A.—3

18

Enclosure No. 10. Meeting of the Government at King John's, Oneroa, the 21st August, 1891. Present: John {Ariki?), the Ariki Nooroa ; Ngariu, Kiriiti, Vaipo, Ata, Turoua, Pute (Governors). Places for the posting-up of laws at Oneroa, Tamarua, and Ivirua were appointed. The following was passed : Resolved, That the following are appointed the police of Mangaia. The Governors and Judges shall look after them, and report to the Government any wrong thing that a policeman, may do. No one shall act as a policeman unless he is first appointed by the Government, and his name written in this book. The Laws in force up to the 6th August, as compiled by the Committee appointed on the 3rd August, were signed by all the Governors and the Arikis, and presented to the British Eesident. [Original of the above resolution: Ko taua aronga nei te rainga ote Akava o Mangaia c tei te au Kavana, ma tona Akavanui te akonoanga i te au Akava i tona oire ma te akakite kite Au, koia te Government, Kare c Akava, c tika kia i kiia rava ia eteAu c tika'i. Ka tata to ratou ingoa ki roto i teia puka.] List of names (155) were handed in to the Ariki John for entry as the existing police. There were for Tamarua, 43, Ngariu; Ivirua, 36, Vaipo and Pute; Kirunga, 36, Turoua and Kiriiti; Maketea, 30, Ata; Kaumata, 10, Ata. John, Ariki.

No. 3. Mr. F. J. Moss, to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 18/91.) My Lord, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, Ist September, 1891. The " Eichmond" arrived this morning, and leaves again to-day. I have just received the report prepared by Tepou o te Eangi for the Government here, translated for me by Mr. Nicholas, and enclose the translation for your Excellency's information. Tepou seems to think that the reasons for their not sending representatives of Mangaia to the arikis' council were sufficiently clear from my own inquiries previous to his arrival. This he had told me in the course of conversation at Mangaia. I have, &c, Frederick J. Moss, The Earl of Onslow, G.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident.

Enclosure. Tepou's Eeport op Meeting held at King John's. Oneroa, 13th August, 1891. Present: Arikis and Governors of Mangaia. Prayers. Mr. Moss : I wish you now to elect a chairman to preside at this meeting. Ngariu and Meringatangi: Daniela. Vaipo: I object. Tiani {Ariki) : I object. Vaipo {rangatira) also objected. Vaipo proposed King John, or Te Ariki Nooroa. Ngariu and Meringatangi objected, which caused an uproar. Ngariu (to the arikis) : To you, Nooroa, I do not know you as an ariki. Numa : Who made him ariki; was it not you ? Ngariu : I do not know him. I then spoke to Numa to cease speaking, and he did so. Vaipo took Metua by the hand and led him to the chair, which caused another uproar. Meringatangi stood up and said he would not allow a tutae auri (which means a non-church member) to act as chairman. Mr. Moss : Cease quarrelling, and go on with your work. (Ngariu and Meringatangi would not listen.) Teati (to Meringatangi, Ngariu and party) : You are my papaas (foreigners). Meringatangi was in a great wrath at the words of Teati; and Kakerua was also in great wrath at these words, which I consider them foolish for taking up. When the word papaa was used, it meant that Meringatangi and his party had no right to the land they are living on. Meringatangi took it as a spear in his heart, and walked about calling out " I am stabbed ! I am stabbed ! " When the chiefs saw this they stood up and linked arms with Kakerua and Meringatangi, as a sign that they were not to take notice of what was said; but Meringatangi still walked about exclaiming " I am stabbed ! I am stabbed." Then King John said to him, " I will cure your wound ; " so he took hold of Meringatangi and seated him on the chair. As soon as this was done the uproar ceased. King John did this to enable us to go on with our work. But this enemy, after being placed in the chair, did not know his business. Mr. Moss asked me to explain matters to the meeting; then Mr. Nicholas called me, and I went and sat by the table. Ngariu stood up and said " I will not stay, I am going with my people." Mr. Moss asked Mr. Nicholas, " What is Ngariu saying?" And he informed him that Ngariu was leaving. Mr. Moss (to Ngariu) :" If you go, the meeting will go on without you." When Ngariu heard this he sat down, and the business was carried on. At the close of the meeting Nicholas informed them that he would call a meeting to settle the claims of Donald and Edenborough, having power from them to do so.