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7. Appointment of Mr. J. Scard as Auditor by the British Eesident. 8. Mr. H. Nicholas's position in Parliament. 9. Eesignation of Makea Daniela. 10. Appointing of Mr. F. Goodwin as Clerk pro tern, not sanctioned by the British Resident. 11. Increase of vote for the Hospital Board. 12. Passing of estimates by members through misleading statements made to them by Mr. H. Nicholas. 13. Appropriation Act not passed, but moneys paid out. 14. Public tenders for Government work. 15. That the British Eesident has used for his own purposes our money, without our consent, forNgatipa. 16. That the British Eesident has led to misunderstandings between us and himself by making us write letters to him, whilst instead of letters in return, Mr. H. Nicholas has been the mouthpiece concerning parliamentary work. 17. Schools : That we have been advised to take the education of our children out of the hands of the London Missionary Society's schools, and that it has in the Takitumu district been put in the hands of disreputable people— Mr. McClintock and Mr. H. Ellis. 18. Who does the printing-press belong to ? What amounts of money have been received for private use ; and what money has been expended for passage of printer from Auckland to here, and cost of plant? 19. Proclamation. 20. That the British Eesident has used the name of Queen Victoria to take the Government out of our hands, although we were assured atthe hoisting of the British flag that our laws would be respected. 21. Liquor and the Licensing Officer. 22. Intimidation by Mr. E. Exham and others to Arikis, with regard to making them smooth things down and prevent necessity for inquiry.

[Translation.] Federal Coubt Bill. —The Cause of this Tbouble. The British Eesident framed this Bill and put the same before the Parliament. It was then that we understood the clauses of the said Federal Court Bill. Upon the conditions being made known to us we were in much fear and doubt as to the feasibility of the same, and we informed the Eesident that we would not agree to it. The Juries Bill was also put before us, and we saw that that this was also in collusion with the Federal Court Bill. We would not also agree to this. When the British Resident was informed that the Parliament would not pass the Bill, he wrote to the Chairman asking the reasons that the Parliament objected to the Bill, and also if they had any other form of Bill to put in its place. We sent an answer giving our reasons for not passing the Bill, and we also informed the Resident that we wanted more time to deliberate on the question. The Resident would not allow us to give the Bill more time, but insisted that we should pass it and let it become law this present year. We again answered him, and requested more time and allow us to understand the affair more fully. The Eesident, however, would not hear of this, so we informed him that we would lay the Bill before the House of Arikis for their approval. The answer from the Arikis was, " Deliberate carefully and take your time over it."

(4.) [Translation.] Notification. 1. The House of Arikis have not thrown out the Federal Court Bill. The Arikis wish to have more time t° deliberate and consider over the clauses of the same. Go slow, as advised by the Eesident. Upon this being mad c known to the British Eesident he became angry, and wrote a letter (No. 1). When the Arikis received this lette r they only remarked that they also could go to England. 2. The Arikis and the Parliament wrote a letter to the British Eesident requesting him to meet them at the Parliament House on the 6th September, 1897, when they could all meet together and hear from him personally over the affair. The Arikis and Parliament attended on that day, but Mr. Moss, the British Resident, would not come, but sent a letter only, and his words in that letter have come to pass. 3. The above was the commencement of the trouble, and then the Arikis determined to inquire fully into former troubles between Moss and the Parliament, as there wero many things in which Mr. Moss would not agree to the wishes of the Arikis and the Parliament. The Arikis will not agree that the British Resident shall be the President of the Federal Court, and they consider that it would not be right for him to hold the dual positions. And now we will have much pleasure in answering any questions that may be put to us.

(5.) Proclamation of Pbotectorate, Preface, The first British Eesident, Mr. Frederick J. Moss, arrived in Earotonga on the 20th April, 1891. On the 22nd he formally read and published the following Proclamation, of which a copy was left with each of the Arikis of Earotonga, Mangaia, Atiu, Mitiaro, and Maukc, and the name of each island filled in as the Proclamation was made :— Proclamation. To the Arikis, Chiefs, and people of [The name of the island ioas here inserted) : Heb Majesty Queen Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, having directed Captain Bourke, of H.M.S. " Hyacinth," on the 27th October, 1888, to hoist the British flag on the Cook Islands, and to declare to the inhabitants of those islands that Her Majesty had been pleased to grant to them the protection of the British flag : Now, in respect to the Island of [Name here inserted] , one of the said Cook Islands, I, William Hillier, Earl of Onslow, Governor of New Zealand, do declare to the Arikis and people of [Name here inserted] that I have received Her Majesty's commands to inform them that the aforesaid Proclamation of Captain Bourke does not render necessary the incorporation of the Island of [Name here inserted] into Her Majesty's dominions, or the transfer of the jurisdiction over the inhabitants generally from their native rulers to the British Crown. For the present, at least, British authority in [Name here inserted] will retain the form of a Protectorate. Her Majesty has therefore duly authorised the appointment of Frederick Joseph Moss to be British Resident within the group. The British Resident has received from me full and definite instructions as to the action which he will take. Her Majesty's Government will not recognise any new laws unless countersigned by the British Eesident, who is instructed at all times to give his assistance and advice to the Arikis and people. (1.5.) Onslow. Signed at Government House, at Auckland, New Zealand, the 4th day of April, 1891.