18

A.—6

As I first heard from you, just before the departure of the " Richmond " for Auckland, that Mr. Martin had obtained this document, I should be much obliged for any further information you may be able to give me. I should add that Judge Tepou informs me that you had recently asked him for a similar power for your firm (Messrs. Donald and Edenborough). As I shall have to state this in my report, I shall be glad if you will also let me know anything you wish to say on that point. I have, &c, R. Exham, Esq., Rarotonga. Frederick J. Moss, British Resident.

Enclosure No. 5. 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 have received your letter of to-day, in reply to mine about the document you gave to Mr. J. P. Gore Martin, who has taken it with him to New Zealand. Mr. Martin did see me, but I showed to him the law, and told him that it could only be altered by the Earotonga Council with the approval of the British Eesident. I advised him not to think of such a thing. To bring people in to cultivate the waste lands would be well. But let them be people of good character to settle on land which will be theirs and their children's so long as they pay a fair rent to the present owner. To have any one bringing men here, who are often sent from their own lands because their character is evil, would be very wrong. Also, it would be very wrong to give to any one person a privilege which others have not. If the law is ever altered it must be for all. I will write at once to the Governor of New Zealand, and to Mr. Martin, asking the latter gentleman for that document to be returned as you desire. No harm will be done, for it does not bind Earotonga in any way; and Mr. Martin must have known that after what I told him. I am, your friend, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 6. Mr. Exham to the Beitish Eesident. Sm,— Earotonga, 28th July, 1892. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of yesterday's date. Eegarding the document obtained by Mr. Martin, I can give you no further information but the fact that he showed it to me, and asked Mr. Scard to register same ; but, as I understood from Mr. Martin that Mr. Nicholas, the Government Interpreter, accompanied him to Makea (Ariki), and Judge Tepou, I infer that he would be able to tell you all the circumstances. Be the statement that I asked Tepou for a similar power for Messrs. Donald and Edenborough, that is not the case. I simply asked Tepou, before the meeting of Parliament, if he would bring the matter before the members, and he promised to do so. This I did at Mr. Martin's request. I am, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., H.B.M. Eesident. E. Exham, Lloyds Agent. [Memo. —Mr. Nicholas is not Government Interpreter. There is no such officer, and there never has been.—F. J. Moss.]

Enclosure No. 7. The Beitish Eesident to Mr. Nicholas. g IE; British Eesidency, Earotonga, 28th July, 1892. I wrote to Mr. Exham yesterday, asking if he could give me any information respecting a document given to Mr. J. P. Gore Martin by Judge Tepou, authorising Mr. Martin to import labourers into Earotonga. Mr. Exham replies that you " accompanied Mr. Martin to Makea (Ariki), and Judge Tepou," and adds, " I infer that he (Mr. Nicholas) would be able to tell you all the circumstances." I shall be much obliged for any information you can give. I have, &c, Henry Nicholas, Esq., Merchant, Earotonga. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.

Enclosure No. 8. Mr. Nicholas to the Beitish Eesident. g IE Earotonga, 28th July, 1892. In answer to your's of to-day's date, asking for information respecting a document given by Judge Tepou to Mr. J. P. Gore Martin, authorising him to import labourers into Earotonga, I beg to state, — . . Mr. Martin asked me to accompany him and act as interpreter in an interview between him and Makea (Ariki) and Judge Tepou. We first saw Tepou, when Mr. Martin asked him for authority to import labourers into Earotonga. Tepou pointed out the law prohibiting such importaoion, and referred us to Makea (Ariki), asking Mr. Martin to take the law-book with him. Before leaving, Tepou asked Mr. Martin if he had seen Mr. Moss on the subject. Mr. Martin said " Yes."