7

A.^-3

constitutional government it cannot be passed. This contest has ended in the petition of the Arikis to which we have referred. We respectfully protest against its being allowed to be thought that any one holding the high office of British Eesident is to be dependent on the good-will and pleasure of a few native chiefs entirely ignorant of the true work of government in every way. We dissent altogether from the petition sent to your Excellency by the Arikis. We desire to express our full confidence in Mr. Moss, and our earnest hope that he will continue as Eesident in these islands. We feel assured that the great majority of the natives would themselves join in this hope, but the tenure of their land places them so entirely at the mercy of the chiefs that independent thought or action is with them impossible. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c. Dated at Earotonga, the 9th day of September, 1897. E. Exham, for Captain Harries. A. K. Nicholas. Factories 5.C.0., Earotonga, per G. E. Crummer. A. yon. Heff. (?) Pagrone. Horatio J. Gorth, Orchardist. Wm. Nicholise. E. W. Armstrong. For Donald and Edinborough, Charles Smith. E. Exham. G. A. Ennis. Wm. Doyle. F. Gelling. Ah Sin. Makea Daniela. E. Exham, Lloyd's agent. P. H. McCowan. J. Howe. Thos. B. Short. W. H. Petch. Thos. Shearman J. Scard. H. Ellis. J. H. Gamier. Ambrose Morgan. C. Eenney. J. D. Eice. Henry Nicholas. J E. Caldwell, B.Ph., M.D.

Mr. F. J. Moss to the Eev. Mr. Hutchin. Eeverend Sir, — British Eesidency, 15th September, 1897. You are aware that the effort to provide for the proper administration of justice within the federation by the proposed Federal Court has been unsuccessful. The defeat of the measure is due to the active exertions of a few persons notoriously moved by personal considerations, but who have succeeded in arousing the blind fear of the Arikis and Maori landowners that the Bill would destroy their mana and take away their land. I regret to say that it will be my duty to report the universal impression among Europeans and Maoris—an impression which I myself have good grounds for sharing—that the party opposing this Bill has received from the first the sympathy and support of the London Missionary Society, through you, its agent here. It seems to me fair that you should be informed of this beforehand. I have, &c, Frederick J. Moss, The Eev. J. K. Hutchin, Mission House, Earotonga. British Eesident.

Eev. Mr. Hutchin to Mr. F. J. Moss. Dear Sir, — Earotonga, 11th September, 1897. I have to-day received a letter from you, dated the 10th September, informing me that you intend to report an impression that the party opposing the Federal Court Bill has received from the first the sympathy and support of the London Missionary Society through its agent here. I would desire to point out that the London Missionary Society is in no way connected with any action I may take as a private individual. Some time ago, before the Bill was rejected, I told you of the strong feeling there was against the measure on the part of the natives; and, if the Parliament did not consider the Federal Court Bill a good measure, surely they had a right to modify it or reject it. I have not gone out of my way to speak to natives on the subject. Every one has a right to their private convictions, and every one has a right to give his opinion if asked for it. That is all I have done. However, I can prove that I gave advice to the natives other than you imagine me to have given. I remain, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. John J. K. Hutchin.

From Parliament to the British Eesident. Sic, — Parliament House, Barotonga, 31st August, 1897. Salutations! The Federal Court Bill, as amended, has been laid before us. We have read and given it much consideration, and our thoughts are still the same as when we threw out the original Federal Court Bill. We still say, Leave it now, and we will look slowly for some substitute for this Bill. We will not agree to this work being done quickly. Leave it so that it may be done carefully. It will then be a good law, and our thoughts on it will be enlightened. Enough. Salutations ! V. Maoate, Chairman (pro tern.).

From the Beitish Ebsident to the Parliament. Federal Court Bill. Salutations ! I received your letter saying that you will not agree to the Federal Court Bill as amended, in order that the Arikis might be left to say whether it should or should not be made law on the Ist January next. So be it. The work will not now rest with either you or me, but with the Queen's Government in England, to whom my report will go.