Ay—3

8

And that the said suras shall be severally impounded from the subsidies and votes from the Federal revenue to the above persons and islands; save and except that the portions of the said subsidies and votes payable to the several local Judges, police, and officials shall not be interfered with, but that this declaration shall apply only to those portions payable to Arikis, Mataiapos, and Governors, Councils, and Governments of the said Islands for the personal use of such Arikis and others alone. And I further declare that the said sum of two hundred and five pounds (£205) so impounded shall be held until the 31st day of December of the present year, 1898, and shall then be paid here to the said Henry Nicholas, of Avatiu, Barotonga, as liquidated damages for loss and wrong done to him by the said Federal Government on the 17th January last past; unless and except that His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand may, before the said 31st December, be pleased to express dissent to the said appropriation of this sum of two hundred and five pounds, or to vary the same. Given by me under my hand and seal, at Avarua, Earotonga, this 16th day of August, 1898. (1.5.) Frederick J. Moss, British Eesident.

No. 14. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — Cook Islands : British Eesidency, Earotonga, 7th September, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge your Excellency's despatch of the sth August, and memorandum of the 25th August, which were received yesterday, informing me of the appointment of Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon as my successor. As requested, I have given public notice of Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon's expected arrival on the 12th instant, and of a Proclamation from Her Majesty the Queen, to be read by the Senior Naval Officer on your Excellency's behalf on the same occasion. All documents, letters, &c, in my care will be handed to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon on his arrival. I have, &c, '•:'."" ' Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand, &c.

No. 9.

No. 15. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Loed, — Cook Islands : British Eesidency, Earotonga, 13th September. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I handed over the office and all papers to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon yesterday, and leave to-day, by H.M.S. " Tauranga." She goes via Tonga, and will probably not be in Auckland till about the end of the month. I write before leaving that I may at once express my grateful and respectful thanks for the Proclamation yesterday, by the Senior Naval Officer, Captain Browne, of Her Majesty's recognition of my services to the Natives in the office of British Eesident for the last eight years, and displeasure with the opposition into which the Natives had, by bad and interested advisers, been misled. With this Proclamation I leave with a light heart, careless of the abuse that has been poured or may hereafter be poured upon me. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss. His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

No. 16. The Chief of the Cook Islands Govbenment to His Excellency the Govebnoe. Earotonga, 13th September, 1898. To the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand. Geeetings! We have heard the words of Her Brittanic Majesty Queen Victoria, and wish to inform your Excellency that had Her Majesty known that Mr. Moss did not inform us that a Federal Court Bill for Earotonga was her wish she would not have expressed her displeasure at us, her loyal subjects. This has made us sorry. We are also vexed that Her Majesty has been informed that we listened to mischief-makers. This is not the case ; it is Mr. Moss who has listened to mischief-makers and people who only work for their own good, and not for the good of all. We did not refuse to pass the Federal Court Bill, but only asked Mr. Moss for time for us to understand it. We do not wish to say anything about Mr. Moss, but we are grateful to you for sending us Lieut.-Colonel W. Gudgeon to be our British Eesident. We have also heard your words uttered by Captain Browne, of H.M.S. " Tauranga," and we are pleased to receive Lieut.-Colonel W. Gudgeon to be our British Eesident and adviser. We