The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1888-11-20
A pRorEcroRArE.
The Hervey or Cook Group.

The Acting Consul at Raratonga, Mr..
! Exham. received authority by the $. 5.
Richmond to proclaim British protec-
torate over Raratonga and all the islands
Of the Hervey group, and the Queen s
/ fac was hoiSted 1T noon on September
Goth. Mr.. ExhSm's instructions were to
recognize the authority Of the three
Queens OF the group, and also TO recog-
nize the chiefs there. The inhabitants
were notified that the ceremony would
take place at noon on September Goth,
and the principal chiefs from all parts of
the group assembled at Queen Makea'S
residence. The following proclamation
was read, both in English and in the
Native language, and it was affixed TO
the Queens flagstaff;
Proclamation. BY virtue OF instruc-
tons received from Her Britannia Ma
jeSry's Principal Secretary of State for
the Colonies, contained in despatch
from Sir James Prendergast, Deputy
Governor of New Zealand, dated Govern
ment House, New Zealand, August 10.
ISSS, hereby declare that Her Britain
mic Majesty's Government has this day
assured = protectorlte of the group OF
islands known as the Hervey Tor Cooks
group, situated in the South Pacific
Ocean, between Is deg. and 80 deg.
south latitude, and l56 deg. and loo deg,
west longitude, and that the following
islands are included in such protector
ate: Raratenga, Maingaia, Aitutaki,
Atiu, Taoki. Mitiaro. Manuae, and all
the small islands OF isles depending on
them. Dated at Her Britannia MaieSty'S
Consulate, Raratonga, this Goth day OF
September, 1888. RICHARD EXHAM, Her
Britannic Majesty's Consul God Save
the Queen"
The three great chiefs were then pre-
sented with the British flag, which they
were authorized 10 hoist on their flag
stats, and they were informed that under
the protection of this flag they would be
foreign warships.
lSouthe2st OF Samoa about 700 miles is
the scattered Hervey or Cook Archipel-
ago, consisting OF nine islands, either vol
canic or coraliine, and rendered difficult
Of access by dangerous reefs and the alb
sence OF harborS. Raratonga, the larg-
est. is volcanic and hillv. with fertile and
well-walered valleys. The Islands pro
duce cocoa-nuts. bread-fruit, bananas,
coffee, cotton and tobacco. The natives |
Of the group are now in an advanced |
state OF civilization. They all read the |
Bible, dress after the European fashion. |
and live in stone dwellings grouped in /
little townships under separate chiefs. /
They seem, however, to be rapidly dim /
in number, the present popula-
ton being perhaps ten thousand, OF /
whom six thousand are in RaratOnga
alone They petitioned in 1864 for ar
lexStion 10 Great Britain. II Is a curious
iact that in 0paro, q small, sterile
island, there are the remains OF native
iorts Of hewn stone on the summits OF
the highest hills The stones ara well
squared aud Smoothed, and Joined with
! hand cement. Some OF them are two
ions weight. The natives have legend
II migration from Samoa
Admiral Fairfax with the Calliope and
LiEani. LEFT Tonga for Samoa. intending
o call 3: Mn or Savage Island. and
3 proiectorate over that island.
n compliance with : request from the
natives there.
II Is reported that Captain Aldiner,
Turing his late cruise, has succeeded in
making one OF the deepest soundings
hat has ever been made. al 2 few miles
f kaaf2 or Pylstazrt Island, the most
ouihern island OF the Tongan Group.
lie obtained soundings Of ,22S falhoms