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Government. He is doing that work that he should do under his position as Eesident Commissioner, and we stand and watch, because we are not yet profoundly wise that we can perceive the deep workings of the law. What he does we the children follow, for we cannot learn all in one day ; but we will observe all those things that may happen in the future, and if we find he does wrong we ourselves will tell you of it, for there are many years ahead of us all. " We the children have somewhat to ask of you the parent, because it is right that the parent should be the strength on which the children should lean, therefore it is right for the children to ask of the parent, who is the Government of New Zealand, for those things that they desire. " To you, the officers of mana, to the Chief Justice, to the representatives of the Minister, who have come to the Cook Islands, and to all others who have come, this is what our petition is : We desire a Government school to be established here so that our children may be taught —so that our children may learn like our parent has learned, so that by so learning they may become helpers of the Government —some may become workers under the Government. You are the parent who has the knowledge, and we want you to lead our children into the paths of learning and knowledge—do not leave us to become as a lot of fools. We ask that you will grant us our petition. '■' There is another thing, and that is our fruit. Formerly we shipped fruit blindly and ignorantly to your land —then our fruit-trees became attacked with pests. But during these last few years a fruit inspector was sent to us —he examined our trees and did what was necessary, and then under his certificate we shipped our fruit to your land. Notwithstanding all this we sometimes receive the same prices as we did when we shipped in our days of ignorance. Why this should be we do not know ; we do our part well, and yet we do not know if we are at fault —or is the steamer at fault ? or is it the people who sell our fruit for us ? Cannot you, the parent, give us assistance on this point, for we want your assistance —we are part of you now living under the power of His Majesty the King. Do what you can for us ; we leave it to you. "From Makea Karika Ariki and the Ariki family, and the Rangatiras, and all the people under the Ariki and Rangatiras." Mr. Waldegrave, in reply said : I am glad to receive this address, and will lay it before the Government of New Zealand. Terei (Mataiapo, of Titikaveka). —Greetings to you the representative of the Governor, and to you the representative of the M nister. We are all under His Majesty King George the Fifth. Greetings to everybody. We thank you for your messages and wish you to convey our thanks. We think we have received very good advice, and we are going to follow it. You have told us you are here to hear if we have any grievances or not. Wait until you visit us at Ta-kitumu. We wish to speak to you about a school —a matter we discussed years ago when our word went down to New Zealand. Te Heuheu tells us to hold on to our land, but we have already leased some of our land for a term of ninety-nine years, and do not know if we have done right. Te Heuheu can enlighten us on this subject. Colonel Gudgeon left us. in peace, and there has been peace ever since, during Captain Smith's time. There are other matters we wish to speak to you about when you come out to us. ■ Taraare (Mataiapo, of Tupapa). —We have heard the messages delivered to-day. Makea was a good subject and tried to promote the welfare of her people. Makea Karika has already stated what she wants, and anything we have to say we will say ourselves. That is all. Greetings. Vaikai Moate (Mataiapo, of Takitumu). —Representative of the Governor of New Zealand, Greetings. You come down here like the right eye of the Administration of New Zealand. We are part of that Dominion. You have been sent here to visit vs —to bring messages from the Government, Parliament, and people of New Zealand which we have heard this day. You tell us that the Government and people are sorry to hear of the death of Makea. We send back greetings thanking the Government and people of New Zealand. She used to be chief of the Government and now she is dead. We feel very glad that we are not forgotten, and hope we never will be forgotten. You tell us to speak if we have anything in our hearts or minds. We will do this, and are pleased that we shall have the opportunity. We feel glad that we have a say in matters. That proves to us that we are not forgotten, and that you still think of us. We have a lot to say. We have-a lot that we desire, and we will place these desires before you. We want you to hear what we have to say, but will wait until you come to visit us. May we all live long. I greet you, Te Heuheu, and all the Arikis and people you represent in New Zealand. We have heard what you have said. We think they are good words. Your advice is good. It is very good to know that one of our own race can advise us like this. We are ignorant; we are not like you. You give us good advice. You say, stand man to man and speak ; but we are children. Later on perhaps I will not be afraid even of you. You tell us not to be afraid of the Government. That is good. Do not drop us, but do all you can for us. You have been enlightened—help us. You tell us not to let our land go. That is good. If we lose our land, what are we going to feed our children with ? We will be glad to hear you further in our own districts. Puai, of Arorangi, also spoke in similar terms to the previous speakers. His Honour the Chief Justice and myself visited the various settlements in the island, and we were received with great cordiality. A note of the proceedings at these meetings was taken, and forms part of the report which His Honour has already made. Several addresses were handed to me, and these are receiving attention. I have arrived at the conclusion that there are one or two pressing matters iii the Cook Islands which require attention at the hands of the New Zealand Government.
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