19

A.—3

Meringatangi: " No, I will not allow it," and the meeting was closed. This is the first meeting after my arrival; there were two held before my arrival. Tepou i te Eangi Meeting held at King John's House. 21st August, 1891. This meeting was called to settle matters re expulsion of a British subject and closing Donald and Edenborough's store. I asked Vaipo: "What do you think? Do you agree to pay the fine or not?" Vaipo then said, "Do not speak to me, or ask me any questions." I asked Pute of Ivirua, " What do you think ? Do you agree to the fine or not ? " He said "I do not know." I asked Turoua, " What do you think ? Do you agree to pay the fine or not ? " He said: " I accept the fine." When Vaipo heard Turoua speak out his mind, Vaipo saluted him, and took him by the hand, and said to him : " I rejoice at what you have said; it is the only means of making peace." Meringatangi then jumped up, and quarrelled with Turoua, saying he was a liar. He was angry because Turoua sided with Vaipo. Nicholas (to Meringatangi): "You must not go oninthat way." I said the same, but he would not listen to us. Meringatangi was very bitter towards Turoua. He said a great deal more than I could express here. This meeting closed with discord. This is the second since my arrival. Tepou i te Eangi.

Meeting held at King John's House. Oneroa, 24th August, 1891. This meeting was to ascertain those who would and those who would not pay the fine. In my opinion there should be one Government, as the majority is in favour of paying: four governors and two arikis. The two remaining governors did not attend the meeting, so the meeting went on without them. Present: King John, Te Ariki Nooroa, Vaipo, Pute, Turoua, Ata. The result of the meeting was to try and make the two remaining governors pay their share of the fine, which closed the meeting. That evening about eight or nine o'clock Nicholas came to me, and proposed that we should write to Kiriiti and Ngariu ; and I said let us speak to King John about it, and ask him to write the letters. John was sent for, and I explained to him our intentions. He was agreeable, and wrote the letters, and sent with them pen and paper so as to make sure of an answer in writing. Messengers were sent, and in about an hour's time we received an answer from Kiriiti stating to King John that he was stopped by Ngariu and Meringatangi from attending the meeting; he also stated that he was agreeable to pay his share of the fine. Tepou o te Eangi. Oneroa, 25th August, 1891. This was the day appointed for our departure to Earotonga. Daniela came to me and asked me to go to a meeting then being held at the schoolhouse. On my arrival the English missionary was there, and also his wife. Also the Governors and Rangatiras —namely, Vaipo, Kiriiti, Ata, Turoua, Pute, King John, and Meringatangi (whom Nicholas called a viper). He, the viper, was,ashamed of his nickname'; he could not hold his head up, and did not even speak. Prayers by the missionary, Mr. Harris. After prayers, the missionary spoke : " As you are all of one mind I need not say anything to you, John or Vaipo. You are right, and let us all pay the fine, and now let our troubles be at an end. Vaipo: "That is good." Mr. Harris : " Do not let the British Eesident and Earotongans go back and say that the troubles of Mangaia are not settled. Also the Aitutakians and Atiuans, let them all go back with the knowledge that they have left us in peace." They all agreed to pay the fine. Money was then collected at once, the first being $100 from the missionary, and the total of $278 was very soon collected. The British Eesident was sent for, and also Nicholas, to receive the money, and at three o'clock the money was handed over to Nicholas for Donald and Edenborough, and at five o'clock we went on board the " Torea," and took our departure for Earotonga. This is what I have seen and heard. Mangaia is now at peace. Tepou o te Eangi. I certify that the above is a correct translation of Tepou's report to the Cook Islands' Government. —Henry Nicholas, Ist September, 1891.

No. 4. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. (No. 21/91.) My Lord, — Aitutaki, October, 1891. I have the honour to inform your Excellency that I left Earotonga for this island in the schooner " Torea "on the 24th September, and arrived on the 26th. I called the people together on the 28th, and a Council was then appointed for the whole island. The Council met on the Ist and 3rd October, and a Government was formed, which is now actively at work to the satisfaction of the people.