39

A.—6

1. I have now the honour to report that on the 23rd April a formal application was received by me. for Queen Makea as Chief of the Federation, asking the extradition of the said Taati. The application was supported by full and strong evidence, and certificates of birth and baptism, to show that he was a French subject, and thus came under the treaty. The accused is a half-caste, and was employed in the Government offices. The offence with which he is charged was that of receiving public money in the exercise of his duties, embezzling the said money, and issuing receipts, to which he attached the signature of the chief of his department. 2. There is, of course, no extradition treaty between France and the Cook Islands, and I presume the Cook Islands would not be competent to make treaties except through the protecting Power. But I represented to Queen Makea the discredit that would be brought upon the Cook Islands if they were allowed to become the refuge for persons who might escape from the neighbouring French colonies, and advised that no effort should be spared to bring the accused before the Supreme Court of the Federation. I also explained that if the accused had been a Cook Islander the treaty would except him from extradition, and he could only be tried by his own people. 3. Queen Makea entered cordially into my views, and at once accepted my advice, which will also, I trust, meet with your Excellency's approval. 4. The accused had taken refuge with his wife's relations, in the Island of Atiu. The Aitutaki Native schooner, "Te Upoko Enua," arrived at Earotonga on the 24th, and was at once chartered to proceed with a messenger, carrying a warrant from the Supreme Court for the apprehension of Taati. The schooner left the next day. 5. Yesterday the schooner returned. She had been detained five days at Atiu, during which many meetings were held. The majority of the chiefs were in favour of surrender; but the influence of Taati's wife's relations was strong, and Parua, one of the Arikis, took him under her special protection. Finally, he was allowed to escape into the interior of the island, where there are many caves, in which concealment is easy with the connivance of any one outside. 6. The schooner has been re-chartered, and left again this afternoon, taking special messengers who are to bring both the Ariki, Parua, and Taati before the Court in Earotonga. I enclose, for your Excellency's information, copy of a letter which I addressed to the remaining Arikis, and sent by her. 7. There is so large a party against Parua that I am not without hope of seeing her and Taati in Earotonga in about a week. If, however, she continues obstinate, I shall have to go to Atiu. There will be no difficulty in the Federal Government depriving Parua of her position as Ariki in the present case, with the powerful support they would have from the other Arikis and chiefs ; but it seems to me that the opportunity should not be lost of obtaining, if possible, a voluntary submission to the Supreme Court, and to the Government of the Federation. I have, &c, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., &c. Feedeeick J. Moss.

Enclosure. [Teanslation.] Salutations, — British Embassy, Earotonga, 6th May, 1893. I am very sorry to hear that Parua, Ariki, has defied the law. The Supreme Court does not belong to Earotonga. It belongs to all the islands, to Atiu and all. Parua is throwing dirt at her own Court. By sheltering Taati she is bringing disgrace on all her own people both here and in Tahiti, where so many of them are living. Taati is not an ignorant man, and he knows the trouble he is making. The law must be obeyed. Therefore, the schooner "Te Upoko Enua" is now sent a second time. It is for you, the Arikis, to do what is right. See you that Parua, Ariki, and Taati come in the schooner to Earotonga to answer to the law of all the islands—that is, of the Federation. It will deal justly with them ; I will answer for that. If Taati has not done wrong in Tahiti, the law will protect him here. If he has done wrong he ought to bear the penalty like a man, and not cast the burden on others. If you now let Taati escape to other lands, you will all—■ Arikis and people of Atiu—do wrong, and bring great trouble on Atiu. Enough. From your friend, To Ngamarua, Ariki, and Eongomatane, Ariki, Atiu. Feedeeick J. Moss.

No. 23. Mr F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenoe. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 7th June, 1893. Eeferring to my Despatch No. 6, of 6th May (No. 6/93), respecting the application of the French Government in Tahiti'for the extradition of Taati a Tavi, I have the honour to report that the Native schooner "Te Upoko" returned from Atiu on the 11th May, bringing the said Taati. The Ariki, Parua, refused to come. Taati was brought before the Court on the 12th, and, after being fully supplied with the evidence sent from Tahiti, was remanded till the 15th to give him an opportunity of considering the same. The case was heard on the 15th, and ended in the accused undertaking to proceed to Tahiti by the steamer when she arrived from New Zealand, and to meet the charges against him. The Judge reported to this effect. The steamer did not arrive till the 29th, and in the meanwhile the accused (who is, I find, a Tahitian Maori, and not a half-caste, as reported in my despatch of the 6th May) met with great sympathy from the Maoris of Earotonga, as the first refugee they had been called upon to surrender. Their sympathy was stimulated further by some few of the white men, who held loudly that the