51

A.—3.

cases the whites have given them enough cash to pay the entire fine, on the understanding that they would repay the amount when the raui was taken off the coffee. Now, it is the evident intention of these maladministrators that there will be no coffee when they give the people partnisaion to sell their coffee (which is really their own) to pay those debts. Business has been at a standstill for several weeks. The people have plenty of coffee to pay their debts, and are willing and anxious to do so, as those debts were given to them out of pity, as the ruthless Government had no pity for them. But the said Government will not allow them to either sell or pay their debts, as they want the produce to go through their own hands. Some of them boldly admit that they are only seeking their own gain. When their ■evil doings were exposed they only shuffled the affair over (they are past-master-) at that sort of thing), and those people who make the laws only for their own profit, that they may have a chance of breaking them themselves, go about triumphant, secure from punishment—in their power. No wonder the poor Mangaians prefer living anywhere else than in their own island, where they can scarcely call their soul their own; and who are they tyrannised over by ? A few unprincipled, avaricious, unscrupulous fellows who happen to be in power over them. What a dreadful and un-British affair this power of raui is in an island of this sort, and how unfit those people have shown themselves to "be intrusted with such power ! It is a constant temptation for them, as they see a secure means of making money for themselves at the expense of the people who are under them and have no power to protect themselves. When the British Resident was here some years ago he distinctly told those same people (who had been at the same tricks at that time) that if he ever knew them try the same aga,in he would make them pay for it. But they do not scare worth a cent on that lot. Mr. Ward wrote a letter to the king, as head of the Au, asking why, a raui being on, it was not posted up in some public place, so as to let people know what was doing, and not go on making laws in the dark for their own ends; but, although he called five times to my knowledge, he could obtain no answer from the king. We are, &c, J. Craig. Chas. J. Wabd. [We have applied for information to the British Resident, who informs us that no complaint of any kind or from any quarter had reached him. As to the stolen coffee, he has been informed that the thief had not been discovered when the " John Williams " left Mangaia. If his information on that point be incorrect, he would be obliged to any one giving him the actual facts of the case.—Ed. T. T.]

Notice of Inquiry to Messrs. J. Craig and C. Ward. Gentlemen, — Mangaia, 9th August, 1897. In pursuance of instructions received by me from the British Resident, I have the honour to notify you that an inquiry will be held into the truth of certain statements contained in a letter published in Te Torea newspaper of the 17th July, 1897, and signed by you. The inquiry will be held on Wednesday, the 11th instant, at 11 a.m., at the Courthouse, Oneroa. Trusting you will find it convenient to produce any evidence you may wish to call at time and place mentioned, I am, &c, Messrs. J. Craig and C. J. Ward. John, Ariki.

Evidence taken in connection with Report No. 1. Mangaia, 11th August, 1897. —Meeting at the Ariki John's House. Present: Messrs. Craig, Ward, Proctor, and Bulkeley, John (Ariki), Meringitangi, Daniela, Kakerua, Ngatama , Kenite, and others. Mr. F. George Moss assisted the Ariki in the inquiry. Mr. Moss, addressing the natives present, asked, Is there a tea-shop owned by members of the Government who have forbidden any one, under a money penalty of |5, from selling coffee to any store under 30 cents per pound, while they themselves are buying it at 10 to 15 cents per pound; and are members of the Government shareholders in this or any other tea-shop ? Ngatama: Yes; some of them: Kakerua, Davie, and myself. There are sixty-five other shareholders, who are not members of the Government. The tea-shop is not connected with the Government ;itis a company formed for their own benefit. I am the manager of the tea-shop. We have coffee belonging both to members of the company and also to outsiders. I have bought coffee from outsiders by means of cash and trade. John (Ariki) said, There is a raui for 30 cents per pound on coffee. Some of the Government are in favour of the raui, some not. Daniel said, Meringitangi was the first to put the raui on. Mr. Moss to Meringitangi : In Law No. 2, 1891 (Laws of Mangaia), section 7 provides for raui: can you tell me why this raui was put on, and for what purpose ? Meringitangi : The raui was for the public good. Previously coffee was sold for 15 cents per pound. Then we rauied it for 20 cents, and got it. Now this year we raui for 30 cents. Mr. Moss : How was the raui put on, and by whom ? Was it by the Au ? Meringitangi: A meeting was held, but it was not put on by the Au. A meeting of the district of Veitatei put the raui on the coffee of that district. I have fined people for breaking the raui. I am Judge of the Veitatei district. Mr. Moss : How was the coffee raui in your district of Taavainga ? Kakerua: The people of Taavainga district rauied their own coffee. All the people concerned were there and consented. Daniel and Kenite said, That they belong to Taavainga district, and were at the meeting, but were opposed and did not agree to the raui. In reply to Mr. Moss, Kakerua said, I will fine any one, whether he agreed to the raui or not. Yes, I will fine Daniela if he sells coffee. Mr. Moss : Under what law ? Meringitangi (interposing) said, Under Law No. 2, 1891, sections 6 and 7. Mr. Moss : That law applies only when the Au imposes the raui. In this case you say it was not the Au. How can you fine people under that law ? Kakerua : I cannot show any law, but still I would fine them. Meringitangi : All my district were agreeable, and I imposed the fines as the appointed chief of the raui, not as Judge. I sent the police for the money. If the people fined had no money the police would take a pig, but they never took any clothes. The raui was not published. No trouble was taken to make it publicly known. John (Ariki) to Mr. Moss : There are six police for Oneroa. Meringitangi : The Judge of each district is chief of the police in that district. We do send people to do police duty who are not Government policemen. I thought two policemen not sufficient, so I employed six more. That is for Veitatei district. They get no pay and no share of any fines. They work for nothing. They go into houses and act just the same as the regular police. They require a warrant from me to go into the houses of Europeans, but not into those of natives. Kakerua: I also employ others besides the proper police. I employ six men besides the two regular police. They get no pay. Kakerua and Meringitangi : All fines must be paid in cash. Ngatama to Mr. Moss : The tea-shop was fined by Meringitangi for buying coffee from Taavainga, although he is Judge of another district. Kakerua is Judge of Taavainga. The fine of $10 was paid to him and not to Meringitangi.