THE COOK ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 954, 22 October 1910, Page 10

THE COOK ISLANDS.

A FURTHER CONTRIBUTION. Sir,—Mr. C. P. Skerrett having now admitted:— _ , . 1. That ho does not know the whole facta of the Cook Islands controversy,; 2. That I may know something about Rarotonga; _3. .That ho has had no conversation, etc., with any woll-informed individual to inspire him in his letter-writing; • i. That this letter was not inspired by anything in the nature of a communication from Rarotonga. I fail to see what can bo gained from any cprrcspondence in your columns with him—and I furthermore wonder ivliat prompted him to write, iii the first place, as he did ? "Bluff" does not cut any ice, which he seems to realise, having changed.: his ground o5 attack on mo personally. T beg to submit that Mr. C. P. Skerret's method of "asking your readers to suspend judgment" was conceived in error, and brought forth in thorny places, rather prematurely. ... May; I ask Mr. Skerrett. to.continue, his investigations a littlo further, before lie makes any .further statements that complaints have not been made in the proper quarter—the Hon. Mr. Carroll and 'the Under-Secretary for Justice (Mr. Waldegrave), will: perhaps assist him in this matter if he approaches thorn. Failing these, _ thero are others whom he, may consult, perhaps. The "new broom" does not compare with the "old broom," and has failed to make those improvements 'usually, looked for when, such articles commence,; business. But party Government considers no one's feelings,'and Mr. Smith has, therefore, reached the unenviable position of'holding a billet for which he had no provious qualifications to speak of, which is hard lines on Mr. Smith, I quite admit.; I can afford to ignore - the personal attacks Mr. C. P. • Skerrett .has made on me, for he admits, ho does not . know me, and, as well, such attacks are: to .bo expected from persons who discuss questions of-which ! they have 'no'.'knowledge.' They only serve "to emphasize tho weakness of their case. ■■ ' Mr. C. P. Skerrett draws attention to the awful jjpsition in which Mr. Smith is placed in being unable to reply,through the press, but I,'in my turn,; wtjuld like to,point out) that' any officer'may'demand ,ail inquiry,, and there is no doubt that the Government will 'gi;ant;at— especially, a3; there, seems to be such a strong cas'o in'his favour. It does not seem to mattor much who gets the inquiry held, so long as the investigation is held by unbiassed persons ,in a an^opeu,,v! ; and B waboye-board manner. .... "The designs arid projeots of a Raro,tonga clique" comprise a demand for better methods of administration . generally,, and tho establishment of an efficient medical department in particular, and "the clique" consists :of the- majority, not to say large majority, of botli whites and natives, not excluding .the Arikis, or head chiefs. I must refuse, in conclusion, to discuss any subject or subjects on which he has admittedly no knowledge with Mr. C. Pi Skerrett, or anyone else. ; . . Thanking you' for your kindness in allowing us the spaco for this discussion in' your valuable columns. —I am ,etc., " RUPERT V. HOSKING. /Wellington, October 20. .