21

A.—3

would add to these the recent adoption of galvanised iron for roofing. The iron is used without lining, and often without any open space left between it and the low wall on which it rests. In their climate, the houses thus become for the natives, ovens by day, and are correspondingly cold by night. That the natives are decreasing in number is evident from the comparatively small proportion of children, and from the census taken at Mangaia in 1872. The Eev. Mr. Gill—then missionary at Mangaia—states in his " Life in the Southern Seas " that the population was found by the census of 1872 to be 2,266. The highest estimate does not now —twenty years later —place it at quite 2,000. I may here state that crimes of violence are so rare as to be practically unknown. In the appendix will be found a return for the period between the 28th November and the 26th December, from the Court at Avarua, kept at my request, and supplied to me by the Judge, Tepou, who has promised hereafter a similar return monthly from that district. Becovery of Debt. —How far laws should be made to assist in the recovery of debt by Europeans from natives is a question requiring great consideration. The natives in some respects are not yet sufficiently enlightened to be regarded as other than minors; nor have they any complicated mercantile transactions rendering credit necessary. The debts they incur are generally for premature house-building, or for articles of fancy and fashion which they could well dispense with till in a position to pay for them. Food and ordinary shelter and clothing are so easily obtained as to render debt for them quite unnecessary. In respectfully submitting this report and its appendices for your Excellency's information, I have refrained as far as possible from making suggestions, feeling that they must depend on the views of Her Majesty's Government as to the nature of the protectorate that has been proclaimed, and on the position which may be assigned to the British Eesident in connection therewith. Frederick J. Moss. To His Excellency the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

APPENDIX A. Copy of Letter addressed to each Abiki in the Group by Captain Bourke, E.N., of H.M.S. " Hyacinth," on the Formal Proclamation of the Protectorate. To , Ariki, — British Consulate, Earotonga, 27th October, 1888. The English Government having been petitioned to grant the protection of the British flag to the Cook Group of islands, I, by virtue of orders received, have this day hoisted the same over the district (or Island) of . And Ido hereby declare to the Ariki thereof, in the name of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, that her (or his) territory has become part of the British dominions. All laws and customs at present recognised will remain in force, and his (or her) administration over the district (or island) will not be interfered with. I enjoin her (or him) to exercise her (or his) authority with moderation and care, to rule the people with justice, and to remember that he (or she) now belongs to that great country which has done so much for the advancement of civilisation in all parts of the world. I further declare that all persons, of whatever nationality, who choose to reside in the country must conform to the laws thereof. Given under my hand this 27th day of October, 1888. Edmund Bourke, Captain H.M.S. "Hyacinth."

APPENDIX B. Laws in Force in Eabotonga at the Declaration of the Protectobate, 27th October, 1888 (in Eabotongan and English). E Ture no Earotonga nei. I akatikaia c te vi Ariki c Makea, Karika, Tinomana, Pa, E Kainuku. —Earotonga : printed at the Mission Press, 1879. " Kare au i acre mai c akakore i te ture, c akatupu ra." —Matt. v. 17. Kare ta tatou ture c akara i te tv ote tangata; pera katoa me tuku ite utunga, mci ta te Ariki c tae ua atu kite tangata rikiriki, mci ta te maori c tae ua atu i te papaa, okotai anake te tu. Okotai anake tv o te au tangata katoa ki mua i te ture. Tube I. —Ture no te Purepure. Auraka c tangata c keia i ta te Atua angaanga, i te vi anga kite taura-atua i te ara i maki ci to ratou taeake eta ratou tamariki. Auraka katoa euii te taura-atua ite apinga i keia ia ra, ka akavaia aia, tera tana utunga, 10 dala na te taura-atua, c 5 dala na tei acre atu c vi. Me te mea c moni tutaki ite taura-atua, ka riro na te ture te reira, c mea ke rai tana utunga. Akara ite Lev. xx. 6, Deut. xviii. 11, Is. viii. 19. Tube lI.—No te ta Tangata. " Auraka rava koe c ta ua i te tangata."—Ex. xx. 13. Ko tei ta i te tangata ra, c mate atura taua tangata ra, kia mate aia ra ka akavaia aia, tera tana utunga. Kia mate aia. Ex. xxi. 12. Ko te tangata ra kia rave i tetai tangata c tamate roa, ma te akakoro, ka akavaia aia, tera tana utunga kia mate aia c tikai. Ex. xxi. 14.