THE COOK ISLANDS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 13

THE COOK ISLANDS.

A PREVIOUS TROUBLE. Sir,—A copy of your paper of October 21 has just been shown mc, containing a letter from "Tnkitumu," and headed "Cook Islands a,:id i Its Administration." It is not my intention to refute the many misleading statements mado therein,' preferring rather to confine myself to that part where "Tukitnmu" says that "the inquiry he'd by Sir James Prcndergast resulted in the removal of Mr. Moss, and the charges at that time were proved and justified." Now, I would like to remind you that tho trouble in this instance was caused by tho Arikis and other members of tho Cook Islands Federal Government refusing to pass the Federal Court Bill, drawn up by the then Resident—Mr. Fredcrick J. Moss. Having been wrongly persuaded by a handful of mischievous whites—("Takitimu" no doubt being one of the number, as he speaks further on in his letter of "a long residence and business connection in the Islands)—that in consenting to pass this Bill their "mana" woul'd be lost to them for ever, a petition wns forwarded to Lord Ranfurly, Governor of New Zealand at the time, asking for tho removal of Mr. Moss. Tho inquiry held by Sir James Prendcrgast into the matter recommended that another Resident be appointed to appease the Natives, and that the Federal Court Bill bo pass;d as enacted. Had there been

"charges mado which were proved and verified." think you, Mr. Editor, that her Most Beloved and Gracious Majesty. Queen Victoria, would have signed and sent from Windsor that treasured message ft> my father—with the command that it be publicly proclaimed at Rarotonga, with all.duo ceremony by the Admiral, or the senior officer of the Australasian Station, wherein was expressed "great displeasure at tho ingratitude shown by the Natives in their treatment of Mr. Moss, who had laboured so hard in their interests, and had done so much for them . . ."—I am, etc., AMY E. MOSS. Auckland, October 31.