7

A.—l

I have agreed to the meeting provided that the date fixed be early, and that Parliament pass an Act delegating the power necessary to the Government to give effect to the Bill, and offering in that case to submit it to your Excellency for instructions as to my approval or otherwise. Some such measure is, in my opinion, indespensable if the Government is to stand. The position is difficult, and rendered more so by intrigues acting from various motives. The great majority of the European population are strongly in favour of the change, but that fact is far from helping me with the natives, to whom the desire is represented as a sign of the Bill being injurious to them. Negotiations with the Parliament are to be resumed, and time and patience may yet succeed. Meanwhile I have declined to assist in bringing forward any other business till this is disposed of. I have, &c, Frederick J. Moss, British Eesident. His Excellency the Administrator of the Government, &c, New Zealand.

No. 11. (No. 58.) Sib, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd October, 1897. With reference to your despatch (New Zealand, No. 48), dated the 18th August, 1897, on the subject of the tax which is enforced on commercial travellers in New Zealand, I have the honour to inform you that this tax on commercial travellers was imposed in lieu of income-tax. I may mention that there are more commercial travellers from foreign countries than from Great Britain. However, as the tax is considered an unfriendly one by the other colonies, and inimical to the interests of British merchants and manufacturers, and as the revenue received is so small (some £4,000 per annum), my Government have decided to repeal the existing law, and thus remove further cause of complaint. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, M.P., EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies, &c.

A.-2, 1898, No. 27.

No. 12. (No. 59.) Sic, — Government House, Wellington, 23rd October, 1897. I have the honour to enclose you, in full, copies of despatches received on the 2nd October, 1897, from Mr. Moss, the British .Resident at Earotonga, Cook Islands, with my replies to the same attached. Previous despatches reached us on the 4th September, and immediately on the Premier's return I pointed out to him the unsatisfactory condition of matters there ; he, however, considered that time and patience would restore affairs to their normal condition. The despatches arriving on the 2nd October were, however, so disquieting that, after full consideration by my Ministers, who agreed with me in the course adopted, I deemed it expedient to endeavour to put an end to the strained relations existing between the British Resident and the General Council (in conjunction with other malcontents) with the least possible delay, and to accede to Mr. Moss's request that there should be an impartial inquiry into the matter. To be of effect such an inquiry should be made by some one who thoroughly understands the native customs, and we considered that Sir H. Berkeley (who is the chief judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and whose experience in native customs is exceptional) would be the most fitting person to settle the dispute to the satisfaction of both parties.* I am aware that the High Commissioner has been asked not to interfere in the Cook Islands, but my Ministers consider this an exceptional case, and one that could be dealt with by him with the best results to the public interest. I therefore cabled to His Excellency the Admiral, with a view to a man-of-war being placed at the service of the High Commissioner, should he deem it expedient, and have had a reply that the necessary instructions have been sent to Fiji. This is more needed for moral effect than with any idea of force being required.

A.-3, 1898, Nos. 2 to 11.

* See paragraphs 9 and 10, despatch 18, 7th January, 1895 : Lord Eipon to Lord Glasgow.