21

A.—3

The Aitutakians are a very intelligent and manly race, making excellent sailors. Many have served in whale-ships. They are good mechanics, and a knowledge of English is general among them. Their island is little cultivated, as might be expected under the present system, but I believe that they are an improvable people, and if taught to read English freely will certainly soon learn to manage their own government. They are prosperous in their way, for they have abundance of fruit and vegetables ; cocoanuts are everywhere, pigs flourish, and their large lagoon teems with very good fish. Many of their young men are at sea, or at work in other islands, while fifty are selected yearly to go to Maiden Island and there work for the Melbourne firm that owns it. Their wages are £2 per month, with food, and a free passage to and fro. This has been their practice for many years past. They are well treated, and come back with a good deal of money to their friends. Your Excellency will also observe that a petition was read to the Council respecting the ownership of Manuae (one of the two islands named "the Herveys " by Captain Cook), distant about thirty-five miles from Aitutaki. The petition was sent to me, and referred by me to the Council. About sixty years ago (as far as I have yet been able to learn the particulars of this case) the Manuae people killed three Aitutakians who had gone among them. Thereupon the Aitutakians sent a war-party, and after some hard fighting killed nearly all the men. They brought away those that were spared, together with all the women and children. The Manuaians have married with the Aitutakians, are scattered all over the island, and own land like the rest of the people, but have never ceased to advance their claim to Manuae. Their present petition was the cause of a violent dispute in the Council. They were taunted with having been slaves, and much other unparliamentary language was used. Finally, the consideration was deferred to a future meeting. Manuae is a good cocoanut island, yielding about 30 tons of copra yearly. The practice has been to send a selected party of half a dozen people to make this copra for their own benefit, paying a small royalty, to be divided with the fines, &c, in the usual way. I have pointed out the impropriety of this course, and that, if retained, the proceeds, some $250, must go into the public treasury to be expended in some way for the benefit of the whole people. If appropriated towards the regular payment of Judges and police it would be of great service in bringing about a change, and its expenditure in that way would, I believe, content the Manuaians. Aitutaki, though small, is very productive, with a population of about one thousand four hundred. The entrance to the lagoon, in which it is situated, is evidently capable of being improved at comparatively small cost, and a large and safe harbour thus provided. The steamer " Eichmond " has called here to load oranges, and I intend proceeding in her to Earotonga in preference to risking the uncertainty of getting back by a trading vessel. I should like to have waited here a week or two longer, but am satisfied that the Council and Government now thoroughly understand the work they have to do, and can be left to gain their own experience till the next regular meeting of their Council. One of my difficulties is the absence of any means of printing laws or notifications, and it will be of great service if your Excellency will cause them to be printed and returned to me as soon as possible. Twenty-five sewn copies of the laws will be sufficient for distribution. I have, &c, Frederick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.

Enclosure No. 1. Minutes of a Meeting held by Mr. F. J. Moss, British Eesident, on Monday, the 28th September, 1891, at Arutunga in Aitutuki: about four hundred men being present. The meeting was opened at 10 a.m., with prayers, by Opeta, of Vaipae. The following address by Mr. Moss was then read in Maori by the Native Teacher, Tiavare (George Strickland), at present in temporary charge of the Mission Church in the Island : — Xi nga Ariki, nga Kavana, etc tangata katoatoa o Aitutaki. Kia ora ana kotou. Kua acre mai au i teianei ki rotopu ia kotou, kite tauturu ia kotou, c te kimi akonoanga tau tikai, ma te rave kapiti i te angaanga c tau ci meitaki no te tangata katoatoa. I teianei, c vi Ariki rai to kotou, no te ai tupuna mai, ma te au tangata i karangaia c Kavana, eau Akava rai to kotou, mci tetai tuatau ki tetai tuatau. I nara kare ua i taka te mana o taua vi Ariki ra, ma taua aronga Kavana, ma te au Akava. Eaa ta ratou i raveana? Eko ai tei kite te rave nei ratou, i ta ratou angaanga, ma te meitaki, c te tau ? E au Akava rikiriki rai to kotou, nara, kare ua o ratou pu, c kare katoa c taka meitaki ana ta ratou i rave, Eangatira ake ! Eangatira ake ! Ko te tumu teia i te pekapeka i rotopu ia kotou. Teia paa te Vairakau taku ka akakite atu nei kia kotou Teia toku manako. (1.) Ko te tangata i roto i nga motia c ono, ka rave rai ratou i tetai meitaki, no roto i te au motia, koia te akamanea ito ratou au purumu. (2.) E akatupu te Enua i tetai Uipaanga (Council), ci kimi ture. Kia okotai rai ture, no te enua katoatoa, koia te ture no te Kava, te ture no te Keia, etc au apa ravarai. (3.) E akatupu katoa tetai rima-rave (Government), Tera ta ratou angaanga; ka rave ratou i te au. Ture ravarai tei oti ite Council, etc iki katoa ite au Akava rikiriki. (4.) Tei te Uipaanga (Council) te akataoonga ite au Akava nunui, te taka ia ratou, cmc apa taua. Akava nui ra na te Uipaanga (Council) uaorai c kiriti tona taoonga c rauka'i. (5.) Te Uipaanga (Council), te Government etc au Akava, ka tata ravarai ratou, ite au angaanga c tupu i roto i te au taoonga nei. Ka noo rai au i rotopu ia kotou c taime poto, kia kite tikai au i teia angaanga meitaki c oti. Tera te angaanga mua, c akataka te rainga o te tangata no te Uipaanga (Council) mua. Kia oti vave. Kia uipa matou, c kia tuku au ite au, Ture, kia kimi ratou.