A.—3.
No. 6. M T Barotonga, 21st February, 1901. With reference to your despatch (No. 160) of the Ist February, I have the honour to inform you that, on the 20th February, I read out your Proclamation announcing he ascension of His Boyal Highness the Prince of Wales to the Throne of Great Britain and Ireland, under the title of " King Edward the Seventh." . , , I forward herewith to Your Lordship two copies of the Proclamation, to which have been attached the signatures of myself and Makea Takau. I have^ &0 .- GuDGEON) His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.
No. 5.
Enclosure. Proclamation. Whereas it has pleased Almighty God to call to His mercy our late Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria of blessed and glorious memory, by whose decease the Imperial Crown of_ the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and all other Her late Majesty a dominions, is solely and 3fnllv come to the High and Mighty Prince Edward : We, Uchter John Mark, Earl of EanSy SigTcomn!ander g of the Xt Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies ; Walter Edward Gudgeon, Lieutenant-Colonel, New Zealand Militia, and British Eesident at the Cook Island T; and S Makea Takau, an Anki of Barotonga, and Chic of the Federal Government of the Tnok Islands therefore do now hereby, with one full voice and consent of tongue and heart, pub£h that the High and 7 'Mighty Prince Albert Edward is now by the death of our late Sovereign of happy and glorious memory, become our only lawful and rightful Liege Lord Llward the g Seventh PP by the Grace of God King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India, Supreme Lord in and over he Cook and Hervey Group, to whom we do acknowledge all faith and. constant obedience, with all hearty and humble affection, beseeching God, by whom kings and queens do reign, to bless the Boyal Prince Edward the Seventh with long and happy years to reign over us. W^E^Gudgeon. God save the King ! Makea Takau.
No. 7. M T _ Barotonga, 25th February, 1901. "' Makea Ariki Chief of the Federal Government, on behalf of the Arikis and people of the Cook Islands, desire to express their heartfelt sorrow at the death of the great Queen, and .their devotion and loyalty to King Edward. Makea Enough. His Excellency Lord Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.
No. 8. , T T„, _ Barotonga, 25th February, 1901. My Lord, — & Your letter of the Ist February has reached me. ~-,,., j It gave me much pleasure that you should have wished my name included with your own and Colonel Gudgeon's in proclaiming His Majesty Edward VII. Supreme Lord m and over the Cook and Hervey Islands. This has been completed. m»™a Enough. With greetings. makea. His Excellency Lord Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.
No. 5.
No. 9. Madam — Government House, Wellington, 7th March, 1901. ' I beg to thank you for your letter of the 25th February, 1901, expressing, on behalf of the Arikis and people of the Cook Islands, your great sorrow at the death of our noble Queen, and of their devotion and loyalty to King Edward. " . I shall be glad to forward these expressions of sympathy and loyalty to His Majesty. 6 I have, &c, To Makea Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government, Barotonga. Eanfurly.
No. 8.
No. 10. M L rd — Barotonga, 7th March, 1901. I have' the honour to inform you that, so far as Mangaia is concerned, the people of that island have solved the Chili-dollar question by the very simple process of refusing to sell their produce for anything but British coin, while they paid for the goods they required in Chili dollars, so that there is nothing left of that coin on Mangaia at the present time.
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