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lead to much difficulty among a people so extremely sensitive to religious observances as the people of these islands. Few men could satisfactorily perform the duties of Government immigration agents while in sole and constant intercourse with the master of a trading-vessel, whose only object is to fill her with the cargo of labourers on which the success of his voyage depends. 8. Those who seek cheap Island labour must, as a rule, resort to the heathen islands where the chief still has power—on payment to himself—to order any of his people to leave in the vessel. The chief is likely to send those of whom he most desires to get rid, and who are as likely to be the least acceptable in the island to which they are taken. They would be a constant source of difficulty and expense to the Government, and, above all, of a more or less inevitable deterioration to the people. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident. His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure No. 1. [Teanslation.] Earotonga, 26th July, 1892. It is hereby sanctioned by the Government of Earotonga that J. P. Gore Martin will bring labourers for himself—namely, from one to a hundred. Another. When they arrive here, on this land, you will abide by your agreement, and so will your labourers to you. Another. If your men commit themselves against the laws of the land, they shall be dealt with accordingly. Another. At the expiration of three years, you will send them away yourself to the place where you took them from. Another. You will treat them well, provide food and pay them well, to prevent dissatisfaction among them. Tepou-o-te-Eangi, Chief Judge. For the Government of Earotonga. I do hereby certify this is a correct translation.—H. Nicholas, 27th July, 1892.

Enclosure No. 2. The Beitish Eesident to Judge Tepou. British Eesidency, Earotonga, 27th July, 1892. To Tepou-o-te Eangi, Chief Judge, Avarua, Earotonga. Salutations to you. I send for your perusal a document, said to have been given by you yesterday to Mr. J. Gore Martin, and registered by him in the Eegistry of Deeds. The law of Earotonga (No. 42) says that no labourers are to be brought from another land, and I cannot find that this law has ever been altered by the Earotonga Council. Will you kindly let me know if the law has been altered, and, if it has not, on what grounds the document was given to Mr. Martin, who left yesterday by the "Eichmond " for New Zealand. Also, who are the Government of Earotonga by whose authority the document purports to be given ? I am, your friend, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 3. [Teanslation.] Judge Tepou to the Beitish Eesident. To our Chief, Mr. Moss. Earotonga, 27th July, 1892. Salutations to you, with God's blessing. I have received your letter of this day, 27th July. About the letter I wrote to Mr. Martin. The cause of my doing so was this: I asked him if he had been to Mr. Moss, and he said " Yes." Therefore, I agreed with him to import men to Earotonga. Another thing: lam well aware that the law is in existence to this day. I acted according to our old system. That is how I wrote the letter I gave to Mr. Martin. Now, my Chief, I have erred. You write to Mr. Martin and withdraw the letter that I wrote and gave to him. Again, I will never write another such document. Also, Mr. Exham has been to me for the same purpose. Enough. From your friend, Tepou-o-te-Eangi. I hereby certify that this is a correct translation.—H. Nicholas, 27th July, 1892.

Enclosure No. 4. The Beitish Eesident to Mr. Exham. Sib, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 27th July, 1892. I have the honour to inform you that I am investigating the circumstances under which a document was obtained yesterday by Mr. J. P. Gore Martin, and immediately registered by him, purporting to be an authority from the Government of Earotonga to bring labourers for himself from other of the Pacific Islands to Earotonga.

3—A. 6.

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