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A.—4

As regards what you call " slanderous exaggerations," which have led newspapers abroad to speak of " the havoc caused by strong drink among the natives of Earotonga," I must state that my opinion coincides to a great extent with that of Queen Makea, at the meeting of Arikis at which you and Mr. Chalmers were present — 22nd November, 1890. " Here is the pit for the land, the grave for it, the one grave, and that is the foreign spirits." It was so then, and it is so now —the cause of ruin, physically, morally, and spiritually, to many of the natives of the island. We have always cause to mourn over many lost to the Church through the demoralising effect of strong drink. As for the phrase, " pandemonium of wickedness," I suppose it means that there is a great deal of wickedness going on. I see I have misquoted the phrase, and should say drunkenness. I am living, as you know, inland, but before the Licensing Officer strictly carried out the law I seldom went down the street without seeing a drunken person. With kind regards, I have &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. John J. K. Hutchin. P.S. —I must apologize to you for using so many sheets of paper, but I have no other.—J.K.H.

Enclosure No. 7. Eeveeend Sir, — Cook Islands, British Eesidency, Earotonga, 15th October, 1897. I have to acknowledge receipt to-day of your letter of the 14th instant. As to the state of affairs in 1890, was it not notorious, and frequently referred to in Arikis' Council in your presence when the liquor-law was discussed in December, 1890 ? What then took place was fully reported in my first despatch of the 17th January, 1891 (A.-3, Sess. 11., 1891, page 14). The statements were repeated in my reply to the Eev. Mr. Laurence of the 3rd February, 1893, to which you refer, and which you will no doubt have among the mission papers. They were accepted as correct then, and no one has ventured to deny them since. Is it not rather late to do so now ? I can only regret that you do not see your way to a plain statement that the rabid utterances of a section of the New Zealand Press are based on gross exaggerations. I still more regret that you should persist in blaming the Licensing Officer for having done since 1891 what you, I, and Mr. Laurence, and every one knew he was doing—namely, accepting the signature of the Ariki's recognised mouthpiece without any of us making the least objection or demur. For my own part, I feel that he is entitled to our strongest support in the action he has since taken (assuredly a departure from established practice and a straining of the law), which has brought him the bitter hostility of powerful chiefs, as you must be well aware. You appear, in conclusion, to have formed a very erroneous opinion of the position and duties of the British Eesident. Like the missionary, he is an adviser, bound, as far as possible, to see his advice followed by action; but, unlike the missionary, he has scarcely a single Maori under his control, while the missionary has a body of theological native students, with their wives and many church authorities, to keep him in touch with Arikis and with the people, and cognisant of all their doings. I presume that there will be nothing further to add to this correspondence. I have, &c, Eev. J. K. Hutchin, Mission House, Earotonga. Fbedeeick J. Moss.

Enclosure No 8. Sib,— Earotonga, 14th October, 1897. In reply to your letter of this date, I have to state that ever since the present liquor-law came into operation—January, 1891—liquor has only been issued to the natives on the written authority of the persons appointed by the Arikis to sign for them. They are for—Makea (Ariki), Judge Tepou (Avarua district); Tinomana (Ariki), Mr. J. M. Salmon (Arorangi district); Pa (Ariki), Judge Maoate (Takitumu District). I may add that, having reason to believe that the authority was being abused for the pecuniary profit of those authorised to sign, I have for some months past refused to accept any but the Ariki's own signature, an extreme course which I only adopted with your advice and approval. I have, &c, J. H. Gaeniee, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. Licensing Officer.

No. 16. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Govebnob. My Lobd,— Cook Islands, British Eesidency, Earotonga, 9th December. 1897. At the request of the Hospital Board, I have the honour to enclose, for your Excellency's information, the copy of a letter sent to me by the Board for transmission. The circumstances are as follows :— Ist April, 1897. —The Board entered into an agreement with Dr. George Craig as Medical Officer for twelve months, " the remuneration being at the rate of £180 per annum. For that