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sary officials who will be appointed to prevent absolutely the importation of alcoholic liquors into the Cook Islands. While on this subject, I would desire you to convey to Mr. Gamier my thanks for the assistance which he has rendered, and my hope that his efforts will be successful in bringing about sobriety. Until some revenue can be obtained, it is useless to attempt much in the way of European administration ; but you should endeavour to obtain the establishment of some small uniform tax on imports sufficient to pay one or two administrative officers. You should further do your best to secure the printing of all laws in both Earotongan and English, Any fresh legislation will be expressed as passed by the Besident and the Council of the island acting hi conjunction ; and no law will be valid which is not approved and countersigned by the Besident. It will be well to take an early opportunity of inviting the Council to re-enact such of the existing laws as may be deemed necessary in the form above prescribed. The Proclamation announcing your appointment as British Eesident in the Cook Group should be read in each of the islands constituting the group, except in Aitutaki, Captain Bourke's Proclamation that the island had become part of Her Majesty's dominions will hold good, and no further Proclamation need be read; but in the administration of the Government you will make no more distinction between x\itutaki and the other islands of the group than this difference in their political position renders absolutely necessary. I desire to express my great appreciation of Queen Makea's generosity in giving a piece of land on which to build a house for the Eesident. Acting on your suggestion, I have written direct to her, to convey the satisfaction felt by Her Majesty's Government at the gift, and I am also sending her a sun-dial, made under the superintendence of Sir James Hector, and corrected for the time on the parallel of Earotonga, in the hope that the other arikis will take their time from Queen Makea's palace. I have brought your remarks on the inadequacy of your salary under the notice of my Ministers. In conclusion, and speaking generally, the objects to be kept in view are to leave the natives in the possession of their existing right of legislating for themselves, reserving to yourself a veto on all laws which may seem to interfere with the liberties of Her Majesty's subjects resident in the group, or to have a tendency to corrupt the morals of the natives or destroy their race; to use your best endeavours to promote a knowledge of the English language, bearing in mind, as the settled policy of Her Majesty's Government towards all native populations in the Pacific, the proposals put forth by the representatives of the several colonies at Sydney, in 1886, with respect to the administration of New Guinea, and agreed to by the Colonial Conference in 1887. These, as applied to the present case, are shortly as follows : (1.) No purchase of land to be allowed to be made by private persons, except from the Government, or purchasers from it. (2.) No deportation of natives to be allowed, either from one part of the territory to another, or to places beyond the territory, except under laws reserved for her Majesty's assent, and assented to by Her Majesty. (3.) Trading with the natives in arms, ammunition, explosives, and intoxicants to be prohibited, except under laws reserved and assented to in like manner. (4.) No differential duties to be imposed in favour of the guaranteeing colony, or any other colony or country. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident in the Cook Islands. Onslow.

No. 12. (No. 16.) My Lobd, — Auckland, New Zealand, 11th March, 1891. I have the honour to enclose two copies of a petition addressed to me by the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic. 2. A petition in identical terms has been presented to the Premier of New Zealand, and I enclose the reply which he has made to it. 3. I also beg to enclose copies of a memorandum by Mr. Moss on the petition, and a telegram from myself to Mr. Chalmers, the missionary referred to in the statement annexed to the petition, with his reply to that telegram. 4. From these enclosures, and the papers enclosed in my Despatch No. 15, of yesterday's date, your Lordship will gather the views which I and my Ministers entertain on this subject. I have, &c, The Right Hon. Lord Knutsford. ONSLOW.

Enclosure No. 1. To his Excellency the Right Honourable William Hillieb, Earl of Onslow, of Onslow, in the County of Salop; Viscount Cranley, of Cranley in the County of Surrey; Baron Onslow, of Onslow in the County of Salop, and of West Clandon in the County of Surrey; Baron Cranley of Imbercourt; Baronet; Knight Grand Cross of the most distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George; Governor and Com-mander-in-Chief in and over Her Majesty's Colony of New Zealand and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same. My Lobd, — On behalf of the New Zealand Alliance for the Suppression of the Liquor Traffic, I have the honour to enclose a statement in reference to the action of Mr. F. J. Moss, the lately appointed British Resident, at Rarotonga in the Cook Islands group, which the Alliance believes to be

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