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one finds oneself among a generous, courteous, gentle people who appreciate efforts made in their behalf in a manner which urges one to his best efforts. Especially in Aitutaki is one reminded of Savaii, in Samoa, where live a truly gentle people. It was interesting in Mangaia to find one end of the island populated by the descendants of the sturdy crew of a Tongan canoe which in former times made a landing and were able to make their hold good. One fancied he could pick them out from the others in many cases. 4. Customs. The people now have customs so nearly like those of Europeans that little can be written on this subject. Very few grass houses of the old type are left: most of them are European. I suspect that the Natives sit on the floor and are comfortable usually, and that possibly nature's tools are largely used in place of knives and forks when guests are not present ; but every feast or meal that I attended in a Native house was on a modern table, with proper crockery and knives and forks. On almost every island there are clubs, encouraged by the Government Agents, where, under proper supervision and during proper hours on given days in the week, European dances are which are attended by as clean and well-dressed a lot of young folk as one could wish to see. I was told by observing people that these dances had had the effect of diminishing the drinking of bush-beer, and had had a beneficial effect on the morals of the youth. On Aitutaki, on Christmas and Boxing Days, I saw old dances representing the migrations of the Polynesian race. On the whole it must be good for these people to dance, and it seems to make them happy and contented. It is inevitable with civilization that dancing, formerly suppressed by missions, must return. Best that it come sponsored and controlled by Government in a proper way. 5. Government. The Cook Islands are dependencies of New Zealand. They are under a Resident Commissioner, who answers to the Minister for the Cook Islands (Sir Maui Pomare) in Wellington. The present incumbent, Mr. H. P. Ayson, is also Judge of the Land Court and Chief Judge of the High Court. He also administers Rarotonga itself. On each of the other islands he is assisted by a Resident Agent. The Polynesian is generally a peaceable, law-abiding citizen who really needs little governing; he has been administering his own laws for ages in a democratic manner, so that on several islands the school-teacher has also become the Resident Agent. On Mitiaro one of the Arikis, Tou, is the Resident Agent. There are very few criminal offences to punish, most of the derelictions being nonpayment of taxes, and, except for graver offences, the prisoners return to their home each night after their day's task for the Government is done. The avowed plan of New Zealand in the Cooks is to teach the Natives to govern themselves so far and as soon as possible. The Natives are contented with the administration given them by New Zealand. 6. Education. Mr. H. S. Binstead, Superintendent of Education, Cook Islands, kindly furnished me with the following outline of the present condition and ideals of New Zealand education in the Cooks : — " In the Cook Islands one may still see two different philosophies of education, working not so much side by side as in two separate groups of islands. The Southern or Lower Group is not only more favourably situated for trade with New Zealand and America, but comprises the larger, more fertile, and more densely populated islands. As a result of these factors and of the enterprise of the New Zealand Government, a form of education has developed in the Lower Group which differs in outlook and organization from that found in the Upper or Northern Group. While the education of the Natives in the south has come under the influence of the culture, the ideals, the practices of European teachers, that of the people of the north is still in the hands of the London Missionary Society, whose influence must necessarily tend in different directions from that of the Schools Department of a State Government. "It is probable, however, that before many years the Schools Department will be entirely responsible for the education of the Natives of the whole Group. Recently the Government has subsidized the efforts of the Mission, which, however, still undertakes the training of the teachers for the Northern Islands. As the work of these teachers is now to be supervised by the Superintendent of Schools for Cook Islands, there will be, necessarily, some modification in the outlook and the curriculum of these schools. " Just how seriously the Government of New Zealand regards the education of its dependent people may be realized from the amount spent in this direction. For the year 1925 the cost per child in the Lower Group was approximately £4 10s. —almost double the cost per child of Philippine education. To some extent the cost is borne by the revenue from the Cook Islands, but the major portion is shouldered by New Zealand. Such paternalism is deeply appreciated by the Native population, who are, indeed, most anxious for the extension of even their present privileges. "Education is compulsory throughout the Lower Group, but so eager are the majority of the children for the benefits conferred by the school that the assistance of the law-courts is only occasionally required. Each child is required to pay the small sum of 4s. per year as a small contribution towards the cost of education, a sum which is cheerfully paid, especially as all equipment, even to rulers and pencils, is provided by the authorities