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This impression was so universal that I am bound to say great additional force was given to the opposition to the Bill. I wrote to the Eev. J. Hutchin that I should mention this belief on one of the great difficulties in my way in seeking to pass this most necessary Bill, and received from him a reply, which, with a copy of the original letter, I enclose herein for your Excellency's information. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident. His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosures. From the Aeikis to His Excellency the Govebnoe. Earotonga, 7th September, 1897. We, the undersigned Arikis of Earotonga, Chief of the Earotonga Government, Chief of the Cook Islands, do pray and petition that you and your Government will accede to our petition to withdraw F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident here, and do further petition that you will appoint a Eesident who will teach us what is good and just. You will wonder what has caused us to make this request to you. Mr. F. J. Moss is not suited to us, and should you wish for an inquiry we shall be pleased and prepared to answer all that you may deem necessary. What we desire here is a Eesident who will bear with us in our ignorance of foreign custom, and teach us to carry out our laws for the good of all, and to be just in so doing. A copy of this petition has been sent to F. J. Moss, Esq., to be forwarded to you. And the petitioners will ever pray, &c. Tinomana, Chief of the Government, Earotonga. Makba, Chief of the Government, Cook Islands. Iα ma Kainuku, Ariki of Takitumu. Kaeika, Ariki. Nga Maeu, Ariki. His Excellency the Eight Hon. the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., Governor of New Zealand, &c.

[Translation.] From the Cook Islands Parliament to the Bbitish Resident, F. J. Moss, Esq. Sic, — Parliament House, Earotonga, 15th September, 1897. We send you herewith a petition to the Governor of New Zealand, which we ask you to send to him by this week's steamer. We send you also a copy in English and Maori. Enough. From your obedient servant, J. M. Salmon, Chairman, Cook Islands Parliament. Cook Islands Parliament. The Eight Hon. His Excellency the Earl of Eanfurly, K.C.M.G., &c, Chief, and Governor of New Zealand. Salutations ! And may the great love of God and His Son Jesus Messiah be on you until your end. We, the members of this Cook Islands Parliament, elected from the different islands and the people of this group, did not think that Queen Victoria's Government would take notice of these small islands, and it could not have been through any other cause than friendship. We have as a proof of this your British flag and protection from any outside enemies that might come here to make trouble. It is still over us, and we are pleased. You have also sent us a British Eesident to see that the honour of the flag is upheld and to lead us in the right. When the British Eesident came here first he constituted a Parliament for the Cook Islands and explained its method of working. He made the laws and put them before the Parliament for consideration, and told us it was for us to consider whether they should be accepted or not. The Parliament and the British Eesident have done this work together from the commencement and up to the present time. But in this year 1897 the trouble has sprung up, and this is why we are writing to you, the Chief and Governor of New Zealand. The cause of dissent is the Federal Court Bill. The British Eesident made out this Bill and gave it to the Parliament for consideration. We went through the whole of the Bill and became alarmed and puzzled. We remembered the law that was made in the year 1891 styled " Supreme Court." In the year 1894 the name was changed to " Federal Court," and because therein there is no appeal it is now to be styled "Federal Court Bill." We have considered this Federal Court Bill, and let the British Eesident know that we would not agree to it. What we wish to do is to let it stand over and take time in considering it, and not be too hasty, because we are not yet clear in the working of the foreigners. The British Eesident persisted that we should pass this Bill this year. Our reply was, " Let it stand over for careful and calm consideration." Owing to our long deliberation, and not agreeing with the British Eesident's wishes, he became angry, and informed us that it was not for us to talk on this matter, and that he would not talk to us any more. The talk is now with the British Government; that his talk would now go to that Government; and finished by stating that it will be for the British Government to say what is to be done for securing the proper administration of justice to the Europeans and Maoris thereafter in the Cook Islands.