A.—3

22

Teia toku manako. Ko nga Ariki ea,ma c okotai ngauru ma varu tangata. (Koia oki c toru tangata mci roto i te au motia) ci tangata kite tikai ma te marama, ta kotou c omai ci rave i teia angaanga maata nei. Te reka ua nei kotou i te noo i roto i te akonoanga enua meitaki, kare i pera te tv o te basileia mamaata. Te kite nei au kua tv ravarai kotou i te tuaanga enua, te kai ua nei kotou ite manga, mci runga i to kotou uaorai tuaanga enua, c kare ua c tangata ke c akapekapeka mai ia kotou: E akatupu i tetai Ture no te pekapeka enua, koia te tangata kai kainga. E akonoanga meitaki a kotou, c akamaara kotou i tei reira. E rave kapiti kotou, kia riro ci ci meitaki no te katoatoa. E i te aroa ote Atua c manuiai to tatou enua manea, ci meitaki anga no kotou c ta kotou tamariki i muri ake ia kotou. Na to kotou oa. Aitutaki, 28 Sepetema, 1891. Na Moti. [Translation.] To the Arikis, Governors, and people of Aitutaki. Salutations to you all! I have come now to help you in making proper arrangements to govern yourselves and to work together for the benefit of the people. At present you have four Arikis, with several branches, who are the descendants of your great chiefs in old days. You have thirty or forty others who have been appointed at different times and are called Governors. You have men acting as Judges from time to time. But none can say what are the powers of the Arikis, Governors, and Judges, what are their duties, or who is to see that those duties are properly performed. You have also many policemen, but they are under no head and subject to no control. These are the chief sources of trouble among you. To provide a remedy, I propose : (1.) That the people in each of the six districts should continue to manage all the affairs that concern only the district, such as roads, and the maintenance of good order and cleanliness within the district. (2.) That a Council should be chosen by the people, to make the laws that concern all the districts alike, such as the liquor-laws, the laws against theft, and other matters of that kind. (3.) That a Government should be formed, and its duty be to see that the laws made by the Council are properly carried out. Also, that this Government should appoint and control the police. (4.) That the Council shall appoint the Judges, and that the Council only shall be able to remove them. (5.) That the Council, the Government, and the Judges shall keep written records of all they do in their respective offices. I shall try to remain among you long enough to have this good work done. The first step is to decide on the number that shall form the first Council, and to choose them as quickly as possible. They can then meet together, and I will prepare laws for their consideration. I recommend you to let the Council consist of the four Arikis, with eighteen others—namely, three from each of the six districts, Amuri, Vaipae, Arutanga, Eeureu, Nikaupara, and Tautu. Let those whom you choose be men of understanding, able to do the important work that you will place in their hands. You are exceptionally happy in one thing. I find that every man among you has land, upon which he can live freely and on which he and his family can subsist, no man being able to disturb him or make him afraid. But I find that disputes about boundaries, and charges of wrongfully taking land, are numerous. Provision must be made to settle such disputes, and that is one great thing which the Council will have to do. That every one of you should have his own land is a grand foundation on which to build, and a condition that you must carefully guard as your greatest earthly boon. Work together now for the good of all, and, with God's blessing on your work, you will secure the prosperity of your beautiful Island and the happiness of yourselves and the children now growing up around you. From your friend, Frederick J. Moss. Aitutaki, 28th September, 1891. British Eesident. Mr. Moss then invited any one to ask questions or speak. Vaka said : The address is good. The British Governor has come to help, and not to overturn us. Let us all then work together, as he says, and our quarrels and troubles will be ended. That is my word to you all. Te Taura asked what was meant by the Council to consist of three members from each district. What were they to do; and would it not be better to wait before electing them ? Mr. Moss explained what they would have to do. As to the election, if they could go on with it to-day he would bo glad; but, if they thought it better to do so, let them put it off for a day or two. Te Taura : That is well. But perhaps we shall not be able to get to that work to-day. George Strickland explained that the object was to get the Council at work as soon as possible. Mr. Moss would have to approve of what the Council did before it could become law ; but he had come here to help them, and not to force anything upon them. Only let them send good men to the Council and all would be well. Te Taura : But what if a poll-tax is put upon us as men, say. Mr. Moss :No taxes will be put upon you by me. If they come, it will be only because you think it well to put them on yourselves. That is a tiling for your Council to decide. Te Taura :We have many Governors, as Mr. Moss has said. What are we to do with them ? Mr. Moss : Put them into the Council or the Government, if you think them the most able to do the work. That rests with the people themselves. George Strickland said they should not ask whether a man was a Governor or not. Let him be a good man. That was what they had to bear in mind in choosing members,