23

A.—3

The coffee, on the contrary, shows every sign of being one of the best crops that this island has produced, but I am told that the price per pound will be very low, in consequence of the greediness and short-sighted policy of the Maori planters, who not only gather and sell coffee that has fallen from the trees and been allowed to lie on the hot moist soil for some days, but they also allow themselves and their freedom of trade to be governed by certain Maori committees called the " Au," who fondly suppose that they can fix the prices of produce sold in Earotonga, and who will not allow the people to sell unless at the price they have fixed. The result of this policy is that the berries are stored until they are more or less mildewed. These circumstances have combined to give Earotongan coffee an evil name in foreign markets, and, as a natural result, the Maori producer suffers from the misconduct of those whom he allows to govern him. As I have not yet visited the other islands of this group, I am unable to report upon their trade prospects ; but, as to Earotonga, I can say that not more than half of the island is beneficially occupied by the owners. lam of opinion that nearly 10,000 acres might well be leased to either Maoris or European settlers. The Maori is, however, very jealous of his land, and it is, as a rule, a fact that the better class of chiefs regard the land as being held by them in trust for their people, and therefore they lease only small pieces of land in the neighbourhood of a port; whereas the drunken or grasping man will turn out the whole of his people, and lease to any man who will give him money. Whether European settlers would prove to be satisfactory in a tropical island, such as Earotonga, is doubtful. Each man would undoubtedly require a capital of from £300 to £500, and would then have only a small piece of land. But, as a mere matter of justice to the Maori people, it would be necessary to see that landless Maoris were provided for before the chiefs were allowed to lease land in any quantity to Europeans, for it is certain that whatever measure of justice the common people may receive will not come spontaneously from their own chiefs ; it must be forced from them by pressure from without the island. W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident.

Table I. —Report of Shipping at the Port of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) for the Year ending 31st December, 1898.

Table II.—Exports from the Cook Islands for the Year ending 31st December, 1898.

Inwards. Outwards. Sailing. Steam. Men-of-war. Total. Sailing. Steam. Men-of-war. Total. No. Tone. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. No. Tons. H.M.S. "Boyalist".. H.M.S. " Tauranga " British Native 19 42 1,520 1,946 27 30,'275 1 1 1,420 2,573 1 1 46 42 1,420 2,573 31,795 1,946 16 41 1,330 1,922 29 31,766 1 1 1,420 2,573 1 1 45 41 1,420 2,573 33,096 1,922 Totals 1898 61 3,466 27 30,275 2 3,993 90 37,734 57 3,252 29 31,766 2 3,993 88 39,011 , 1897 „ 1896 „ 1895 „ 1894 58 60 65 57 2,809 4,607 4,524 3,510 28 46 27 23 29,238 30,538 17,416 14,628 2 2 1,765 1,610 88 108 92 82 33,812 36,755 21,940 20,299 60 63 64 56 3,550 4,941 4,410 3,432 28 46 27 23 29,238 30,538 17,416 14,628 2 2 1,765 1,610 90 111 91 81 34,553 37,089 21,826 20,221 'a 2,161 2 2,161

To New Zealand. To Tahiti. Total. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. 'roduce of Cook Islands— Coffee, lb. Copra, lb. Cotton, lb. Ijimejuioe, gals. Oranges, oases Fungus, lb. Cocoanuts, No. Bananas, bunches Pineapples, cases Sundry articles 74,051 1,101,331 12,333 13,509 21,562 160 32,150 4,956 685 £ 3. a. 1,530 17 9 4,327 10 7 195 6 8 267 11 5 3,384 4 4 0 13 4 56 13 6 238 16 0 101 17 4 61 10 11 35,233 49,877 655* £ a. 858 6 178 2 2 14 a. 6l 8 7 109,284 1,151,208 12,988 13,509 21,562 160 32,150 4,956 685 £ a. <]. 2,389 4 3 4,505 13 3 198 1 3 267 11 5 3,384 4 4 0 13 4 56 13 6 238 16 0 101 17 4 66 4 3 4 "l3 4 Total, Cook Islands ... 10,165 1 10 1,043 17 1 11,208 18 11 'roduce received and shipped from Penrhyn, &c.— Copra, lb. Pearl-shell, lb. Fungus, lb. Sundries 90,214 29,258 2,162 348 14 930 19 22,16 106 5 0 2 0 6 90,218 29,258 2,162 348 14 930 19 22 16 106 5 0 2 0 6 Total 1,408 14 8 1,408 14 8 * Seed.