A.—3.

6

British Resident: lam glad to see you, Arikis, Governors, rangatiras, and people of the six districts of Mangaia, assembled in friendship here to-day. What I have to propose to you is this : Let there be one great Council for Mangaia, to make laws for all the island, and let each {piona) district also have its Au to keep roads and streets clean, and to look after such things for its own people. If you agree to this, I ask you to let me know whom you wish to form the first Council. Then the Council must appoint Judges and others to carry out its laws, and the Arikis and Governors can see that they do this duty when the Council is not sitting. The chief changes I advise you to make are these : Firstly, the Council must meet at a fixed time and place, so that the laws may not be hastily made, but with due deliberation. Secondly, it must sit in daylight, and with open doors, so that all men can see what the Council does. The Judges must sit with open doors also, and not judge men hastily. They must hear both sides fairly, and judge with mercy. If, when they have heard the case, they are in doubt, let them not decide that day, but take time to think well before they speak. Thirdly, I advise you not to mix up the things of this world with the Church. If a man is a church-member it is well. If he is not a church-member, that is his own affair; it has nothing to do with the Government. So long as he is honest and true he must no longer be excluded from the Government, and must not lose his office if he ceases to be a church-member. If he does wrong in the Church, let the Church judge him; but that will have nothing to do with the Government, which will judge its servants for itself. I now give you the laws of Earotonga, which are in print. Your own laws you have in writing. Compare them together, and make out of them the laws you think best for yourselves, so that I may then see if they are good. To do this it will be better if you select a small number of men understanding these things, and set them to work. When they have finished, we can meet again and consider the work they have done. •Several spoke, and agreed with what the British Eesident had said, and finally resolved to retire to the King's house and there elect the Council and Judges. They retired at 2 p.m., and at 4 p.m. sent the following list: For the Council—John and Nooroa, Arikis ; Kiriiti, Ngariu, Atatoa, Vaipo, Pute, and Turoua, Governors; Meringatangi, Tae, Tiaki, Tenioiti, Kakerua, Tua, Makiamo, Mauri, Eimataei, Maiti, Tearo, and Ingatu, Rangatiras (Judges); Daniela, Clerk. A Committee was also elected to frame the new laws, and at once began their work in Kakerua's house, so that no time might be lost. Correct—H. Nicholas, Interpreter.

Enclosure No. 3. Mangaia, 24 Aukuse, 1891. Uipaanga, Oneroa. (Ko te au Kavana tei Uipa mai.) Tepou, Nooroa, Turoua, Vaipo, Ata, Pute, Akavanui Kakerua; kare a Kiriiti c Ngariu i tae mai kua tae te tiki kare i tae mai. Kua rave te Government c kua ariki i te utunga $1,390 i tuku ia mai c te British Eesident ka tutaki kia Donald and Edenborough ma ra ka akataka ratou i te tuatau c tutaki mai ci i teia utunga tera tetai kua akakite atu au i te moni o te Au o Kuki Aerani kare ratou c akatika mai. Te vi Eangatira i o mai ite Uipaanga Teati, Numangatini, Aiteina; Tepou, Earotonga ; Teariki Taraare, Earotonga; Vakapora. Na John c nga Kavana c.

[Translation.] Mangaia, 24th August, 1891. Government, Oneroa. (Extract from Minute Book.) Present : Nooroa {Ariki) ; Turoua, Vaipo, Ata, Pute (Governors) ; Judge Kakerua. Kiriiti and Ngariu were not present. Messengers were sent for them, but they did not come. The Government has accepted the fine—sl,39o —inflicted by the British Eesident, and to be paid to Donald and Edenborough and to Pearse. They are to give time in which to pay it in. They object to the subsidy from the Government of the Cook Islands being appropriated towards this fine, but will raise the money from the chiefs and people, and pay it separately. The following were also present: Teati, rangatira; Numangatini, Aiteina; Tepou, of Earotonga; Teariki Taraare, of Earotonga ; and Vakapora, of Earotonga. Signed by King John and the Four Governors.

Enclosure No. 4. Kia ora ana, — Mangaia, 25 Aukuse, 1891. Kua uipa mai te Government i nanai koia oki nga Kavana c nga Ariki kua acre mai ratou i te akataka i ta ratou tutaki kia Donald c Edenborough c Pearse c kua akatika mai ratou i taua tuta ki ra ci taime ra taau c oatu no te tangata i te ravenga, no te mea, c tuatau putaua teia i te tangata, kua kite rai koe, i te angaanga i tupu ana i o matou tera tetai kua topa katoa te oko i te vavai, i teia tuatau nei c kare ua c coffee. Te karanga na koe c kua topa mai taua anga nei ki roto i to matou rima, te tono atu nei matou i tetai tangata ci akataka tuatua kia Donald and Edenborough. Te ra to matou pekapeka i teianeiko Ngariu Kavana i Ivirua, kare aia i ariki ma tona tangata i teia tuatua ko taua Ngariu ra oki te tumu tikai o te pekapeka i te tuaru ia Pearse koia katoa te tumu i kore ci i oti vave teia pekapeka i roto i te marama ia Ditema, 1890. Ina ra ko te au Kavana ma nga ariki kua ariki ravarai ratou okotai ua i acre ke koia a Ngariu, kui uipa matou ki te akatika ia Ngariu kia rave i tana pae.