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We hope that the people will value their educational privileges more and more. Though it is difficult for many of the natives to grasp the fact that knowledge of the outside world is of much utility, yet now that some of the natives have commenced to export their own produce they are realising more and more the value of the knowledge of arithmetic, and of a good acquaintance with the English language. In the hope that these remarks may prove of some value, I remain, &c, John J. K. Hutchin. N.B.—The figures as regarding attendance are the result of the observation and knowledge of various persons, but I believe them to be approximately correct. They are not supplied by the various schools. — J. K. H.

Papeb by Rev. Me. Hutchin on the Education System. The Report as presented by the Rev. J. J. K. Hutchin, the Examiner at the Distribution of Prizes at Tereora, 22nd December, 1897. F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, in the chair. Makea Ariki, Pa Ariki, Judge Tepau, also present. Tinomana Ariki absent because of family trouble. Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, —On behalf of the London Missionary Society, and also on behalf of the lady principal, Miss Large, I give you a hearty welcome to the Tereora School, a school in which you have always been interested, and which is doing so much for higher education in this group of islands. As you look at the children I am sure you will agree with me that they are both healthy and happy, and you can rest assured that careful attention is being given to the mental and moral training of the children in this school. During the whole of the past year Miss Ardill has been absent on account of ill-health. You will be glad to hear that, according to the latest accounts which w« have received, she is slowly progressing towards a complete recovery. We are, however, thankful to Almighty God that Miss Large has been able to carry on unaided the work of the whole school, and we hope that the extra physical and mental strain thereby involved will not be injurious to her. We would also thank the Government of the Cook Islands for their continued help towards the maintenance of the children. There are fiftyseven children on the school roll, all of whom are natives of the Cook Islands. Seven of the children are, however, absent from the school for various causes. Fifty children were examined by me. I found the discipline to be excellent, and the lessons of obedience, order, and respect which the children learn in this school will be of the greatest value to them in their future life. The examination throughout was conducted in English, and all the classes are taught in English. The children were presented for examination in the following subjects: Reading, history, dictation, translation, writing, recitation, scripture, arithmetic, geography, drawing, and needlework. This school, we hope, is at the commencement of a prosperous career. It is with us, yet, the day of small things. Solid work has been done during the past year. Habits of industry, order, and obedience are being formed, the clouds of ignorance are being lifted off many a brain, and the light of intelligence is beaming forth from many an eye. The benefits of such a school will make themselves more and more apparent as the years go by. The future is with the best, educated and the most moral and vigorous races of the world. The Maori people of these islands must make the best use of their present advantages, or they will not advance in civilisation. We trust that this will be the case, and that, as in nature, after the rain has fallen and the clouds have rolled by, so, after our present troubles have come to an end, we may enter upon the path of real progress, —religion, education, and commerce, each active in its own domain, yet each a helper of the other in uplifting, enlightening, and helping on the true prosperity of the people of the Cook Islands, " Till each man find his own in all men's good, and all men work in noble brotherhood." The names of the children, and the marks obtained by them, are omitted for the sake of brevity. I remain, &c, John J. K. Hutchin. Each child pays £1 10s. per annum. The Government allows £2 10s. per child up to the number of 50. In addition to this the London Missionary Society expends £200 annually on the institution, exclusive of the salaries for the lady missionaries.—A. E. Large, LL.A.

(14.) Papek by Me. Hutchin on the Liquor Question. The Liquor Traffic in the Cook Islands. On the 27th day of October, 1888, Captain Bourke, 8.N., of H.M.S. "Hyacinth," hoisted the British flag over the three districts of the Island of Rarotonga, declaring in his proclamation " that all laws and customs at present recognised will remain in force, and his (or her) administration over the district (or island) will not be interfered with." " I further declare that all persons of whatever nationality who choose to reside in the country must conform to the laws thereof." Concerning this proclamation Mr. Moss wrote to the Governor of New Zealand (letter No. 12, dated the 17th January, 1891). This letter states their (that is, the chiefs') position and authority in making laws under the Protectorate, and is regarded by them as a species of charter. "The laws are readily obeyed by the natives, fairly so by the foreign residents, between whom and the natives a very good feeling exists." Instructions of Lord Onslow, Governor of New Zealand, to Mr. Moss, to report on the liquor traffic: "Your visit is entirely unofficial, and that on your return, should the appointment be confirmed, you will report to me upon the state of affairs in Rarotonga, with special reference to the importation of spirituous liquors, and the possibility of aiding the local authorities to put a stop to it." F. J. Moss, Esq., the British Resident, arrived here on the 19th November, 1890. Rev. James Chalmers, of New Guinea, was here at the same time on a visit. The day after the arrival of Mr. Moss the " John Williams " arrived, and I was obliged to go on an extended cruise of six weeks' duration to visit our out-stations. In letter No. 12 to the Governor of New Zealand, dated the 17th January, 1891, Mr. Moss states: "lascertained on my arrival that nineteen houses of different kinds, and in different parts of the island, were engaged in the sale of liquors drunk upon the premises." Mr. Moss repeats this statement (see Mansard containing the debate in the Legislative Council of New Zealand, on 'Tuesday, the sth October, 1897, on liquor traffic in the Cook Islands). Mr. Moss also repeats this statement in a letter to me dated the 13th October, 1897: "I arrived here on the 18th November from New Zealand. You were away, but expected back soon. The Rev. J. Chalmers was in Rarotonga, and at once brought to my notice the gross and open drunkenness prevalent among the Maoris, both men and women. I found his statements more than justified. Nineteen known houses were openly retailing the worst liquor; and fourteen quarter-casks of rum had just been openly landed and stored by a trader, brought from San Francisco." As regards the gross and open drunkenness of both men and women, which Mr. Moss implies Mr. Chalmers brought to bis notice, Makea Ariki stated, when interviewed on the subject, " that there was no drinking among the women ; not until the bond was started did the women drink." On one occasion Mr. Chalmers saw several drunken persons, and that was on the occasion of the school examination at Arorangi in 1890. My wife was present on that occasion and saw several persons drunk, but not many—five or six, she thinks, but not more. I never saw people drunk on the road in those days as I have seen since the present liquor law came into operation. The rum I did hear about when I came back from the group, but as a rumour only. Then, as to the statement that " nineteen known houses were openly retailing the worst liquor," in my reply to the letter of the British Resident I stated " I wonder who your informant was that is so particular and exact as to the number of houses openly retailing the worst liquor. Another thing would be interesting to know, and that is, the names of those who kept these nineteen houses, and also the persons who supplied them with the worst liquor. For my part, I have never believed the tale as to the nineteen houses. Ido not at all accept it as a statement of the

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