A.—3

24

Table III.—Imports into the Cook Islands for the Year ending 31st December, 1894. [Valued in Chilian dollars at 3s. each.]

No. 20. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 12th February, 1895. I have the honour to report that during the past year the Liquor Law has worked well in Earotonga, and that drunkenness among the natives is very rare. During the orange season some of them stupify themselves occasionally, by secretly drinking the fermented juice, prepared and consumed in the uninhabited bush. This is prohibited by law, and they are punished when discovered. At Aitutaki, the local Government drew up a law authorising the issue of permits to buy liquor from vessels calling at the island. On a French schooner from Eurutu calling, they appointed a permit officer and at once brought the law, on the plea of urgency, into operation. They wrote informing ine of what had been done—that the law was passed by nine out of eleven members in the Council, and approved by a vote of a great majority of the people. I at once replied by a refusal to sanction the sale of liquor in any way in Aitutaki, as no effective control would be possible. At the same time I sent an official notification, to be shown by the Federal Eevenue Officer to all masters of vessels, informing them that the local Government had no authority to issue permits, and that they were liable, under the Federal Eevenue Eegulations, to a fine of £45 for each offence, which fine would be strictly enforced if liquor were landed on the island. According to the regulations, the Collector of Eevenue in Earotonga is the only authority who can give a permit, and he, of course, is debarred from doing so where the local law is prohibitive, as it is in all the islands excepting Earotonga. The local Government of Aitutaki have since written expressing their great regret, have cancelled the appointment of a permit officer, and endeavoured to excuse themselves on the plea of anxiety to do away with the smuggling that is known to take place, and to make a revenue for the local Government. The affair may now therefore be regarded as ended, but seems to me of sufficient importance and sufficiently characteristic to be included in my report for your Excellency's information. I have had trouble also at Mauke, where liquor has, I am informed, been landed, and have sent to that and all the islands of the Federation a copy of the notification to shipmasters which was sent to Aitutaki. To prevent vessels calling at these islands without first coining to Earotonga, and making it the only port of entry, would entail hardship altogether out of proportion with the evil to be remedied. Nor would it prevent smuggling to a certain extent, where the law of prohibition is enforced against the will of a large section, if not a considerable majority, of the people. The smuggling is on all accounts to be regretted; but, so long as no liquor can bo stored and sold on shore, the mischief will be confined within very narrow limits. . . -Ihave,&c,, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G., Feedeeick J. Moss, Governor of New Zealand. British Eesident. Approximate Cost of Paper— Preparation, not given; printing (1,375 copies), £17 2s. 6d. By Authority: Samuel Costall, Government Printer, Wellington.—1895. Price 9d.'\

From New Prom m , , Zealand. Tahiti. 10tal - Total. ft ft ft Animals ... ... ... ... ... ... 953 75 1,028 Clothing ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,994 3,480 7,474 Piece and fancy goods ... ... ... ... ... 21,626 23,146 44,772 Provisions ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,624 4,469 16,093 Breadstuffs ... ... ... ... ... ... 5,396 5,594 10,990 Groceries ... ... ... ... ... ... 9,310 2,081 11,391 Spirits ... ... ... ... ... ... 3,105 440 3,545 Wines ... ... ... ... ... ... 144 250 394 Beer ... ... ... ... ... ... 198 68 266 Lumber, manufactured and unmanufactured ... ... 12,408 5,348 17,756 Hardware ... ... ... ... ... ... 11,115 6,062 17,177 Tobacco ... ... ... ... ... ... 1,490 1,554 3,044 Other articles... ... ... ... ... ... 6,311 9,316 15,627 I 1,028 7,474 44,772 16,093 10,990 11,391 3,545 394 266 17,756 17,177 3,044 15,627 Total, dollars ... $87,674 $61,883 $149,557 $61,883 $149,557 Total, pounds sterling ... ... £13,151 £9,282 £22,433 Included in above are goods exported to islands beyond the Federation, — Duty paid ... ... ... ... ... ... $3,604 From bond ... ... ... ... ... ... 4,522 $8,126 = £1,219 Specie imported,— — . ■ From Tahiti ... ... ... ... ... $13,353 = £2,003 From New Zealand (British coin) ... ... ... ... 1,045 £3,048