A.—3

58

This, however, fell through, as the Roman Catholic bishop objected. It was finally recommended by the committee that a school should be started in the Avarua district, and under the care of the Au or district authorities, and there the matter dropped. During March there was a lull in the agitation for a public school, as it was reported that the Catholics would establish a school free of charge in the village. But as our local newspaper, the Torea, justly remarked, this was all very well when the natives were poor and first discovered, but all the Churches in other countries have plenty of their own people to provide for, and plenty of other natives, all much poorer, and much less able to pay than we are now. In the meantime it was announced that the Adventist Mission vessel was on its way with public-school teachers on board. When the Government met on the sth July, 1895, Mr. Moss, the British Resident, sent a letter to them respecting the schools, in which he said that for four years he had been trying to have schools established in all the islands for the regular training of the children, and for teaching them English ; that the work of education should be done by the islands each for itself, and not by the Federal Parliament; that the Federal Parliament might help by the purchase of desks, maps, blackboards, and other school furniture, and lend it to any schools that the Government were satisfied would do good work. The Parliament met and adjourned on the sth July, and the Rarotongan Council was to meet on the 15th August. In the Torea of the 20th July, 1895, we read, word had been received from Captain Graham, of the " Pitcairn," that he arrived at Tahiti on the Ist June, sixty-two days out from San Francisco ; thence to Raiatea, and to reach Rarotonga in August, and it was reported that teachers were on board. In June, 1895, there arrived a Mr. Case and wife, belonging to the Latter Day Saint persuasion, and in July there was some talk of his wife taking charge of the public school at Ngatangiia, but they did not go. The talk being on the part of the Europeans and not of the natives, who then, as now, were anxious to have a teacher from the London Missionary Society. In August, when the Parliament again met, a Schools Bill, drawn up by the British Resident, was submitted to Parliament, that all schools in which English was taught were to be under inspection, and that the head of the school or the person who taught English was to hold a certificate from the Government; and that any one teaching in a school not certificated, or from whom the certificate has been temporarily or permanently withdrawn, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding £5 for every offence. The Act is defective in that no proper educational authority is appointed to determine a teacher's qualifications. On the 6th August the Seventh Day Adventist Mission vessel, the " Pitcairn," arrived, and the following persons were left here, viz. : Mr. Wellmann, printer and school-teacher; Mrs. Wellmann, also, I believe, described as a teacher; Mr. and Mrs. Rice, school-teachers ; and Miss White, nurse. The meeting of the Government took place on the 14th August, and the Rarotongan Council met the next day. In the message from the Arikis to the Council (signad by Makea Ariki, the head of the Government) it is stated, " A school has been opened in Avarua by the Roman Catholic Mission, and several school-teachers have arrived in the ' Pitcairn ' in connection with the Seventh Day Adventisfc Mission, and we are informed that if arrangements can be made some of the teachers will be left in the Cook Islands. We are of opinion that the Council, at its meeting, should adjourn until full information can be laid before them." The Council next day met Dr. Caldwell and Captain Graham, of the Seventh Day Adventist Mission, who said that they had obtained trained and experienced teachers who would be quite willing to begin the good work for £60 per year. On the 24th August in our local newspaper, Te Torea, there appeared the following : " The ' Pitcairn ' leaves Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Rice and Mr. and Mrs. Wellmann behind as teachers for schools, to be opened either by the Government or the Adventist Mission. This is a grand opportunity for the Rarotongan Government, and we hope that they will take advantage of it," Mr. Wellmann, who was also a printer, took a position in the Torea office, and thus one of the teachers dropped out of line. The sub-committee appointed to inquire as to public schools sont for me, and asked me if the Council could have the loan of the school-buildings, and I told them I would bring the matter before our committee; but when they asked me if I could guarantee them three teachers, I told them I could not personally do so, but would make inquiries in London. This they would not agree to, saying that it would take too long to communicate with the Society and get the teachers. The sub-committee in the end reported to the Board, "We are of opinion that these are the teachers we should engage, as they are not very expensive (£6O per annum)." Cheapness, then, was the first qualification for a teacher in the eyes of the Council. On the 29th August the Council reassembled, and Mr. Moss pressed upon them the need of free public schools in Avarua, Takitumu, and Arorangi. " The teachers are here," he said, in his message to them, " and it rests with the Council to say whether the Maoris shall grow up from childhood associating together as one people." It has always seemed to me very necessary, in order that the Federation of the islands should prove a success, that the people should gain an acquaintance for themselves about the laws, habits and customs, and history of other nations. The best way to do this is by obtaining an acquaintance with the English language. Yet, in order to make public schools a success, efficiency must not be sacrificed to cheapness. About this time I received a letter from Mr. Thompson, in answer to one from me, asking, on behalf of the people of Avarua, that they might have a teacher in connection with the London Missionary Society. The Rev. R. W. Thompson said, "If the people will pay for the salary of a teacher, the way will, of course, be made clear." His ideas were that the people should pay the salary of the teacher, and that both the school and the teacher should be under the control of the London Missionary Society. There should also bo some educational authority to test the qualifications of a teacher, an inspection of schools, and some means of enforcing attendance. At the district committee meeting of the London Missionary Society, a resolution was passed on the 21st August that, in the event of the Public Schools Act being passed providing free and secular education in the English language, we would allow such schools the use of the present school-buildings, which were built by the native Churches and are held in trust by the London Missionary Society ; providing that the native Churches were agreeable thereto, also providing that the native Churches under the care of the London Missionary Society have the sole use of the schoolbuildings on the Sunday, and on such other occasions as they may require them. This will show your Excellency that, as the Council at the time seemed bent upon having English education for all the children of the island, we, as a mission, threw no obstacle in the way, even though we were not permitted to obtain the teachers for them. On the 14th September I wrote to the British Resident complaining that the London Missionary Society had been unfairly treated, as, until the passing of the Public Schools Act, there was no definite knowledge that public money would be spent on the schools, and we have had no time given us as a mission to try and find suitable teachers, whereas there is another mission provided with teachers for the work on the spot. To this Mr. Moss replied : That the teachers came unsolicited ; that he endeavoured to be impartial; that the Government and not the Council appointed the teachers ; that in 1891-92, when |700 was appropriated to establish a school in Avarua, it failed, beoause the agent of the London Missionary Society declined to let the Government have the use of the school-building until he had referred the question to head-quarters in London ; that a serious responsibility would now be involved in not taking advantage of the present opportunity of opening schools in all the districts at the same time, unless there is some clear assurance that preferable arrangements will be made with the small amount at our disposal. If the Government make arrangements, they will be with the teachers individually, and not with the Adventist Mission. On the 13th September the committee recommended the Council to open schools at the new year, and on the same day wrote to me asking me to communicate with the directors to obtain teachers. On the 16th September I wrote that the time was too short to communicate with the directors. On the 24th September the Council wrote to ask what time would elapse before I could communicate with the directors and receive an answer. I replied, five months. On the same day they replied that they would not wait, as the Society might not provide teachers for tht money stated—namely, £60 per annum. On the 24th the Council wrote to Dr. Caldwell, asking whom it was proposed to allot, and at what salaries, in Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu. On the 26th Dr. Caldwell wrote (Adventisa Mission) —to Takitumu, Mr. G. Wellmann; to Aroraugi, Mr. J. D. Rice ; and to Avarua, Mrs. J. F. Caldwell: salaries,