73

A.—3

Mr. Moss (to Queen Makea): I have sent you a copy of the Federal laws of the Cook Islands from 1891 to date. Why will you not sign them, so as they may be distributed ? Queen Makea : Why do you ask me to sign whilst these troubles are pending ? Mr. Moss : What did you tell the interpreter when he took you these laws for signature ? Makea : I said to the interpreter, "Do you and Mr. Moss still remember there is a Makea ? I thought you had forgotten." The interpreter replied, "Will you sign?" I replied: "I will not sign anything until the person I wrote for to the Governor of New Zealand arrives here." I also mentioned that I had been told by my own people that if I did not sign I would be deported. Mr. Moss : Will you sign now Sir J. Prendergast has arrived ? Makea: I will not sign. Mr. Moss (to Sir J. Prendergast): I wish your Honour to tell Makea to sign on my advice. Sir J. Prendergast: I cannot tell Makea to do everything Mr. Moss tells her if she has no confidence in him. Makea : I will not sign while these troubles are pending, nor until a new Resident is appointed to relieve Mr. Moss. Sir J. Prendergast: That means that there will be no Government in the Cook Islands until the report of this inquiry goes to New Zealand, and thence to England and back again. Makea : Let it remain so. I have spoken. Sir J. Prendergast: If Mr. Moss goes personally to you, and explains matters, will you then sign ? Makea: I will not sign until I get what I asked you. Sir J. Prendergast: You mean, you will not take the advice of Mr. Moss. Makea: Until a new Resident is appointed I will sign nothing, and no Government laws or notifications are valid without my signature. I also want all the officials appointed or approved by Mr. Moss to be removed. This is my petition, and the wishes of the Arikis, chiefs, and people of the Cook Islands —namely, Rarotonga, including Avarua, Arorangi, and Takitumu, Mangaia, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke. The Arikis and chiefs here individually spoke, unanimously agreeing with the above address from Queen Makea. Makea : We do not wish Mr. Moss to remain, as there will continually be trouble. When he lived on my premises he was good at first. When the Federal Court Bill was brought up he left me without giving notice. When he removed his furniture the Ariki Ngamaru asked him to remain. He refused. We now wish for his removal, and for a new Resident to be appointed. Sir James Prendergast: I cannot see any real reason in what you say to justify the removal of Mr. Moss. You have evidently not given me your real reason. Makea: He was hasty, quick-tempered, would not lead us in the right path, and we have no confidence in him. Sir James Prendergast: I have not the power to settle anything, but to collect information for the Governor of New Zealand. I think it is the duty of Queen Makea to aot in unison with Mr. Moss until the will of the Governor becomes known, and I trust Makea and Mr. Moss will exercise due respect to their respective stations. Government should go on the same as if the decision of this inquiry was not pending. It does not seem to me that Makea can expect that a public officer can be removed without due inquiry, and I trust that you and Mr. Moss will be able to act well together in the meanwhile, pending the decision.

Our Rarotongan correspondent writes: " The complaint of the American citizen, Ambrose Morgan, against the people of Aitutaki for being put by them in irons, and which he sent to the American Consul also in Auckland, has been settled by Mr. Moss, who adjudged him £18 for damages and expenses. The Aitutaki people demurred, and were advised to resist till the Commissioner arrived. But Mr. Moss insisted, and they paid up, taking their revenge by sending a delegate to add to the Natives requesting his removal. Mr. Moss let them off much more lightly, as he told them, than he would have done if Morgan had not provoked them by his stupid resistance to the enforcement of a penalty for breaking their Sunday-observance law, for which he has been fined 25., and refused to pay ' on principle.' Out of this grew the whole afiair. I believe Morgan is satisfied."

(17.) Earotonga, 24th December, 1897. To Vaikai Moate and the Members of the Cook Islands Parliament. Greetings to you ! I have been deputed by His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand to inquire into the grievances complained of in the petition of your Parliament to His Excellency, and any other grounds of complaint that you may have which can be properly remedied by His Excellency or the British Government. To this end, will you, with as little delay as possible, furnish me with a statement in writing, showing in detail what are the matters of complaint that you desire to be inquired into, and for which you think you can reasonably look to His Excellency or the British Government to afford relief. I have, &c, J. PRENDEBGA.ST.

Sir, — Makea's House, Thursday, 23rd December, 1897. I believe that His Excellency had not, before my departure from New Zealand, informed you that your petition had been received. I have now to inform you that it has been received from Mr. Moss, together with Mr. Moss's observations on the matters of complaint stated in the petition, and that His Excellenoy has deputed to me the business of inquiring into these matters, with a view to obtaining such information as is necessary in order to the application by the proper authority of such remedies as any just grounds of complaint require. I propose to attend at the Parliament House to-morrow (Friday), at 9 o'clock a.m., to commence the inquiry on the matters in your petition. As the Governor desires that no unnecessary delay should occur in giving relief to just grounds of complaint, may I ask you, notwithstanding the shortness of notice, to attend to-morrow at the time and place named, and be then prepared to support your petition. I have, &c, J. Pbendergast. To Mr. Kohn, on behalf of himself and the other signatories to petition to Governor of New Zealand.

(18.) Cook Islands Parliament.—Opening Addeess. From the Federal Government to the Parliament of the Cook Islands. We welcome you to this our seventh yearly meeting since the Federation and the establishment of Civil Government in our islands. The Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Our beloved Sovereign, Queen Victoria, attained on the 20th June the sixtieth year of her happy and eventful reign, the longest reign of any English Sovereign. The occasion was celebrated on the 22nd June with great rejoicings throughout the Empire. You were not in session, but we felt that your earnest wish would be to take part, however humbly, in these rejoicings. Therefore, in your name, and in the names of the Government and people of the Cook Islands enjoying Her Majesty's gracious protection, we sent on the 27th March an address, which would arrive in England in time for presentation, and of which a copy is appended for your information.

10—A. 3.