we, the Arikis' Council, hereby ratify the above agreement, and declare that Maretu shall act as Pa of Takitumu, but that his successor shall be appointed from the rightful Pa family as heretofore." Dated at Avarua, this 20th day of October, 1896.
No. 11. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands, British Residency, Rarotonga, 25th January, 1897. I have the honour to enclose report on the trade of the Cook Islands for the year ending the 31st December, 1896 (Tables L, 11., 111., IV., V. connected with the said report). I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Feedeeick J. Moss. Governor of New Zealand.
■""-" ' — "■ ~~ • Enclosures. Repoet on the Teade op the Cook Islands fob the Yeab ending 31st Decembee, 1896. Shipping and Navigation. Table I. shows a large increase in the entries during the year, the tonnage inwards of mercantile shipping being 35,145, against 21,940 for the year 1895. This is due to the Union Steam Shipping Company (Limited), of New Zealand, having put on a steamer in competition with the
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" Richmond," which was the only vessel in the line from Auckland to Rarotonga and the Society and other eastern islands. The " Richmond " ceased, to run at the end of 1896, and the Union Steam Shipping Company's steamer will therefore be the only one for the present year. Freights and passage-money have been considerably reduced, and are not likely to be raised to anything like former rates. The Union Company will also, it is said, offer increased facilities for sending oranges and other fruit from Rarotonga to the southern ports of New Zealand on their line of traffic. Anything that tends to widen the orange-market will be of great advantage to Rarotonga and the other Cook Islands ; their power of producing oranges of the best quality will always be one of the safest resources. At present many hundreds of thousand rot yearly, in the absence of a sufficiently extensive market. Exports. Table 11. gives in detail the exports for 1896, with those for the previous years. For 1896 the trade with islands beyond the Cook Group shows an increase, the amount of imported merchandise reshipped being £3,889, against £1,792, £1,293, £1,219 for the previous years respectively. The produce received from these islands, and included in the Cook Islands exports, was £1,333 for 1896, against £1,058, £1,729, £1,219 for the three previous years respectively. The export of Cook Island produce shows a considerable decrease, being £15,486 for 1896, against £19,080, £18,936, and £18,758 for the previous years respectively. The decrease, it will be observed, is due to a falling-off in the copra and coffee export of nearly £3,600 as compared with the previous year. This was in consequence of the exceptionally dry season; but the present season is as exceptionally favourable, and promises to do more than make good the deficiency. Oranges and limejuice show a considerable increase, the former owing to the increased facilities for shipment, through the competition of the two steamers, and the latter through an improvement in the price, which stimulated production. These four articles—coffee, copra, oranges, and limejuice—are likely to continue to be the staple products of these islands ; but the increase of coffee will depend largely on the dealing with the lands lying waste. These lands are all owned by Maori chiefs, and occupied by their Native tenants on a very uncertain tenure. Efforts are being made to obtain a more certain tenure, with a fixed rental in money, but the rent has always been paid in services and the tenure at the chief's will. A change is talked of frequently, but so far nothing has been done. The custom is as old as the Maoris themselves, but they are gradually getting accustomed to the new idea. In connection with the exports it will be observed that of the total produce—£l6,B2o—nearly all— £15,297 —went to New Zealand. Tahiti took £1,378, while San Francisco received its first direct shipment of £145. Table 11. will show how steadily the proportion taken by New Zealand has increased during the last four years. Imports. Table 111. gives the imports in detail, showing a total of £23,068, of which there came from New Zealand, £17,153; Tahiti, £3,912; San Francisco, £2,003. In comparing these figures with those for previous years it must be borne in mind that hitherto San Francisco shipments have come via Tahiti, and been included in those from that island. Even taking this into account, the table shows the leading position of New Zealand—a position which, with ordinary attention to the goods shipped, and with reasonable freight, will not easily be disturbed, especially as the market for oranges and other fruit, which form the bulk of export,cargoes, must always be New Zealand. The figures for the last three years are : — 1896. 1895. 1894. Exports to New Zealand ... ... ... 17,153 16,855 13,153 „ Tahiti and San Francisco ... ... 5,915 6,414 9,282 Finance. Tables IV. and V. show the finance of the Federal Government during the last four years. The hospital was opened on the Ist May, 1896, and has since been placed under the control of a Board of Europeans and Maoris, elected yearly, and receiving from the Government the duty of 1 per cent, on imports levied towards its support. Currency. The only legal currency is British coin. None other is received by the Governments, Federal or Local, in payment of duties and dues. In the absence of a bank or other means of maintaining a steady supply of coin, the merchants import only enough to pay duties, and the dollar is still generally used and taken at 2s. The dollar is about twice the size of the English florin, and appeals to the Natives from that cause and from long use. Most of the Natives occupy land, and have produce to sell, and the higher price they receive for that in Chili money compensates to some extent for the higher money price they pay for imported goods, but wages are still at about the same rate as before the Chili dollar fell from 3s. to 2s. The Natives complain of the high prices now charged for imported goods, but are slow to understand the connection between that increased price and the currency in which their purchases are made. Nor are they ready to take a lower price in British coin for their produce than that which is offered to them in Chili dollars by the importer of goods upon which he has charged a high exchange, and can afford to lose a part of that exchange in order to make remittances and avoid loss in sending away the dollars to be sold as bullion. The only places to which the dollar can be exported as coin are the French islands, in the Society and other eastern groups, where it is current in commerce in the same way and in the same terms as in the Cook Islands.
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The imports and exports of specie since 1891—the first year of federation and regular government in these islands —have been as follow:—
Showing an excess of imports during this period of 37,771 dollars and £1,387 in British coin. Small sums in both currencies must have been from time to time imported and exported without entry, but on the whole the above figures will be sufficiently correct for all practical purposes. There is reason to believe that much of the surplus, especially British gold coin, is hoarded by Natives and Chinamen in the various Cook Islands, as it is seldom seen in ordinary use. It is well to state that, appreciating this difficulty, two months' credit is given by the Government to all resident and established importers for duties payable by them. This enables them to import the British coin from New Zealand if necessary. Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.
Table I.—Report of Shipping at the Port of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) for the Year ending 31st December, 1896, with Comparative Statement for 1893, 1894, 1895.
Table II.—Exports from Cook Islands for the Year ending 31st December, 1896, with Comparative Statement for 1893, 1894, 1895.
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Im iorts. Exports. Dollars. British Coin. Dollars. British Coin. 1891-92 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95 1895-96 September, 1896 December, 1896, quarter 4,689 19,203 23,551 10,919 23,973 6,019 7,914 £ 1,026 228 50 200 8,600 4,203 13,100 7,475 9,000 6,019 10,100 £ 94 23 Exports 96,268 58,497 1,504 117 58,497 117 Balance... 37,771 1,387
Inwards. Outwards. Sailing. Steam. Men-of-War. 'otal. Sailing. S1 ieam. Men-of-War. Tons. No. Tons. Total. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. British American French Cook Islands 24 2,047 2 247 1 56 33 2,257 60 4,607 65 4,524 57 3,510 60 4,392 46 30,538 2 1,610 72 2 1 33 34,195 247 56 2,257 25 2 1 35 | 2,264 247 56 2,374 '46 30,538 2 1,610 73 2 1 35 34,412 247 56 2,374 Totals 1896 46 30,538 2 1,610 108 36,755 21,940 20,299 19,013 63 4,941 46 30,538 17,416 14,628 13,816 2 j 1,610 ! ! illl 37,089 1895 1894 1893 27 23 22 17,416 14,628 13,816 2 1 2,161 805 92 82 83 64 56 60 4,410 3,432 4,450 27 23 22 2 ' 2,161| 1 : 805 I I 91 81 83 21,826 20,221 19,071
Exported to 1896. 1895. I 1894. 1893. Jew Zealand ... 'ahiti ian Francisco ... 'enrhyn, Manihitu, and other islands £ ■ 15,297 1,378 145 3,889 £ 17,814 2,324 £ 15,906 4,759 £ 14,256 5,361 1,792 1,293 1,219 20,709 21,930 21,958 20,836
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Table III.—Imports into the Cook Islands for the Year ending 31st December, 1896, with Comparative Statement for 1893, 1894, 1895.
1896. 1895. 1894. 1893. I Quantity. Value. | Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 'roduce of Cook Islands — Coffee, centals Copra, centals Cotton, centals Limejuice, gallons Fungus, lb. ... Beche-de-mer Oranges, cases of about 25 dozen Bananas, bunches Cocoanuts, hundreds ... Pineapples, mangoes, and other fruit Other articles 1 367- 1 - 2 - J.,<JUI 10Q 17 157- 3 - 1 - j.1 , ±ui 100 57,255 253 £ 4,310 5,309 431 1,327 3 2,272$^ 21,742$% 502- 8 - 5 - 14,596 650 £ 7,752 7,253 880 397 8 10 2,258 2,266$% 16,009$% 840-S- 5 - 5,289 1,249 £ 7,782 6,189 1,701 144 13 1 914-aiL _L, jii 1(K) 16,200$$, 1,447$% 9,375 4,648 £ 6,442 5,661 3,069 282 36 19,863 3,'409 11,397 12,767 2,532 12,174 2',538 7,970 718-*-°- ' iu ioo 305 130 216 8,244 136$% 309 28 152 10,152 118 388 27 99 10,676 159 399 31 113 46 33 61 187 Total produce of Cook Islands 'roduce of other islands lerchandise, imported and re - exported to other islands 15,486 1,333 3,889 19,080 1,058 1,792 18,936 1,729 1,293 18,758 859 1,219 Total exports 20,709 21,930 21,958 20,836
Articles. 1896. 1895. 1894. 1893. Clothing Piece and fancy goods Provisions, salted and preserved Breadstuffs Groceries Spirits ... Wines ... £ 836 5,887 2,481 1,631 2,331 552 67 96 2,997 £ 957 6,985 2,741 1,734 2,135 481 77 27 2,470 £ 1,122 6,715 2,415 1,648 1,709 531 59 40 2,664 £ 922 6,590 1,837 1,656 1,707 407 55 89 1,417 Beer Timber, manufactured and unmanufactured Ironmongery and hardware Tobacco Animals ... Other articles 2,854 649 225 2,462 2,546 467 520 2,129 2,576 457 155 2,344 2,154 368 58 2,024 23,068 23,269 22,435 19,284 Imported from 1896. 1895. 1894. 1893. New Zealand Tahiti ... San Francisco £ 17,153 3,912 2,003 23,068 £ 16,855 6,414 £ 13,153 9,282 £ 10,187 9,097 23,269 22,435 19,284
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Table IV. —Revenue of the Federal Government of the Cook Islands for the Year ending 30th June, 1896, with Comparative Statement for 1894-95, 1893-94, 1892-93.
Table V.—Expenditure of the Fedeeal Government of the Cook Islands for the Year ending 30th June, 1896, with Comparative Statement, 1895-94, 1894-93, 1893-92. £ s. d. 1895-96 ... ... ... ... ... ... . 1,441 0 8 1894-95 ... ... ... ... ... 1,376 8 9 1893-94 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 860 17 4 1892-93 ... ... ... ... ... ... 933 19 8 Total ... ... ... £4,612 6 5 Resume. —Revenue and Expendituee from Ist July, 1892, to 30th June, 1.896. £ a. d. £ s. d. Ist July, 1893.—Balance in hand ... ... 305 18 11 30th June, 1896.—Four years' revenue (Table IV.) 4,787 15 5 5,093 14 4 Ist July, 1893.—Expenditure (Table V.)... ... 4,612 6 5 30th June, 1896.—Liabilities on 30th June, 1896 ... 217 15 9 4,830 2 2 Balance available Ist July, 1896 ... ... ... £263 12 2
No. 12. The Pbemiek to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 22nd April, 1897. I have been directed by the Premier to forward for your information the enclosed extracts from a letter addressed by a Mr. Wilkie, sometime resident in the Cook Islands, to the Hon. George Jones, M.L.C., and by him handed to the Hon. Mr. Walker, Minister of Education. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, Rarotonga. Alex. Willis.
Enclosure. Deab Sib,— Wellington, 9th April, 1897. Would you kindly ask the House during this session if they are aware that the Natives of Rarotonga are being supplied with drink—rum —wholesale. The Natives have no difficulty in getting it at any time. In December last rum was offered for sale by a Native on the road at Ngatangiia. I have also seen Europeans come out of a Native house at Ngatangiia having been supplied with rum. I have been offered, time after time, rum from Natives on the road from Avarua. I have been told by Natives that they are not allowed to make their own laws as promised, and that they are much against the sale of rum in the islands. The bond-stores are joined to Donald and Edinborough's store, and Donald and Edinborough have an entrance to the bond from their store which can only be locked on Donald and Edinborough's side. The Natives object to this, also to the post-office being in the building. The Native Parliament spent three days last session on post-office, but the British Resident would not allow it to be removed. The Natives are thoroughly disgusted. I shall be pleased to answer any questions you may think fit to ask. References: Mr. Kohn, storekeeper ; Rev. R. J. K. Hutchin; King Maretu ; Queen Makea; William Olliver. Signature of letter-writer — George Jones, Esq. James W. Wilkie. There is no postal orders from or to Auckland. Government charge 2s. per dollar, but only allow Is. 6d. Natives say no use going to Parliament, as Mr. Moss makes all laws.
No. 13. Mr. F. J. Moss to the Peemiee. Sic, — British Residency, Rarotonga, 26th May, 1897. I have to acknowledge receipt on the 20th instant of your letter of 22nd April, covering "extract from a letter addressed by a Mr. Wilkie to the Hon. Mr. Jones, M.L.C., and by him handed to the Hon. Mr. Walker, Minister of Education." Mr. Wilkie was here for a few months as schoolmaster at Ngatangiia. The statements in his letter are merely a repetition of those unceasingly made to strangers and others by a party with which he connected himself when here, and which has been indefatigable in its efforts to annoy the British Resident and create discontent among the Maoris. It is gratifying to find that the
Year. Import Duty of 5 per Cent. Postal and Postage Stamps. Lospital Duty, 1 per Cent, on Imports. Miscellaneous. Total. 1895-96 1894-95 1893-94 1892-93 £ s. 1,117 10 1,048 2 943 10 563 6 d. 1 9 5 5 £ 120 228 278 245 s. d. 8 5 0 1 2 3 5 9 £ 171 s. d. 9 8 £ s. d. 19 9 6 10 18 6 24 14 5 16 17 2 £ s. d. 1,428 17 8 1,287 1 4 1,246 7 1 825 9 4 Total 3,672 9 8 871 16 6 171 9 8 71 19 7 4,787 15 5
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complaints are not of a more serious nature, and that they are the worst than can be said of the administration of affairs by me, under considerable difficulty, for nearly seven years. Under these circumstances, although you have not called upon me for specific reply, I venture to enclose for your information a memorandum, which I have endeavoured to make as brief as possible. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, The Hon. the Premier, Wellington. British Resident.
Memorandum for the Information of the Hon. the Premier in reply to certain Statements of Mr. Wilkie sent to the Hon. George Jones, M.L.C. (1.) Intoxicating Liquor to Maoris : No Maori can obtain liquor without a special permit from his Ariki. The king, Maretu, and the queen, Makea, whom Mr. Wilkie includes among his references, are both Arikis, provided with printed books of such permits, each permit having a counterfoil to show to whom it was issued. Mr. Wilkie says they desire to stop the supply of liquor to the Natives. If it were so they could do this at any moment. (2.) " Bum offered for sale in December last by a Native on the road to Ngatangiia; also that he had been offered, time after time, rum from the Natives on the road from Avarua " : This is a statement which lam utterly at a loss to understand. It is incredible on any other ground than that the Maoris were making fun of Mr. Wilkie, whom they always regarded as an eccentric person. (3.) The Bond-store is a place in which is deposited all intoxicating liquor imported into the Cook Islands. It is in charge of an officer known as the Licensing Officer, appointed by statute and only removable by statute, so as to make his position perfectly independent. He issues permits to persons wishing to purchase. They buy from whom they like, and the seller indorses on the permit authority for delivery from his stock in the bond. To the Maoris permits can only be given on receipt of printed authority from the Ariki, above referred to. The Licensing Officer has large powers to guard against abuse. That they are exercised is proved by the prosecution a few months ago of a leading merchant here, by whom, or by whose employe, as he contended, permits had been obtained in the names of some persons while the liquor was sold to others. Fines and costs amounting to about £35 were levied in this case, although only a few bottles of gin were sold. This system is peculiar, and often denounced as derogatory to those who have to ask for permits. But it was the only practicable experiment, and has worked well. It succeeded what was called "total prohibition," under which nineteen shanties were openly selling liquor of the worst kind although there were about two hundred so-called police entirely dependent for pay on the fines for breaches of this as well as other laws. The present law was passed on my advice, and after careful consideration. There can be no doubt that the old law was not in accord with public sentiment, and that, in the absence of an overwhelming majority in its support, the old law was demoralising the Maoris and the whole community. The present law was passed in 1890. (4.) " Donald and Edenborough's entrance to the bond from their store " : This is quite untrue. There is but one entrance to the bond, which is used by all. (5.) " The Federal Parliament spent three days last session trying to have the bond and postoffice removed, and the British Resident would not allow them to be removed " : This is true. I refused to agree because the proposed arrangement involved a considerable outlay for public buildings and their maintenance, which the present tenure of buildings belonging to Donald and Edenborough rendered unnecessary. The movement in the Parliament originated in, and was maintained from, business jealousy with which the Government, in my opinion, had no concern. The rent paid for bond and post-office has always been and still is only £14 Bs. a year. (6.) " The Natives say it is no use going to Parliament, as Mr. Moss makes all the laws " : Of course, in entering upon an entirely new system of government of which the Natives were completely ignorant the guidance of the Parliament and the construction of the laws devolved upon me. But from the first I have done what I could to get the Natives to think for themselves, and for the last four years have not been present at any of their meetings. Mr. Wilkie's statement as to their struggle to get public buildings erected for a bond and post-office, &c, is not consistent with submissiveness on their part. I may add that I find them scrutinising the published accounts and estimates very keenly. The Paymaster is a son of Judge Tepou, is good at accounts, and has a fair knowledge of English. He is also Clerk to Parliament and Government. The accounts are transmitted to New Zealand by me when laid on the table here, and will be found in full published among the New Zealand parliamentary papers. (7.) "No postal orders from or to Auckland" : Money is received by the Postmaster here and sent to the Auckland Post-office, which transmits a money order to the address indicated. The postal communication of the Cook Islands only dates from 1891, when it was established by the help of the New Zealand Government, without whose help it would have been impossible. (8.) " Government charges 2s. per dollar, but only allows Is. 6d. " : This is incomprehensible. Government only takes British coin since Ist January, 1895. The Chili dollar is still current, as there is no means of keeping up a regular supply of British money. Credit for duties on all imports is given to importers. They are allowed two months in this way to export their Chili money and obtain British coin instead. (9.) In conclusion, with reference to the other gentlemen whom Mr. Wilkie quotes, I may say that Mr. Kohn is manager of the Cook Islands Trading Company (Limited), and has long been emphatic on grievances which he considers he has suffered from me —more especially in connection with the action taken by me in relation to a banking monopoly which he desired to establish for his company, and respecting which I wrote to His Excellency the Governor on 20th April, 1896. The Mr. Olliver referred to is in Mr. Kohn's employ, though I have never known him to take any active part in affairs here. Feedeeick J. Moss, Rarotonga, 26th May, 1897. British Resident. Approximate. Cost of Paper. —Preparation, not given ; printing (1,375 copies), £26 3s.
By Authority : JohS Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—lB97. Price Is.}
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/parliamentary/AJHR1897-II.2.1.2.7
Bibliographic details
PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1896.], Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, A-03
Word Count
24,034PACIFIC ISLANDS. PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1896.] Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1897 Session II, A-03
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