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etiquette to reveal his actions and views before he had transmitted them to the Imperial Government through your Excellency as the Governor of this colony. In the meantime the executive committee of the Alliance has been favoured with a very exhaustive discussion on the subject with the Rev. Mr. Chalmers, the well-known pioneer of missionwork in New Guinea, who previously was a missionary in Rarotonga for twelve years, and was present on the latter island on the late occasion of Mr. Moss's visit. Mr. Chalmers has always been and is a staunch advocate of prohibition, but he is convinced that the Rarotongan Government has not the ability successfully to enforce prohibition without the external aid of a skilled European officer. Supposing that aid to be supplemented, he considers it to be perfectly possible absolutely to suppress all importation of strong drink. He is also convinced that the great bulk of the natives, including Queen Makea, do really and earnestly desire to maintain the prohibition law. The weak point is that they will not face the payment of the salary necessary to secure the services of a competent European officer to enforce the law. They no doubt think that the Government of New Zealand (and other British colonies), being the parties responsible for the liquor leaving the shores of the latter, ought to assist them in the cost of preventing its introduction. It is presumed that the Government of New Zealand, in securing the appointment of a British Resident at Rarotonga, and undertaking to pay his salary, did not intend that he was only to be an ornamental appendage; it no doubt contemplated commercial and other advantages to be received in return; and it may fairly be contended that, in assuming the relations it has done towards Rarotonga, it will recognise the obligation to protect that island from invasion by New Zealand liquor traders in defiance of the constitutional laws of the former. If the New Zealand Government would act in the direction suggested by Mr. Chalmers, by contributing a moderate salary for the appointment of such an officer as referred to, to prevent the introduction of strong drink, not to regulate its sale and receive fees or revenues on account of it, as Mr. Moss appears to have proposed, it would be a recognition of the responsibility it has assumed by its action in reference to the appointment of a British Resident.

Summabt. The position and requirements of the case may be summed up as follows: — 1. The natives, before the establishment of the British protectorate, had in their Constitution, embodying the will of the rulers and people of the islands, the principle of the prevention of the introduction of strong drink into their country from any places or by any persons. 2. The establishment of the British-Colonial protectorate should not and cannot be held in any way to invalidate this deliberate intention and decision of the natives; but, on the contrary, ought to be a means by which all the proper aspirations of the natives, particularly in a matter so much affecting their morality, might be given affect to. 3. The only obstacle to the successful carrying-out of the prohibition desired and determined upon by the inhabitants, so far as can be learned from reliable sources, is the want of a European officer fitly empowered with Imperial and native authority to take the active steps necessary to prevent the landing of liquor from vessels bringing it to the islands, due notice of the article being contraband having been previously given to the traders. 4. The appointment of such an officer implies an. annual expenditure of a moderate amount, which must in the first instance be provided by the Colonial or Imperial Governments, in pursuance of the expressed desire of the inhabitants of the islands over which a protectorate has been declared, and for which a British Eesident has been selected on the nomination of New Zealand. Eventually, when the natives have been familiarised with the mode of suppression, and have learned to fully appreciate the advantages to themselves, the cost of keeping the traffic out can with ease be transferred to them. 5. Should the desire expressed in this memorial— i.e., the appointment of a prohibition officer for the islands —be acceded to by your Excellency, and the necessary action be taken by the Imperial or Colonial Government to give effect to it, we feel confident very general satisfaction will be felt by all concerned in the well-being of a most interesting people, who have special claims upon New Zealand sympathy in their struggle against a traffic which, if allowed to get firm hold upon the Cook group of islands, will assuredly result in the early extirpation of the race inhabiting it, a result which would be looked upon by the Empire at large as a lasting disgrace to the British name.

Appendix No. 1. Women's Christian Temperance Union, Mount Eden, Auckland, My Deae Sib — 23rd May, 1890. I have just heard that certain European traders are trying to induce the Queen of Rarotonga to alter her laws so as to permit the introduction and sale of intoxicating drinks into that island. We are agreed on prohibition, I know, and therefore feel no hesitation in asking you to cooperate with us against this iniquitous attempt. We, who know something of the disastrous consequences of the liquor traffic among these native races, ought not to allow such a thing without uttering our earnest protest to those in authority. Our Union will petition Makea, Queen of Earotonga, at Awarua, as a mother and ruler, for the sake of her children and people, to use her influence with other rulers in the island to prevent the curse of strong drink entering that beautiful island. Yours, &c, Sir William Fox, President N.Z. Alliance. A. I. Schnackenbeeg.

Appendix No. 2. The following is the text of a petition which is being forwarded to Queen Makea, of Rarotonga: " We, the undersigned citizens of Auckland, New Zealand, have heard with deep sorrow that some