A.—3

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observe that much of the time was occupied rather in argument and contention than in taking evidence. Indeed it may be observed generally that, throughout, the facts were not substantially in dispute ; the question was, what inference was to be drawn from undisputed facts.) (16.) Auckland Herald of the 11th January, and cutting from the same. (17.) Drafts of letters sent by me to Mr. Kohn, as representing the foreign petitioners, and to the Arikis and Parliament, inviting them to send in their complaints. (18.) Copies of Torea, containing copies of address on opening Parliament, with statement of expenditure. (19.) Statement of banking account for 1897, showing monthly balances, debit and credit. (20.) Cook Islands Parliament ; Statement of expenditure for June, 1897. (21.) " Appropriation Act, 1896," Cook Islands Parliament. (22.) Expenditure, Rarotonga Council, 1897. (23.) Amended Federal Court Bill. (24.) Mr. Moss's Proclamation. (25.) Bank balances, 1896-97. (26.) Some correspondence with Mr- Salmon and Mr. Moss about Federal Court Bill. (27.) Copy letter of Rev. Mr. Chalmers to Lord Onslow about liquor law (February, 1891). (28.) Voucher which Hospital Board refused to fill in particulars, required by Mr. Moss when monthly proportion of subsidy was applied for. (29.) Rarotonga Council Liquor Act. (30.) Duplicate of Mr. Kohn's petition, and correspondence with the Resident and Mr. Kohn about not forwarding; together with copy of Torea, 11th September, 1897, containing letter of Messrs. Kohn to Mr. Moss about Mr. Scard and post-office, &c. (31.) Plan of post-office and bond. (32.) Letter of Mr. Gamier, Collector of Customs, &c, about breach of the Passenger Act. (33.) Letter, Mr. Moss to Sir H. Berkeley, explaining why he did not go on board to pay his respects to him. (34.) Letter of Miss Sievwright, school-teacher, about non-payment of her monthly salary. (Note : This matter was arranged.) (35.) Letter, Hospital Board to Sir James Prendergast, about non-payment of monthly part of subsidy. (Note : This matter was arranged.) (36.) Letter on same subject. (37.) Letter, Mr. Moss ; same subject. (38.) Letter, Mr. Taylor as to liquor traffic, advocating prohibition. (39.) Letter of Mr. Goldstein, complaining of Licensing Officer. (40.) Letter of Mr. Gelling, as to Dr. Craig's accusation against Makea Daniela of illegally selling or giving liquor. (41.) Letter, Mr. Gamier to myself, as to returns of convictions of illegal sales of liquor. (42.) Letter of Mr. Scard, the Auditor, in reply to me for returns, &c, and vouchers or warrants for payments of expenditure on Ngatipa. (43.) Letter from Mr. Nicholas, denying that he sold or gave liquor to natives without permit from Ariki. (44.) Letter of Mr. Mallet, complaining of Post Officer. (45.) Letter of Mr. Ellis, complaining of Mr. Goodwin. (46.) Letter of Dr. Caldwell, about Dr. Craig's accusations against him. (47.) Bundle of miscellaneous papers, recent Toreas, &c. I believe that I have now dealt with all of the matters mentioned in your Excellency's letter so far as circumstances would permit. I have, &c, His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. James Prendergast.

Enclosures. [For Enclosure (1) see No. 13, on page 14.] (2.) Rarotonga, 24th November, 1897. We, the undersigned, merchants and others of Rarotonga, do humbly petition your Honour to consider the following complaints, to wit:— 1. That on the 15th September, 1897, a petition (a copy of which is enclosed) was sent to the British Resident to be forwarded to His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand. In the same envelope with the said petition there was enclosed a press copy of the same. That the British Resident returned the press copy, on the ground that it was neither suitable for record nor transmission; and that, although he received another copy of the same petition with the original signatures attached, he failed to forward the petition as requested. 2. That the British Resident, in his despatches to His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, has misrepresented the true state of affairs at Rarotonga. 3. That the British Resident has, by his own writings in the editorial columns of the Torea newspaper, publicly misrepresented the true state of affairs at Rarotonga, and has -used his influence to prevent the true state of affairs being represented. 4. That on the 26th August, 1897, a petition was presented to the Parliament of the Cook Islands on behalf of Messrs. Kohn, Taylor, and Piltz, and that the British Resident used his influence to prevent this petition being received by the Parliament, and in the public Press gave a misleading description of the document, without publishing the contents of the same. (A oopy of the petition is enclosed.) 5. That the British Resident used the editorial columns of the Torea newspaper to strengthen a petition in his own favour, in which the opponents to the Federal Court Bill were falsely described as " persons notoriously influenced by private feeling and private consideration," and falsely accused of using "intrigues of all kinds." That