PACIFIC ISLANDS: PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1900.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1901 Session I, A-03

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1901. NEW ZEALAND.

PACIFIC ISLANDS: PROCEEDINGS OF THE BRITISH RESIDENT, RAROTONGA. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1900.]

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

INDEX.

No. 1. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Govebnob. My Lord, — Earotonga, 25th January, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (539/99) having reference to the piece of land at Mangaia presented to Her Majesty by Daniela Tangitoru, and have the honour to report that I have forwarded h copy of the letter to Daniela. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, X.C.M G., W. E. Gudgeon, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident. I—A. 3.

A.-3, 1900, No. 20.

No. of ieries. From Date. Subject. Page. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 18 14 15 Iβ 17 British Resident .. ii • • Governor British Resident .. Governor British Resident .. British Resident .. Governor .. Governor .. British Resident .. 25 Jan., 1900 .. 30 Jan., „ .. 30 Jan., „ .. lOFeb 28 Mar 8 May, „ .. 20 April, „ .. 10 May, „ .. 11 June, „ 2 July, , .. 12 July, „ .. 12 July, „ .. 9 Aug., „ .. 10 Aug., „ .. 10 Aug., „ .. 28 Aug., , .. 7 Sept., „ .. Gift of land to Her Majesty the Queen Contribution of people, Cook Islands, to Widows and Orphans Patriotio Fund Present of stone axe to Her Majesty the Queen Acknowledging receipt of (No. 2) contribution to Patriotio Fund Further contribution to Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund No case of bubonic plague in New Zealand.. Application of Arikis for annexation to Great Britain Arrival of "John Williams," barque, with sickness on board .. Oil-schooner for Cook Islands Messrs. Grioe, Sumner, and Co., re labour-men Future of Cook and other islands Growth of arrowroot Cannot grant further labour licenses Growth of arrowroot Revenue and expenditure, year ended 30th June, 1900 Acts passed by Cook Islands Legislature Estimates of revenue and expenditure for year ending 30th June, 1901 Petition of Arikis for annexation to Great Britain Sympathy of Arikis with Her Majesty, on death of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh Growth of arrowroot Visit of training-ship of Republic of Chili Acknowledging reoeipt of No. 21 .. Thanks of Her Majesty the Queen to Arikis, sympathy death of H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh 1 2 2 2 3 3 3 4 4 5 • 5 5 6 6 6 10 13 18 19 8 Sept., „ .. 10 Sept., „ .. 15 15 20 21 22 23 Governor British Resident .. Governor .. 13 Sept., . .. 13 Sept., „ .. 4 Oct., „ .. 20 Dec, „ .. 16 17 17 17

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No. 2. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Goveenob. Mt Loed, — - Earotonga, 30th January, 1900. I have the honour to enclose herewith the sum of £107 7s. 6d., being the contribution of the people of the Cook Islands towards the Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund. It has been a very great pleasure to me to assist the Maori inhabitants of the Federation in their very laudable desire to show their real feelings towards the Imperial flag, and their anxiety to be considered as part and portion of the Empire. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., W. E. Gudgeon, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

Enclosure. Youe Excellency,— Rarotonga, 29th January, 1900. I have the honour to forward to you a contribution from the Cook Islands towards the Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund. We have only had one week within which to collect these subscriptions, and, as you are aware, the people of Earotonga are not only poor, but few in number. Under these circumstances, the amount forwarded to your Lordship is but small; but we ask you to believe that it has been given as freely, and with as much good feeling, as though we had all been born Britishers. This letter will be enclosed to Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, together with the sum of £107 7s. 6d., and he will be requested to forward the same on to you. Enough. With Greetings. Makba. His Excellency Lord Ranfurly, K-C.M.G., &c, Ngamaeu. Governor of New Zealand and its Dependencies.

No. 3. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Goveenob. My Loed, — Earotonga, 30th January, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that I received the attached letter from Makea Ariki to-day, shortly before the steamer left. It appears that Makea is anxious to make a present to Her Majesty the Queen of a Mangaian stone axe, and asks your Lordship to forward the same on from Auckland. The present is of small value, and is merely intended as a mark of Makea's respect and sympathy. The box containing the axe, &c, is forwarded to you per " Ovalau." I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sib, — Rarotonga, 29th January, 1900. May I request that you will forward to His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, for transmission to Her Majesty Queen Victoria, a box containing a Mangaian axe, &c. Enough. Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident. Makea.

No. 4. His Excellency the Govebnoe to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sib, Government House, Auckland, 10th February, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your covering letter (No. 4/1900) with enclosure from Makea (Ariki) and others, and enclosing the sum of £107 7s. 6d. to the Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund. I need hardly say with what pleasure I received the amount, proving that, no matter where Her Majesty's subjects may be, the same generous loyalty animates them. I enclose a letter fpr Makea and the Arikis, and I am sure you will convey to them, as well as to the European subscribers, the warm appreciation of their offering. I have paid the amount over to the Mayor of Auckland's Patriotic Fund, who will send you a receipt. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident, Earotonga. Ranfubly.

No. 2.

Enclosure. Madam, — Government House, Auckland, 10th February, 1900. On behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, whom I have the honour to represent, I thank you for your generous offering towards the Widows and Orphans Patriotic Fund, and assure you that I very warmly appreciate the spirit of loyalty and sympathy which has prompted you, Ngamaru,

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and the other Arikis to collect such a large sum. It is by this splendid unity of purpose that England must gain her end, and it is pleasing to know how deep and widespread is the sympathy for the widows and orphans of our gallant soldiers now so bravely facing death for England's sake. I shall take care to make this proof of your loyalty known to Her Majesty the Queen. I also shall have pleasure in forwarding the stone axe which you have sent her. Makea, Chief of the Federal Government, Cook Islands. Banfurly.

No. 5. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Govebnoe. My Lord,— Earotonga, 28th March, 1900. I have the honour to forward herewith a cheque for £27 13s. 3d., being a further contribution from these islands towards the Widows and Orphans Fund. Most of this money comes from the Island of Aitutaki. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

No. 6. His Excellency the Goveenoe to the Health Offices, Earotonga. (Urgent telegram.) Wellington, Bth May, 1900. Health Officer, Earotonga, per " Ovalau," from Auckland. (To be handed to him on boarding ship.) Please inform British Eesident that there is no case, or suspected case, of bubonic plague in any part of New Zealand; that in the event of a case I shall inform him in a similar manner to this telegram, so that you can get first information. I consider you run no risk whatever from " Ovalau " or her cargo unless any comes from Sydney. I consider that old fruit-cases which may have come from Sydney to be dangerous, also old copra-sacks, and desire to warn British Eesident especially against these if they have been at an infected port. Fruit-buyers do not invariably return growers their own old fruit-cases, so caution in these is necessary. Eanfuely, Governor.

No. 7. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 20th April, 1900. I have the honour to forward herewith an application by Ngamaru, Ariki of the Islands of Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, and Makea Takau, the Chief Ariki of Earotonga, asking that the abovenamed islands be annexed to and become part of the British Empire. The feeling expressed against New Zealand is really only against those members of Parliament who treated the petitions of certain Earotonga beach-combers as genuine and trustworthy. This feeling will die out. As to the Manihiki letter to Makea, I have heard more than once that the northern islands would like to join the Federation. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Sic, — Earotonga, 21st April, 1900. It has for some time been in the thoughts of Ngamaru, the Ariki of Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro, and also myself, Makea, the Chief of the Federal Government, that the present system of protection is not satisfactory, and it is our desire that we should form part of the British Empire and become one with the British people. We therefore ask you to bring this matter before Lord Eanfurly, in order that he may take steps to carry out our desires. We wish his Lordship to understand that it is to Great Britain we wish to be annexed, not to New Zealand. Do not blame us for this sentiment, for we have not forgotten that it was the Parliament of New Zealand who received petitions from bad and disreputable men, and treated them as though they were true. I have received communications from Manihiki and Eakaanga asking me to intercede on their behalf that they might become part of this Federation. Those people are descendants of our ancestor, Te Euri, therefore we are interested in their welfare. We trust in you to aid them in their desires and assist us in ours. Enough. Makea, Ariki. Ngamaeu, Ariki. Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident, Earotonga.

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No. 8. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governok. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 10th May, 1900. I have the honour to report that the missionary barque " John Williams " arrived at Earotonga on the 6th instant from Sydney, but was not allowed to land her cargo nor communicate with the shore in any way. The captain reports that three of the passengers died within a week after leaving Sydney, and is of opinion that they died of bronchitis. This, however, may or may not be true, for the ship does not carry a doctor, and Captain Wirell has no medical knowledge. I have further to inform your Lordship that some time previous to the arrival of the " John Williams " I had called a meeting of the Federal Government to decide what measures should be taken to prevent the introduction of the bubonic plague, and the Council resolved that the matter should be placed in the hands of the British Eesident and the Health Officer (Dr. W. B. Craig), with full power to do all things necessary to prevent the introduction of any disease whatsoever. We have therefore resolved that no vessel from Sydney shall be allowed to land goods or passengers at any island of this group unless the said vessel shall have come via New Zealand, and have obtained a clean bill of health from that place. I have also to report, for your Lordship's information, that I thought it advisable to warn Captain Wirell not to call at the islands lying north and west of this group—viz., Niue, Penrhyn, Manihiki, Eakaanga, and Pukapuka—they being under the protection of the British flag. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

No. 9. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governok. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 11th June, 1900. The Hon. the Premier of New Zealand, during" his recent visit to the Cook Islands, has expressed his willingness to assist the Federal Governor with money, to the end that an auxiliary oil-engine schooner may be purchased, as a tender to bring the outlying islands into touch with the Union Company's boats. The conditions laid down by the Premier are as follows: That interest at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum shall be paid on the money advanced ; that a sinking fund shall be provided to pay off the advance ; that the schooner should be insured up to her full value; and that preference shall in every instance be given to all cargo shipped to New Zealand; lastly, that a maximum scale of charges for freight and passages shall be fixed, as a guarantee that the vessel will be run in the interests of the people of the group, and not as a mere revenue-producer. The Arikis of Earotonga have received this offer with the utmost satisfaction, and I need hardly remind your Lordship that they are the people who will receive the least possible benefit from the arrangement; they, however, do recognise the disadvantage under which many of their compatriots suffer, and are anxious to develop the trade of these islands with New Zealand. It will probably be found that the schooner will not at first pay working-expenses—that, in fact, it will have to work up its own trade ; but I am convinced that the trade of the group will benefit greatly by the presence of a Government schooner. There is, however, one matter that, if insisted on, would render it impossible to accept the Premier's offer, and that is the insurance. The rates charged by the New Zealand companies are simply prohibitive, for I am told that Captain Harries, of the " Torea," has to pay no less than 25 per cent, on the insurance effected over that schooner. Under these circumstances, I have the honour to make the following proposal on behalf of the Federal Government of Earotonga : (1.) That a schooner be built for the Federal Government, not exceeding 150 tons register, and fitted with suitable oil-engines. (2.) That the New Zealand Government should advance the money required for such schooner, and that the Government of the Cook Islands should pay at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum on all moneys so advanced. (2.) That a sinking fund shall be provided, and that the amount reserved annually for such fund shall be decided by the New Zealand Government, the Government of the Cook Islands reserving the right to pay off a greater sum in any one year than that defined by the sinking-fund clause. (4.) That this debt shall be a first charge on the revenues of the Cook Islands. (5.) That the maximum scale of freights should be as follows : — Inter-Island. —To and from Earotonga : For all fruit, produce, and merchandise, 12s. per ton cubic measurement or bulk. For each adult passenger to or from any island of the group, 65., either in cash or produce at current rates; children under fourteen, half-rates. Foreign. —To New Zealand, £1 ss. per ton on all produce and merchandise other than perishable fruits; all perishable fruits, 15s. per ton; adult passengers to New Zealand, £7; children under fourteen, half-fare. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

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No. 10. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His_ Excellency the Governor. My Loed, — Earotonga, 2nd July, 1900. I have the honour to forward, for your information, a letter from Messrs. Grice, Sumner, and Co., of Melbourne. The same is marked " Confidential," but I think you will agree with me that there is no reason why you should not see it, inasmuch that it sets forth their position very clearly and fairly. The firm in question have been of very great benefit to these islands by taking away the surplus population of young men who would otherwise have fallen into lazy and disreputable habits, and all their transactions have been characterized by good faith and honesty. Under these circumstances, I am now in a position to ask your Lordship to make an exception in favour of the firm of Grice, Sumner, and Co., by issuing to them a permit to carry labour-men to Maiden Island, provided that in each case the vessel first comes to Earotonga. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., W. E. Gudgeon, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

Enclosure. (Confidential.) Dear Sic, — Melbourne, 9th April, 1900. Captain Barber has handed to us your letter addressed to him last November, informing him that the Federal Government of the Cook Group Islands will offer no opposition to our obtaining labour from any of above islands. We are very much obliged to you for this concession. Doubtless you are aware that Lord Eanfurly has, through our New Zealand agents, advised us not to apply for any more licenses in New Zealand. This decision places us in a most difficult position, as the following case will demonstrate. The " Jerfalcon " arrived at Lyttelton from Maiden Island on the 15th February, and, as a labour license was required to obtain labourers to replace sixty-two Aitutaki men due to leave Maiden Island on the 11th March, we were compelled to order the vessel to Melbourne after discharging her cargo, so as to obtain the necessary license to engage men, and return the Aitutaki gang. The " Jerfalcon " will by this detour lose at least three months before reaching Aitutaki. The sixty-two Aitutaki men will thus be detained some four months beyond the term of their agreement, and possibly we shall have trouble with them owing to our compulsory breach of faith. Our object in writing you is to ask whether Lord Eanfurly has been officially advised as to the decision of your Federal Government approving of men being taken from islands in the Cook Group; and, if not so advised, would your Government be disposed to intercede with the Governor with a view to the granting of labour licenses. Such a privilege would enable us to keep faith with the islanders, and so avoid all friction with them. We shall be very pleased to hear your views on this business, and thanking you in anticipation, We remain, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident, Earotonga. Grice, Sumnee, and Co.

No. 11. His Excellency the Goveenor to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th July, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that the question of the future of this group and other islands is now laid before the Secretary of State. If they are to be annexed, the question of finance generally will be made very much easier. At the present time, however, as you are situated, it appears to me useless to go into this question further, pending Her Majesty's decision. Immediately I receive this I will inform you, and will then go into the financial question, as also the question of an appeal from the High Court. Should the boundaries of New Zealand be extended and take in any of this group of islands, everything would be made comparatively easy to settle. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Eesident, Barotonga. Banfuely.

No. 12. His Excellency the Goveenor to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. * Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 12th July, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that I am getting details regarding the growth of arrowroot, and also of fibre plants suited to the Cook Islands climate, and I shall hope to be able to forward you the details either by this mail or the following.

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It seems to me that it would be a benefit if you were personally acquainted with other products suitable to the requirements of the Cook Islands, and which possibly Natives or Europeans might be induced to cultivate. - I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Besident, Barotonga. Banfurly.

No. 18. His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 9th August, 1900. With reference to your despatch (No. 23/1900) dated the 2nd July, and enclosing letter from Messrs. Grice, Sumner, and Co., of Melbourne, I have the honour to inform you that I cannot see my way to granting further labour licenses. I especially brought this matter before you and Makea when I was at Barotonga and Aitutaki, and Makea distinctly said that she did not desire any of her young men to be taken away in these ships. You also, at that time, were against it. The great difficulty is that I have no means at my disposal of supervising these vessels should licenses be given them, and in the past we have not found that they carried out their licenses to the letter. I may also inform you that the Government of New Zealand are very much against this traffic, and, though the question of granting licenses rests entirely in my hands, I agree with them, and do not consider it advisable to grant further licenses at any time, unless under some very exceptional circumstances. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Besident, Barotonga. Banfurly.

No. 10.

No. 14. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Besidency, Barotonga, 10th August, 1900. In reply to your despatch (No. 505) I have the honour to inform you that arrowroot is manufactured both at Aitutaki and at Barotonga, but is, I believe, considered to be of inferior quality. The plant itself is known to the Natives by the name of maniota, and thrives well in the volcanic soil of both islands with very little cultivation. I believe I am justified in saying that the only objection to the arrowroot of this group is that the colour is not so good as it should be, a fact easily explainable so far as Aitutaki is concerned, for on that island there is not a sufficient supply of running water. I fear that this, like every ■other question of production in Barotonga, is governed by that of the land tenure, and I fear it will not be possible to promote any new or important industry until the producers are safe in the possession of their holdings ; as for the Arikis, no aid can be expected from them, for they believe it to be their interest to preserve the existing conditions. I am told that a very large quantity of arrowroot was produced in Barotonga, and sold in Penrhyn and Tahiti at remunerative prices, but that the industry was destroyed by the large price given for coffee about fifteen years ago. It is, however, possible that it might be re-estabhshed if it could be shown to the Maoris wherein the quality of that produced by them failed, and also the probable value of the article in its present and also in its improved condition. I will forward, per " Taviuni," a sample of Aitutaki arrowroot, and, if possible, of Barotongan, in order to test the probable value and ascertain its deficiencies. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Banfurly, K.C.M.G., W. E. Gudgeon, Governor of New Zealand. • British Besident.

No. 12.

No. 15. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — Barotonga, 10th August, 1900. I have the honour to forward, for your information, a return of revenue and expenditure for the year ending 30th June, 1900. The financial position disclosed by the return in question is most satisfactory, since it justifies the Federal Government in purchasing an oil-engine schooner in order to develop the trade of the outlying islands of the group. I have also the honour to forward herewith the speech of the Chief of the Government to the Parliament, and a short financial statement made by me to the Parliament in which the position of the Federation is set forth. The estimates for the present year have not yet been passed, but they are framed with the strictest regard to economy, and will provide for a surplus of probably £800 for the fiscal year 1900-1901. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Banfurly, K.C.M.G., British Besident. Governor of New Zealand.

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Enclosures. Statement of Revenue for Year ending 30th June, 1900.

Fbedebick Goodwin, Treasurer. Examined and found correct.—A. yon Hopp, Auditor. Rarotonga, 30th June, 1900.

Statement of Expenditure for Year ending 30th June, 1900.

Febdeeick Goodwin, Paymaster, Examined and found correct. —A. yon Hoff, Auditor. Rarotonga, 30th June, 1900.

Date. Accounts. • Amounts. 1st July, 1899 To Cash in hand Cash in Bank of New Zealand ... By Eevenue — Customs Post Office ... Shipping-fees Trade licenses Liquor licenses High Court ... Arikis' Courts—Avarua „ Arorangi „ Takitumu ... „ Mangaia „ Mitiaro Atiu ... Mauke „ Aitutaki Miscellaneous £ s. 384 5 24 15 d. 8 9 iOth June, 1900 1,550 3 300 3 31 4 209 2 230 6 237 19 70 13 29 16 22 9 27 6 1 4 14 5 6 12 21 0 3 18 8 1* 8 9 6 1 7 4 4 0 4 6 7 6 6 £3,165 7 lOfr

ote. Service. Voted. Expended. i Unexpended. Excess. £ s. d. 96 0 0 150 0 0 £ s. d. 96 0 0 147 10 0 £ s. d. £ ! s. d. 8 9 10 11 12 13 11 15 16 17 1 2 8 4 5 6 7 Members' honorarium Collector of Customs, Shippingmaster, Chief Postma.ster, and Licensing Officer Collector of Customs, Postmaster, and Eesident Magistrate, Aitutaki Pilot, Aitutaki ... High Court Revenue Officer and Postmaster, Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro Treasurer, Paymaster, Clerk, and Interpreter to Federal Government Auditor Medical Officer ... Health and Quarantine Officer Food and drugs for Cook Islands Hospital Ground-rent, hospital Chief of Federal Government Vice-Chief of Federal Government ... Passage of members Expenses of Parliament ... Maintenance of children at Tereora School Printing laws, &c, for Federal Government, and loi paper to officials of group Messenger for Parliament Judges ... Police ... Contingent expenses as per Sheet No. 1 Clerks to Arikis' Courts ... Government offices and land, first payment 100 0 0 5 0 0 185 0 0 18 0 0 155 0 0 15 0 0 250 0 0 40 0 0 180 0 0 7 10 0 60 0 0 15 0 0 18 0 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 93 1 1 5 0 0 144 18 3 18 0 0 155 0 0 15 0 0 250 0 0 40 0 0 200 7 10 7 10 0 60 0 0 15 0 0 18 0 0 11 19 9 67 5 10 2 10 0 6 18 11 40 1 9 20 7 10 8 "0 3 57 14 2 18 75 0 0 75 0 0 19 20 21 22 3 0 0 152 0 0 58 10 0 150 0 0 3 0 0 152 0 0 58 10 0 149 7 1 0 12 11 23 24 56 0 0 350 0 0 56 0 0 350 0 0 2,284 0 0 2,188 9 10 115 18 0 20 7 10

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Opening of Pabliament. Parliament House, Rarotonga, Ist August, 1900. Present. —Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British .Resident; Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government; Tinomana, Ariki, Vice-Chief of the Federal Government ; Karika, Ariki; Ngamaru, Ariki, Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro; Pa, Ariki, Takitumu; Mr. F. Goodwin, Clerk. Chief of the Government presiding. Prayers. Colonel Gudgeon welcomed the members in this the tenth session, on behalf of the Chief of the Government. The Opening Address from the Chief of the Government was then read by Mr. F. Goodwin, Clerk to Parliament. # Speech of the Chief of the Federal Government to the Federal Parliament of the Cook Islands. Greetings. It is my pleasant duty to inform you that your time during the present session will not be occupied by the consideration of legislative matter ; there are, however, a few necessary additions or amendments required to the Acts passed during last session. These will require your attention, and there are several other matters of vital importance to the Federation which you will be invited to consider and deal with by resolution. Foremost of these is the necessity which exists for regular communication with the outlying islands of this group. You are all aware that under the present conditions the Islands of Mauke, Mitiaro, Atiu, and Mangaia are rarely visited by any vessel, and for this reason the inhabitants are either unable to dispose of their produce, or, if they do succeed in selling their fruit, they do so at prices that are not remunerative. To remedy this very unsatisfactory state of affairs the Government proposes to purchase fin auxiliary oil-engine schooner of about 100 tons register, the whole to cost about £2,500. If this proposal should be carried out it is our intention to reduce freights and fares to the lowest possible margin, in order that the producers may benefit by the change. The Government have felt themselves compelled to undertake this important operation inasmuch that a boat such as I have described would, in the hands of a private firm, create a monopoly, and therefore be contrary to your interests. You will, of course, understand that the Federal Government have not the money necessary to carry out this scheme, but His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand and the Premier of that colony both regard the proposal with great favour, and we have reason to believe that the latter will advance the money required at a moderate rate of interest—provided always that you affirm the necessity for such a vessel. Another very important matter for your consideration is that of the Chili dollar. Last session you passed an Act which I have hesitated to bring into force, inasmuch as that statute did not provide any means whereby the trade of the group could be carried on after the Chili dollar had been abolished. This is a matter that requires to be dealt with most carefully. You have already affirmed that it is desirable, too, that British money should take the place of the dollar; it therefore lies with the Maori people to insist that their produce shall be paid for in British coin. You may, however, aid in this matter by a resolution calling on the people to refuse to accept the dollar in payment for coffee, copra, or limejuice ; and you will be asked to pass a measure imposing an import duty of 10 per cent, on all Chili coin. I desire also to direct your attention to another matter. From representations made by Captain Macbeth, of the Union Company, to the British Resident it would seem that the wharf and sheds built by his company were erected under a verbal promise from the late Resident that a lease of the site would be granted to the company. Now, the Government were never consulted on this subject; but there can be but little doubt that the promise was made, and that the company erected the wharf and sheds at considerable expense trusting in the bona fides of the promise. Ido not, of course, admit that the late Resident had the power to make any promise of this nature unless authorised to do so by the Federal Government; but I think the Union Company ought not to suffer by reason of any mistake made by the late Resident. I therefore ask you to pass a resolution authorising me to grant a lease to the said company for a term not exceeding twenty years, making any conditions that you may think fit and reasonable, and which in your opinion should be included in the lease. The visit of the Hon. R. J. Seddon, the Premier of New Zealand, has been of very great benefit to the people of the Cook Islands, in whom that gentleman takes more than a passing interest. An immediate result of this visit has been a convention by which money-orders will be exchanged between this Federation and the Colony of New Zealand—an arrangement which cannot fail to facilitate the business whether of the European merchants or of the Maori people, since it will place the latter in this position ; that they will be in a position to insist that remittances made on behalf of fruit consigned to New Zealand shall in each case be paid by money-order. Mr. Seddon further proposes to assist the Federation by establishing a branch of the New Zealand Government Savings-Bank in Rarotonga. This will supply a want long felt, as it will supply a safe place of deposit for the surplus moneys of the community; and, as secrecy is an essential part of the New Zealand postal service, depositors need not fear that their affairs will become known to the public. We have received other suggestions from the honourable gentleman which are valuable, and will be acted upon directly the funds of the Federation permit. I refer particularly to his offer to allow an engineer officer in the service of the New Zealand Government to superintend and direct the work of opening up boat-passages through the reefs which surround certain of the islands of this group. This is a very necessary work, and one that must be undertaken within the next few years. A Bill will be laid before you for your consideration which will provide for an increase in the poll-tax upon Chinese immigrants, and which will assimilate the law of the Federation to that of New Zealand.

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In conclusion, I would draw your attention to the alarming mortality among the people of the Cook Islands. The Hon. Mr. Seddon has suggested that the fact is due to the floors of your houses being insufficiently raised above the surface of the ground ; but I fear this is only one of the many causes, the chief of which is the habit of the Maoris" who call in quacks, both European and Native, to deal with their sick people. It is believed that from this cause no less than twenty people have died in Earotonga during the past year. For this custom there is no excuse in the Island of Barotonga. You will therefore be asked to pass a measure for this island, giving power to the Government Medical Officer to hold an inquiry into the circumstances of the death of each person whenever he shall have cause to believe that the death is the result of, or has been accelerated by, ignorant or unscientific treatment. Makea, Ariki, Earotonga, Ist July, 1900. Chief of the Federal Government. Samuela Terei thanked the British Eesident and Chief of the Federal Government for the welcome to the members, and expressed a wish that they would be able to carry out the views of the Chief of the Government, as laid down in the Opening Address. Colonel Gudgeon, with the Chief of the Government and Arikis, retired. The members of Parliament present were : Earotonga—Te Ariki Tapu Eangi, Arorangi; Tita, Avarua; Samuela Terei, Takitumu. Aitutaki—John Pakoti, Amuri; Panapa, Nikaupara; Ereazara, Tautu. Atiu —Te Aura, Atiu ; Tua, Mauke. Not represented—Atiu (Mitiaro) ; Mangaia (Oneroa, Ivirua, Tamerua). Members then elected Tβ Ariki Tapu Eangi as their Chairman for the ensuing year. The Address was handed to the Chairman and re-read to members. Ordered to be printed. Meeting adjourned till Friday, the 3rd August, 1900, at 10 a.m. ¥. Goodwin,

■ — Clerk to Parliament. To the Chairman and Members of the Cook Islands Parliament. I have much pleasure in bringing before your notice the financial condition of the Federation as disclosed by the audited accounts of the past year, as also the Federal prospects for the ensuing year. On reference to the returns that will be laid before you you will see that the receipts for the year ending 30th June, 1900, amount to £3,165 7s. 10d., and that the expenditure during the same period has been £2,188 9s. 10d., leaving a surplus balance in the hands of the Treasurer of £976 18s. This is a most satisfactory financial position; but 1 would warn honourable members not to be unduly elated, for it is a necessity of our position that we should have a surplus each year, and that the surplus should be allowed to reach a sum of money equal to the liabilities of a full financial year. There can be no financial stability in the Cook Islands until we have attained to this position, for I need hardly remind you that one hurricane might destroy the producingpower of this group for one if not two seasons. We have, moreover, incurred liabilities that must be met. Of the £1,050 that you have authorised to be paid for the Government Buildings and land, only £350 has yet been disbursed, leaving a balance of £700 which should be liquidated at the earliest possible date. In order to reduce this liability I suggest that £500 be paid without delay to the owners of the buildings —namely, to Messrs. Murray, Boberts, and Co. And I further recommend that the sum of £300 be placed on the estimates as a subsidy in aid of the proposed Government schooner. This money may be required inasmuch that I propose to reduce both fares and freight to the lowest amount possible, and hence it is possible that the schooner may not pay working-expenses for the first year. In framing the estimates for the present year I ha.ye done so with the view of reducing the salaries paid to the level of the services rendered. The Parliament now sitting can easily finish the business they have before them in a week, and will consequently be well paid by an honorarium of £5 each. So, also, certain of the Judges of the Arikis' Courts have either failed to carry out their work satisfactorily, or have so little work to do that it would matter but little to the community if they were removed altogether from their positions. At Arorangi a system of terrorism and robbery has been practised at the expense of a quiet and inoffensive European, and it would seem to me that neither the Judge nor police have attempted to punish the offenders; but that they know them can hardly be doubted. The salary of this Judge has been reduced to £10 for the present financial year as a warning to him to attend to his work. The Court fees received from the Island of Mitiaro have been £1 4s. 4d., and those from Mauke have not been much in excess. It is therefore evident that, if these returns are correct, the police, Judges, and Clerks of Court at those islands have nothing to do, and therefore we have been paying £32 per annum for services that would have been well paid by a third of that amount. Under these circumstances, I have brought these salaries into harmony with the work done. The estimates for the present year disclose an expenditure of £2,683, as against an estimated revenue of £3,490, made up as follows :— £ s. <j. Surplus from year ending 30th June, 1900 ... ... ... 976 18 0 By Customs duties ... ... ... ... ... 1,500 0 0 Post Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Shipping-fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 Trade licenses ... ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 Liquor dues ... ... ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 High Court fees and fines ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 Arikis' Courts ... ... ... ... ... 180 0 0 Eents ... ... ... ... ... ... 40 0 0 3,486 18 0 W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident. 2—A. 3.

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No. 16. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Residency, Barotonga, 28th August, 1900. I have the honour to forward you copies of each of the following Acts, which have been passed by the Cook Islands Parliament during the past session, viz.: No. 1, the Local Statutes Amendment Act; No. 2, the Labourers Emigration Eestriction Act; No. 3, Import Duties Amendment Act; No. 4, Private Debts Act; No. 5, Asiatics Immigration Restriction Act; No. 6, Medical Officer's Inquiry Act. The first-named of these statutes has been passed with the view of facilitating the administration of the land at Aitutaki and elsewhere among the islands of the group. No. 2 is intended to regulate the labour that is occasionally required for islands outside this group. No. 3 statute is designed to meet the condition of the trade of the Cook Islands by imposing a heavier duty on goods imported from Tahiti, where there is absolutely no reciprocity, as also to prevent smuggling, and to limit the importation of Chili coin. The Private Debts Act is a most important measure, since it is intended to check the system by which Maoris have heretofore been allowed credit, so that they can never liquidate their indebtedness. As it is not in the interests of the Maoris that this state of things should continue, it is intended that the High Court shall ascertain what sum the debtor can pay, and make him pay that amount only. The Asiatics Restriction Act is primarily intended to prevent an influx of Chinese from Tahiti, where they are very numerous, for any increase in the taxation of that island might send a large number of Chinese to this group. The Medical Officer's Inquiry Act requires but little comment. It is simply a measure to prevent European or Maori quacks from killing off the sick Maoris, by giving the Medical Officer of the group power to inquire into every death. I have also the honour forward, for the information of your Lordship, four copies of the return of revenue and expenditure for the financial year ending 30th June, 1900, showing a balance of £976 18s. I-have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand.

No. 1, 1900. —The Local Statutes Amendment Act, 1900. 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be '■' The Islands Statutes Amendment Act, 1900." 2. Whereas it is a matter of complaint that young persons are in the habit of entering the houses of others after dark and unsolicited, to the annoyance of the owners of the said houses : It is hereby enacted that from and after the passing of this Act any person entering a house after the hour of nine p.m., unless invited to do so by the owner of the said house, shall be guilty of an offence against the public peace, and on conviction may be fined not exceeding fourteen shillings, or in default the same number of days' hard labour. 3. Any woman convicted of the offence of adultery may be sentenced to not exceeding thirty days' hard labour : Provided always that her husband shall have formally consented to this sentence in open Court. 4. There shall be no appeal from the Resident Magistrate's Court of Aitutaki in any criminal or quasi-criminal case where the fine or penalty shall be less than twenty shillings. 5. Any person who shall have been thrice convicted within twelve months of any one of the following offences, or shall have been four times convicted of the said offences within the space of two years— Drunkenness; Manufacture of bush beer, or roro,— shall be deemed to be a hardened offender, and may, on a subsequent conviction for either of these offences, be fined not exceeding five pounds, or in default three months' imprisonment. 6. The Resident Magistrate at Aitutaki may hear and determine all civil cases, whether between Maoris, Europeans, or Europeans and Maoris, provided always that the matter at issue shall not exceed in value fifty pounds sterling. 7. In all cases in which Natives of the Cook Group are concerned a day's work shall be held to be the equivalent of one shilling of his fine. 8. The High Court of the Cook Islands may, at the request of the Chief of the Government, do any one of the following things in order to decide or prevent land disputes :— (a.) May order a survey of any land. (b.) May ascertain, and inscribe on the rolls of the Court, the names of all the owners of any block of land. (c.) May assess the land-tax payable by such land in each year in order to defray the costs of survey and of the hearing. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Rangi, Chairman of the Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident.—The Residency, 22nd August, 1900.

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No. 2, 1900. —An Act to regulate the Enlistment of Cook Islands Labour foe Islands OUTSIDE THE GROUP. Whereas it has been the custom for masters of vessels to enlist Natives of the Cook Islands for the purpose of labour on islands outside of this group, and that it is advisable that this custom should continue as mutually beneficial to each party : And whereas it is not advisable that all the labour should be taken from one island, as heretofore has been the case : Be it enacted— 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Labourers Emigration Eestriction Act, 1900." 2. From and after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful to allow a greater number of labourers to leave any island of the Cook Group on contract with a foreign firm than those set forth in the following schedule : — Earotonga ... ... 70 men. Atiu... ... ... 30 men. Aitutaki ... ... 50 ~ Mauke ... ... 20 „ Mangaia ... ... 50 ~ Mitiaro ... ... 10 ~ 3. The Arikis in each island and the Eesident Magistrate at Aitutaki will be held responsible that the number of labourers set forth in section two are not exceeded, except on a written permission signed by the British Eesident and the Chief of the Federal Government. 4. No Native of the Cook Islands shall be allowed to engage himself as a labourer to a foreign firm until the master of the vessel shall have exhibited a permit signed by the Chief of the Federal Government and the British Eesident, which permit shall set forth the number of labourers that may be engaged in each island. 5. Any Ariki who shall be found guilty of negligence, and thereby allow any of the foregoing sections to be broken, may be fined any sum not exceeding five pounds; and any labourer attempting to evade the provisions of the said sections three and four shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding one pound. 6. In order to preserve the peace and well-being of the Cook Islands the Chief of the Federal Government may, with the consent of the British Eesident, order any man who has been an habitual offender against the laws of the Cook Group to join a labour party for a period of not exceeding twelve months. Habitual drunkenness, persistent immorality, the manufacture of bushbeer or roro, and petty larcenies shall be offences within the meaning of this section. 7. The British Eesident may fix the proportion of salary that shall be payable to any man dealt with under section six of this Act, and the remainder shall be payable to the Eegistrar of the High Court, to be dealt with as ordered by the Chief Judge of that tribunal; notice in writing to be served on the labour agent in each case. 8. Not more than one-half of the salary due to any labourer shall be paid in trade; the balance shall in every instance be paid in the presence of some European officer after the return of the labourer to his home or to the Island of Earotonga. 9. Every labour vessel shall call at the Island of Earotonga and obtain authority to remove labourers before enlisting the same at any island of the group. 10. Every master of a vessel carrying labour as aforesaid who shall infringe any of the sections of this Act shall be guilty of an offence, and on summary conviction before the High Court shall be liable to fine of not exceeding twenty pounds. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Eangi, Chairman of Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—"W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident.—The Residency, 22nd August, 1900.

No. 3, 1900. —The Import Duties Act 1898 Amendment Act, 1900. 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Import Duties Amendment Act, 1900." 2. Notwithstanding anything contained in section four of " The Import Duties Act, 1898," from and after the passing of this Act a duty of twenty per cent, shall be levied on the original cost, freight, and charges on all goods shipped from the Society Islands and dependencies, whether from the Port of Tahiti or other ports of the said colony. 3. Any person infringing the provisions of section three of " The Import Duties Act, 1898," shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding one hundred pounds, and the vessel from which goods have been landed in contravention of the said section may be seized and held by the Government until the fine and costs imposed thereon have been paid. 4. And whereas Maori passengers have been in the habit of importing clothing into the Cook Islands from Tahiti, and have evaded the duty by wearing the clothing for a short time : It is hereby enacted that it shall be in the discretion of the Customs officer at Earotonga to charge a duty of ten per cent, on second-hand clothing imported from Tahiti or other port in all cases where in his opinion an attempt has been made to evade the duty. 5. From and after the passing of this Act a duty of ten per cent, shall be levied on all Chili dollars imported into the Cook Islands. 6. The penalty provided by section six of " The Import Duties Act, 1898," shall apply to this Act. 7. Section four of " The Import Duties Act, 1898," is hereby amended by the insertion of the following words after the words " duty free " in the proviso to the said section : " Provided always that the personal effects shall be genuinely second-hand, and that the clothing shall not have been used merely for the purpose of evading payment of duty."

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8. Section two of this Act .shall not come into operation until a day to be fixed hereafter, and to be proclaimed in the Cook Islands Government Gazette, the Gazette notice to be signed by the Chief of the Federal Government and the British Besident. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Rangi, Chairman of the Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident.—The Eesidency, 22nd August, 1900.

No. 4, 1900.—The Peivate Debts Act, 1900. Whereas the Maori inhabitants of the Cook Islands have been the victims of reckless trading, and have been allowed to incur debts that will take years to liquidate : And whereas it is in the interests of the said Maoris that this system of trade should cease forthwith : Be it enacted— 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Private Debts Act, 1900." 2. A debt incurred after the thirty-first day of August, one thousand nine hundred, by any Maori, or by a half-caste who is living among the Maoris, shall not be recoverable by any process of law known in the Cook Islands. 3. Contracts entered into by chiefs for or on behalf of the tribe may be enforced by either of the parties to the contract : Provided always that such contract shall have been entered into and signed in the presence of the British Eesident, or in the presence of some person duly appointed by him for that purpose, and shall have been approved by the Eesident. 4. Debts incurred previous to the thirty-first day of August, one thousand nine hundred, may be sued for in the High Court of the Cook Islands in the following manner —namely, in Earotonga at any time before the thirtieth day of November, one thousand nine hundred ; and at other islands of the group at the first sitting of the High Court in that island after the passing of this Act. 5. When the High Court shall have granted a debt certificate to any suitor under section four of this Act, it shall be the duty of the Au of the district in which the debtor lives to inquire into the circumstances of the man, and recommend to the High Court a reasonable arrangement for the payment of the debt. 6. In the event of the Au neglecting to compel the payment of a debt in the manner presented in section five, the High Court may make such order for payment as shall seem just and reasonable, and, in default of payment, may order the defaulter to be imprisoned with hard labour for any period not exceeding one month, with hard labour for each default. 7. All moneys recovered under this Act shall be paid-in the manner directed by the Court. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Eangi, Chairman of the Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—W. B. Gudgeon, British Eesident.—The Eesidency, 22nd August, 1900.

No. 5, 1900. —An Act to besteict the Immigeation of Chinese and othee Asiatics into the Cook Islands. Wheeeas experience has shown that the native inhabitants of many of the Pacific Islands have been demoralised by contact with Chinese immigrant?, they having contracted the habit of opiumsmoking and other evil practices of a like nature: Be it enacted — 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Asiatics Immigration Eestriction Act, 1900." 2. " The Asiatic Eestriction Act, 1898," is hereby repealed. 3. No Chinaman or other Asiatic shall be allowed to land or reside in or within the limits of the Cook Islands unless such man or woman shall have first obtained the written permission of the British Eesident and the Chief of the Federal Government, and shall furthermore have paid into the hands of the Collector of Customs the sum of one hundred pounds for himself and for each member of his family : Provided always that those Chinamen who are already residing in the Cook Islands shall, if they are good characters, receive the permission to reside, and shall not be called upon to pay any sum for that permission. 4. The master of any sailing-vessel or steamer who shall bring Asiatics to this group, and shall allow them to land in contravention of section three, shall be guilty of an offence, and shall be liable, on a summary conviction before the High Court, to a penalty of not more than fifty pounds for each person landed, and in addition shall be required to remove the Asiatic so landed to any place outside of the group. 5. It shall not be a defence to any action under section four that the Asiatic was a member of the crew of the said vessel and not an immigrant within the ordinary meaning of the term. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Eangi, Chairman of Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident.—The Eesidency, 22nd August, 1900.

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No. 6, 1900.—Medical Ofpicbb's Inquiry Act, 1900. Whereas certain unqualified persons, Maori and European, have, by their ignorant and unscientific treatment of disease, added to the mortality of the people of Earotonga : Be it enacted by the Federal Parliament, with the approval of the British Eesident, — The Short Title of this Act is " The Medical Officer's Inquiry Act, 1900 " 1. In all cases of death occurring in Barotonga where the Medical Officer shall deem it necessary, the Medical Officer may apply to the Chief Judge of the High Court for authority to hold an inquiry to determine the cause of death, and on receipt of such authority under the hand of the Chief Judge of the High Court shall hold such inquiry. 2. No taunga, whether Maori or foreigner, shall secretly attend any person who is seriously ill, but shall at once inform the Government Medical Officer that he has attended and prescribed for such sick person. The Medical Officer has been appointed to do this work, and will use his power in giving advice where the taunga has complied with this section, but if a taunga does not at once inform the Medical Officer that he is attending a patient, and the patient dies, an inquiry may be held. 3. For the purpose of such inquiry a jury of four may be empanelled. 4. The Medical Officer's inquiry shall be held at such time and at such places as the Medical Officer may direct. 5. That, subject to the provisions of this Act, the procedure of the inquiry shall be in accordance with the principles and practice of the English Coroners' inquiry. 6. The Medical Officer shall have power to call witnesses and to receive testimony, sworn and unsworn. 7. Any person who shall have been duly cited to attend a Medical Officer's inquiry as juror or witness, and who shall fail to appear, shall be guilty of contempt against the High Court, or any person who shall interfere with the maintenance of order at such an inquiry may be prosecuted therein. 8. In all cases where an inquiry has been held under this Act, the Medical Officer shall report the result of the proceedings to the Chief Judge of the High Court. Passed. "Te Ariki Tapu Bangi, Chairman of Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved. —W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident.—The Eesidency, 22nd August, 1900.

[For returns of revenue and expenditure for the financial year ended 30th June, 1900, see enclosure to No. 15.]

No. 17. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 7th September, 1900. I have the honour to forward enclosed four copies of the estimated revenue and expenditure for the present year. With the exception of votes 24, 25, and 26, the estimate is lower than it was for the year ending 30th June, 1900, and could not be further reduced. I may inform your Lordship that' I confidently expect a substantial surplus at the end of the present fiscal year. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Estimated Eevenue for Year ended 30th June, 1901. ■ • B s. d. Surplus from year ending 30th June, 1900 ... ... ... 976 18 0 By Customs duties ... ... ... .. .. 1,500 0 0 Post Office ... ... ... ... ... ... 300 0 0 Shipping-fees ... ... ... ... ... ... 20 0 0 Trade licenses ... ... ... ... .. 200 0 0 Liquor dues ... ... ... ... ... 200 0 0 High Court fees and fines ... ... ... ... 70 0 0 Arikis' Courts ... ... ... ... ... 180 0 0 Eents ... ... ... ... ... ..'. 40 0 0 3,486 18 0 Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Eangi, Chairman of Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved. —W. E. Gudgeon, British Eesident.—The Eesidency, 22nd August, 1900.

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Appbopriation Act, 1900-1901. —Estimated Expenditure for Year 1900-1901. It is hereby enacted by the Parliament of the Cook Islands, approved by the Chief of the Federal Government and the British Resident, — 1. That the expenditure for the public service for the year ending the 30th June, 1901, shall not exceed the sum stated in Schedule A of this Act, amounting in all to £2,724 sterling. 2. That every account against the Government shall be certified by the British Resident and approved by the Chief of the Government. The certificate shall state that the services therein named have been performed, and shall name the vote to which that account shall be charged. 3. No money shall be paid except on vouchers signed by the Paymaster and countersigned by the British Resident.

Schedule A.

Vote. Service. Voted. 1 2 Honorarium of members ... Collector of Customs, Shipping-master, Chief Postmaster, and Licensing Officer Collector of Customs, Postmaster, and Resident Magistrate, Aitutaki Pilot, Aitutaki ... Government boat, Earotonga High Court Judges, Registrar, and travelling Postmaster — Mangaia Atiu Mauke .. ... ... ... ... ... Mitiaro ... ... ... ... ...._ Treasurer, Paymaster, Secretary, and Interpreter Auditor Medical Officer ... Public Health and Quarantine Officer Food and drugs for Cook Islands Hospital ... Ground-rent, hospital Expenses, Chief of the Federal Government Expenses, Vice-Chief of the Federal Government Passages of members ... ... ... * Expenses of Parliament ... Maintenance of children at Tereora School ... Printing laws, &c, for Federal Government, and loi paper to officials of group Judges of Arikis' Courts— Avarua Arorangi ... ... Takitumu Aitutaki (three Judges) Mangaia (three Judges) Atiu Mauke Mitiaro Police — Rarotonga ... Mangaia Aitutaki Atiu Mauke Mitiaro Clerks to Arikis' Courts— Avarua Arorangi Takitumu Mangaia Atiu Mauke Mitiaro Contingent expenditure ... Second payment on Government offices and land Subsidy in aid of Government schooner Food for the fencers of Ngatipa Domain Messenger for Parliament £ s. d. 72 0 0 150 0 0 8 4 5 0 7 100 0 0 8 0 0 5 0 0 140 0 0 8 9 10 11 12 18 14 15 16 17 18 19 6 0 0 4 10 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 155 0 0 15 0 0 250 0 0 40 0 0 180 0 0 7 10 0 ao o o 15 0 0 18 0 0 20 0 0 125 0 0 100 0 0 20 40 0 0 10 0 0 20 0 0 24 0 0 24 0 0 8 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 0 21 20 0 0 13 10 0 18 0 0 5 0 0 3 0 0 10 0 22 10 0 0 5 0 0 5 0 0 12 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 10 0 150 0 0 500 0 0 300 0 0 60 0 0 3 10 0 23 24 25 26 27 £2,724 0 0

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No. 18. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Besfdency, Earotonga, Bth September, 1900. I have the honour to forward herewith a petition from the Arikis of Earotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro, asking for annexation under the conditions set forth in the petition. I have also to inform you that the Mataiapos and Eangatiras of Earotonga have indorsed the action of their Arikis, and therefore the inhabitants of this island may be said to be absolutely unanimous in their desire for annexation. The inferior people have not, of course, been asked their opinion on this question ; but I am in the position to say that they are more in favour of annexation than any other class, since they hope to benefit by the change. I have not spoken to the Arikis of Mangaia on this subject, for I have not been able to visit them, and Ido not think that it is necessary to do so. The action taken by Earotonga will govern the whole group, and the Mangaians will offer no opposition to the will of the majority. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. We, the Arikis of Earotonga, together with Ngamuru, Ariki, who represents the three Islands of Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro, being assembled in Council at Avarua, in the Island of Earotonga, on this 6th day of September, 1900, do hereby petition His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand to annex the Islands of Earotonga, Atiu, Mauke, and Mitiaro to the British Empire. And whereas we are of the same race as the Maoris of New Zealand, and all our trade is with those islands, we are willing to become part and portion of that colony : Provided always,— 1. That the Parliament of the Cook Islands shall be abolished, and in place thereof a Council of Arikis, under the Presidency of the British Eesident, with Makea, Ariki, as Chief of the Government, shall be substituted. 2. That the land rights of the people of these islands shall not be vitiated by annexation, and if any question shall arise hereafter as to those rights, such question shall be submitted for the final decision of the High Court of the Cook Islands. 3. We ask His Excellency to use his influence to the end that the following islands may be included in the Federation with New Zealand, viz. : Penrhyn, Manihiki, Eakaanga, Palmerston, and Pukapuka (Danger Island), and, if possible, Niue. We ask this because the inhabitants of the islands in question are of the same race as ourselves, and are, we believe, already British subjects. 4. And whereas the Legislature and Government of the Cook Islands have already adopted the criminal law of New Zealand as a guide for the High Court, and have passed certain statutes suitable to the requirements of this small community, we ask that such of these statutes as shall be found in accordance with the spirit of English law shall be respected, and that the general laws of New Zealand shall only be introduced as required and adopted by the Council of Arikis. And whereas the administration of the Cook Islands has hitherto been carried on with the utmost economy, all official appointments to the public service of the Cook Islands hereafter to be made shall be subject to the approval of the Island Council, and no public officer shall be dispensed with without the same approval. In conclusion, we wish to express our appreciation of the manner in which both your Excellency and the Premier of New Zealand have guarded the interests of the people of this group. Makea. Tinomana. Kaeika. Pα. Ngamaeu. Kainuku.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct translation from the native into English.—Feederick Goodwin, Government Interpreter. Earotonga, Bth September, 1900.

No. 19. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 10th September, 1900. I have the honour to forward the enclosed letter from the Arikis of Earotonga, in which they express their sympathy with Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the death of His Eoyal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., W. E. Gudgeon. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. My Loed,— Rarotonga, Bth September, 1900. The Arikis of Earotonga have desired me to express the general sorrow felt by them on receipt of the news of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh

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Her Majesty will probably be scarcely aware of our existence, being as we are the inhabitants of a small island in the Pacific, but I can assure you, my Lord, that Her Majesty has no more loyal and sympathetic friends than the people of Earotonga and the Cook Islands generally. May I request that your Lordship will kindly "convey to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain our condolence. Enough. From Makea, Chief of the Federal Government of the Cook Islands. His Excellency Lord Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

I hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct translation.—F. Goodwin, Government Interpreter.

No. 20. His Excellency the Govebnoe to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 13th September, 1900. With reference to your despatch (No. 26) dated 10th August, 1900, relative to the samples of arrowroot you forwarded to me, I have the honour to forward you herewith a copy of the reports I have received concerning the analysis of the same. By the report it would appear that not enough water was used in the washing of the arrowroot. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Eesident, Earotonga. Eanpuely.

No. 14.

Enclosure. My Lobd, — Department of Agriculture, Wellington, 13th September, 1900. I have the honour to attach copies of reports on the samples of South Sea arrowroot which you forwarded to be tested. I have, &c, John D. Eitchie, Secretary for Agriculture. His Excellency Earl of Eanfurly, Governor of New Zealand, Government House, Wellington, New Zealand.

Department of Agriculture (Biological Laboratory), Wellington, New Zealand, 12th September, 1900. Memorandum for the Secretary of Agriculture. South Sea Arrowroot. I have made a careful microscopic examination of the samples furnished by His Excellency the Governor, and also submitted them for chemical analysis by Mr. Aston, Agricultural Chemist attached to this department. In addition to the scientific reports I have been fortunate in obtaining a commercial report from Mr. E. Basil Jones, manager for Messrs. E. H. Crease and Son. Mr. Jones has had extensive experience in England, America, and Australia, so that his report is most valuable. Report on Microscopic Examination of Four Samples of Arrowroot from South Sea Islands. (1.) Arrowroot grown at Aitutaki, Cook Islands. —Pure, but insufficiently prepared. Too much fibrous matter, &c, left. Needed longer washing. (2.) Pia Maori, or Indigenous Arrowroot. —Pure and of good quality. Well prepared, although more washing would be an advantage. (3.) Maniota, grown at Arorangi, Barotonga. —Pure, but not clean; too much earthy matter. (4.) Pia Maniota, Manioc, or Cassava. —Pure, but too much fibrous matter left. Needs longer washing; otherwise a fair sample. This examination shows that the samples are all free from adulteration, but that greater care is needed in the preparation. A plentiful supply of water is desirable where arrowroot manufacture is undertaken. The samples prove that good arrowroot can be made in the islands, but I am informed the chief objection to this has been the want of uniformity and finish, one parcel being good, the next very far from it. T. W. Kick, F.L.S. (Lond.), Biologist.

E. H. Crease and Son (Limited), Quin and Dixon Streets, Wellington. Samples submitted of arrowroot I have appraised as below, as per numbers : — (1.) Partly soluble in cold water; would bear more washing. Cooked, compares with a medium quality Queensland. Clear in cup. Value, about £12 per ton. (2.) Fairly insoluble in cold water. Compares (cooked) favourably with West Indian and Queensland; good quality. Clear in cup. Worth from £14 to £16 per ton, according to the market. (3.) Partly soluble in cold water. Not a good sample; would bear more washing. Cooked, only medium quality. Value, about £10 per ton. (4.) Slightly soluble in cold water. A little more washing would do this good. Cooked, fairly good quality. Value, about £12.

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These values are only given according to the present prices of arrowroot, and only as far as my own personal judgment estimates them from a business point of view. E. Basil Jones, Manager.

Department of Agriculture (Chemical Laboratory). I have analysed the four samples of arrowroot obtained from the Pacific Islands by His Excellency the Governor. The amount of mineral matter found ranges from 13 per cent, (lowest) in the " Pia Maori" (indigenous arrowroot) up to 35 per cent, (highest) in the " Maniota," grown at Arorangi, Rarotonga. These and other tests show the samples to be free from adventitious earthy matters and from adulteration. B. C. Aston, Government Agricultural Chemist.

No. 21. His Excellency the Goveenoe to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 13th September, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that I have received instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies that the training-ship of the Eepublican fleet of Chili, " General Baquedano," will be in the neighbourhood of New Zealand towards the close of the year. The Secretary of State would be glad if the officers and midshipmen of the ship in question should receive from the authorities of the ports visited the facilities which they may require on their voyage. 2. Should this ship by any chance touch at Barotonga, I should be glad if the above instructions could be carried out. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Eesident, Earotonga. Ranfuely.

No. 22. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency-the Goveenor. My Lokd, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 4th October, 1900. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch (No. 623) and report from No. 20. the Department of Agriculture on the samples of arrowroot forwarded to you. I will have the same published for general information. The reports are very much what I expected—that it was only the manufacture of" the article that was defective. The Natives of these tropical islands will never do anything thoroughly, unless under supervision. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

No. 23. His Excellency the Goveenoe to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 20th December, 1900. With - reference to your despatch (No. 32/1900) dated 10th September, 1900, forwarding No. 19. a letter of sympathy from Makea and the Arikis of Rarotonga to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh, I have the honour to request that you will give the enclosed letter to Makea from the Right Hon. the Secretary of State for the Colonies. A copy of the letter is enclosed herewith. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, British Resident, Rarotonga. Ranfuely.

Enclosure. Madam, — Government House, Wellington, 20th December, 1900. I have the honour to inform you that I have received the following reply from the Right Hon. J. Chamberlain, Secretary of State for the Colonies, to your letter of condolence to Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the occasion of the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha:— " My Loed, — " I have laid before the Queen the letter of condolence on the death of His Royal Highness the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha received by you from Makea, Chief of the Federal Government of the Cook Islands. " Her Majesty desires that, in thanking Makea and the Arikis on her behalf for this expression of sympathy, you will convey to them her gratification at the assurance of their loyalty contained in the letter. " J. Chambeelain." I have, &c, To Makea, Chief of the Federal Government, Cook Islands. Ranfuely. Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £Q 19s.

By Authority : John Mackay, Government Printer, Wellington.—l9ol. Price 9d.] 3—A. 3. .