A.—s

6

been before the Law Officers of the Crown as to whether an ordinance might not be properly passed in Fiji providing for the detention in the colony of natives of the Western Pacific Islands who were shown to have perpetrated criminal acts against British subjects. I have now the honour of informing your Excellency that such an ordinance was passed at a recent session of the Legislative Council of this colony, of which I beg leave to transmit copies for the information of your Excellency's Government. ■ I have, &c, John B. Thueston. His Excellency the Eight Hon. Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c, Governor of New Zealand. ■ [No. 20, 1892. An Oedinance enacted by the Governor of the Colony of Fiji, with the Advice and Consent of the Legislative Council thereof, to authorise the Eeception and Detention in the Colony of Fiji of certain Persons when brought there by Her Majesty's Naval Officers. (1.5.) John B. Thueston. [29th November, 1892. Preamble. Whebeas it is expedient to make provision for the detention in certain cases in the Colony of Fiji of persons who in places not being within Her Majesty's dominions or the jurisdiction of any civilised Power have committed crimes, outrages, or disorders : Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council, as follows :— Certain prisoners brought to Fiji by Her Majesty's naval officers may be received and detained. 1. It shall be lawful for the Governor to receive and to detain in the colony during Her Majesty's pleasure any persons, not being Her Majesty's subjects or the subjects or citizens of any civilised Power, who have been taken prisoners and brought to the colony by Her Majesty's naval officers on the ground of crimes, outrages, or disorders committed by such persons in places not being within Her Majesty's dominions or the jurisdiction of any civilised Power. Custody of such prisoners. 2. Every prisoner so received and detained shall be under the legal custody of the Superintendent of Police and of all officers and constables of the Police Force of the colony, and also under the legal custody of any person who may be from time to time especially appointed by the Governor in that behalf. Governor may provide for place of detention and make regulations for care of such prisoners. 3. The Governor may appoint from time to time any place in the colony to be the usual place of detention of the prisoners or any of them, or may make such other provision as he thinks fit for their detention, and in either case may from time to time make special regulations for the care, custody, and maintenance of the prisoners, and as to communication with them; and any person offending against such regulations shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding twenty pounds, or, in default of payment, to imprisonment for any term not exceeding three months. Penalty for assisting escape of such prisoner. 4. Any person inciting or aiding and abetting, and any person conniving at or negligently permitting, the escape, or attempt to escape, of any such prisoner from the colony shall be liable, on summary conviction, to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, or to imprisonment, with or without hard labour, for any period not exceeding six months, or both. Passed in Council, this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-two.

No. 6. BANISHMENT OF TAUPE AND HIS HOUSEHOLD FROM RAKAANGA. The British Resident, Rarotonga, to His Excellency the Governor. (No. i, 1893.) My Lord, — British Residency, Rarotonga, 28th February, 1893. An account appeared in the Auckland papers a few months ago of the arrival at one of the islands of the Navigator (Samoan) group of ten natives (men, women, and children) who had been banished from Manuhiki (Humphrey's Island on the maps), and who found cheir way eventually in their boats to Samoa. The native teacher at Rakaanga has sent to the resident missionary here a very full account of the causes that led to this migration of the chief Taupe and his household. The Rev. W. Lawrence has kindly let me have the letter translated, and I enclose the translation herewith. Rakaanga is an island about twenty miles from Manihiki. They are one and the same people. Taupe's case seems to me interesting, as throwing light on the customs of these people, and, probably, on similar early migrations. It is also interesting as showing the influences which led to the visit of the French man-of-war for the purpose of taking possession, and which, I am informed, was only prevented by the natives taking it upon themselves to hoist the British flag on her arrival. I believe that Manihiki and Rakaanga have since been formally declared British possessions. It will also be observed that the teacher fears further trouble on account of this quarrel, in which opposite sides appear to have been taken by the Rakaanga and Tauunu people. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Frederick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand, &c. British Resident.