11

A:—3

T am totally opposed to the introduction of Asiatic labour in any form, as one can see the effects of it in other countries. All labour-recruiting has been stopped for islands outside this Group, and I am afraid the Government will be forced very soon to import its own labour for public works and fumigation purposes from Aitutaki or Mangaia, or the Northern Islands. The Resident Commissioner at Niue has been written to on the subject, with a view of ascertaining whether it would be possible to obtain a supply of labour from that island, but owing to his absence on leave in New Zealand no reply has yet been received. Census. The result of the census so far as it has gone is given hereunder. The returns for the other islands have long since been sent out, but it will be possibly months yet before they are returned and the census for the Cook Islands completed. Rarotonga : Whites and half-castes living as whites, 142 ; Natives and half-castes living as Natives, 2,620 : total, 2,762. Mangaia : Whites, 5 ; Natives, 1,466 : total, 1,471. Atiu : White, 1 ; Natives, 809 : total, 810. Aitutaki: Whites, 11 ; Natives, 1,222 : total, 1,233. Mitiaro : White, 1 ; Natives, 197 : total, 198. Mauke and Northern Islands not yet to hand. Hervey Islands : Natives, 29 ; total, 29. The above figures show a total population of 6,344 Natives and 160 Europeans, but this does not give the grand total of the population of the Cook Group and Northern Islands, owing to the fact that the census returns from Mauke and the Northern Islands are not yet available. Rarotonga. —ln the census taken in 1906 the population of Rarotonga was then enumerated as follows : Whites and half-castes living as whites, 107 ; Natives and half-castes living as Natives, 2,334 : a total population at that time on Rarotonga of 2,441. The present enumeration of the Native population of Rarotonga is 2,620, an increase of 321 over last census. Of the 2,620 Natives enumerated, 1,737 are Rarotongans proper and 883 Natives from other islands —viz., Mangaia, 303 ; Aitutaki, 89 : Manihiki and Rakahanga, 70 ; Penrhyn, 51 ; Mitiaro, 13 : Mauke, 13 ; Atiu, 90 ; Pukapuka, 13 ; Palmerston, 2. From other places outside the Cook and Northern Islands—New Zealand, 5 ; Samoa, 15 ;. Niue, 24 ; Jamaica, 1 ; Sandwich Islands, 1 ; United States of America, 1 ; half-breed American Indian, Mare Island, 2 ; born on Fanning Island, 1 ; also 3 Chinese, who were included in the Native enumeration for convenience. The total number of Europeans resident on the Island of Rarotonga on the night of 2nd April was 142 males and females. Mangaia. —The returns forwarded by Mr. J. C. Cameron, Resident Agent, show the population to be 1,466 Natives. Add to this the 303 Mangaians resident on Rarotonga, and we have a total of 1,769 Mangaians accounted for. There are undoubtedly many Mangaians absent from the Cook Group. There are 5 European residents on this island. Aitutaki. —The returns forwarded by Mr. J. McCulloch, Resident Agent, show the total Native population to be 1,222, as against a Native population of 1,154 during the year 1906. Add to the present enumeration of 1,222 the 89 Aitutaki Natives resident in Rarotonga, and we have a total of Aitutakians of 1,311, and another 30 can safely be added to this number as being outside the Group. Atiu. —The returns furnished by Major J. T. Large, Resident Agent, show a total Native population of 809, as against 914 in 1906. Add to this the 90 Atiu Natives resident in Rarotonga and we have a total of 899. Large numbers of the Atiu Natives are living at Tahiti and other islands of the Society Group, and it cannot be stated with any certainty whether the Atiu people are increasing or decreasing. Certainly the Natives in actual residence on the island have decreased, and this is to be deplored, as the island is capable of supporting a population equal to that of Rarotonga. There is 1 European resident on this island and 2 Chinese. Mitiaro. —The total population shown to be resident on the Island is 197, as against 208 in 1906, but the 13 Mitiaro Natives resident in Rarotonga bring the total up to 210. Mauke. —No returns have yet been received from this island, there having been no communication since the papers were forwarded. Hervey Islands. —These two islands (Manuae and Teau-o-tu) have no permanent Native population. The returns supplied by Mr. C. F. Bates, one of the lessees of the islands, show the total number of Native labourers employed by them to be 29 males—natives of various islands. Election of Island Councils. In my despatch (LB/1911/203) of 27th April, I reported that the election of members of the Rarotonga Island Council, in accordance with section 11 of the Cook Islands Government Act, 1908, for the ensuing three years, had taken place, when the following members were elected : District of Avarua —Teariki Tara-are (vice Makea Daniela, deceased) ; Takitumu —Paro Koropuaka (vice Teeiao) ; Arorangi—Teariki Puri (vice Tauei). Returns for similar elections are now to hand from the following Islands —Mangaia, Aitutaki, and Atiu —the results of which are as follows :— Manqaia. —District of Ivirua —Mauria and Veivei ; Tamarua —Tareaere and Makiakama ; Onerua —William Cuthers and Tamangaro. Aitutaki. —District of Vaipae—John Pakoti; Tautu—lsaaka Eleazara ; Arutanga, Amuri, Reureu, and Nikaupara—M.etuarau and Te Ariki Mutua. Atiu. —District of Te Enui —Teipo ; Mapumai—Moe ; Tengatangi—Mataio ; Areora—Aukino ; Ngatiarua — Upa.