A.—3.

i shall, however, at all times be pleased to receive any communication from you, and am as much interested now in the welfare of these Pacific islands as when they were more in my special charge. I regret to say that I find it will be impossible for me to visit the islands this summer, as I had hoped, with Ministers. . I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, Earotonga. Eanfubly.

No. 43. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 21st September, 1901. I enclose for your consideration the enclosed correspondence, relating to an alleged attempt to remove Judge Bope from Penrhyn, which I have received from the High Commissioner of the Western Pacific. It seems to me that unless very good reasons are shown the Judge should not be disturbed in his office. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon, C.M.G., Barotonga. B. J. Seddon.

Enclosures. Office of the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, My Lobd, — Suva, Fiji, 16th August, 1901. I have the honour to forward herewith a letter which I have received from His Majesty's Consul for the Society Islands, and addressed to him by one Bope, Judge of Tetautau, Penrhyn Island, which island, by the provisions of His Majesty's Order in Council of 13th May last, has been included within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. W. L. Allabdyce.

Deae Sib, — Tetautau, Penrhyn, 21st June, 1901. I, the undersigned Bope, Judge of Tetautau, beg to lay the following statement before H.B.M. Consul of Tahiti; or, in case of need, having this statement forwarded to H.B.M. Government of Fiji. Like in many other places, jealousy is not unknown among the natives of Penryhn. I have always been in favour of the more intelligent race, and a good friend of the white man. I have done my duty to the best of my ability, and no honest man can say to the contrary. Some of my countrymen, influenced, perhaps, by ignoble motives, are doing their best to get me out of office, and I heard saying that two of my adversaries are going in the " Famasii Tahiti" to Papeete in order to complain to you about me. If I have done wrong—of which, however, lam not aware —I am perfectly willing to renounce my office as Judge, but I wish to get my dismission from the British Government and not from my unsettled countrymen. Elected by the natives and by inheritance, I became one of the Judges and chiefs before Great Britain annexed the island. H.B.M. ship " Caroline," Sir William Wiseman in command, senior officer of the Pacific Station, arrived in Omoka, Penryhn, in the year 1888. The captain said to the natives that he wanted to hoist the British flag, with their consent. The natives told him to wait until they held a meeting. The captain agreed, and told them that he would return the following morning. When coming on shore the people, with the exception of the young, got out of sight. The captain asked them to call a meeting and bring the chiefs and the Judges together. They did so, and the captain asked them if they wished to have the British flag. The young people without exception said, " Yes, let us have the British flag." He then asked the two Judges in Omoka —by name of Tautaitinii and Steward —if they wanted the British flag, and they said " No." The captain called the people again and told them that he thought the majority wanted the British flag. Then he went to the two chiefs and asked them if they were the only two chiefs on the island, and they answered him " No," that there was another in the Tetautau Settlement by name of Bob. The captain said, "How is it that Bob is not here?" and they answered him, "We do not know." " I wish to see Bob," the captain said; "will you send for him or Igo myself? " He sent a boat for Bob to come to Omoka, and told him that he wanted to annex the island for England, and he also said that he wished to do it with the consent of the chiefs and the people. Bob then told him to hoist the British flag, as the majority of the people, as far as he could see, were clearly in favour of it. Bob then asked the captain to let the natives make their own laws. The captain agreed to it, under the condition, however, that these had to be made in conformity with the laws of civilised nations. Then the British flag was hoisted, and the " Caroline " saluted the flag with twenty-one guns. A few years later the " Goldfinch," with Mr. Hunter as Commissioner on board, representing the Government of Fiji, arrived here from Barotonga. Tautaitinii said to Mr. Hunter that he, being old, wanted to appoint his adopted child—by name of Tupuna—as Judge, but he did not like doing it himself without the consent of Mr. Hunter. Steward having died in the meantime, Mr. Hunter asked the people if they all agreed to accept Tupuna as Judge, and they answered in the affirmative. Mr. Hunter then instructed the people to obey Tautaitinii until his death, and afterwards Tupuna, as Judge. Mr. Hunter mentioned also that it would be advisable for both Judges, Tautaitinii in Omoka and Bob in Tetautau, to go together in any case of importance, but that each settlement should

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