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No. 29. • His Excellency the Governor to Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon. Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 2nd November, 1898. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch dated the sth October, 1898, No. 23. regarding the personnel of the Civil Service of Rarotonga. I consider that the changes therein effected will be for the benefit of the Islands, and I cordially approve of your action in this matter. I have, &c, Lieut.-Colonel W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident, Rarotonga. Ranpurly.

No. 30. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lobd, — Cook Islands : British Residency, Rarotonga, Bth November, 1898. In my despatch, number and date as per margin, I enclosed copies of certain Acts passed No - 24 by the Cook Islands Parliament, and I have now the honour to enclose additional copies, as follows : Four " Public Health Act, 1898," four "Import Duties Act, 1898," four "Medical Officers Act, 1898," four " Government Buildings Act, 1898," as amended. I have also the honour to forward for your lordship's information further Acts, viz., four " Asiatic Restriction Act, 1898," four " Traders' License Act, 1898," as also four copies of imports and exports for the year ending the 30th June, 1898, and four copies of estimates for the same period. The Traders' License Act has been passed with the twofold object of providing revenue to meet the expenses which will attend the establishment of the High Court, and also to prevent the undue multiplication of Chinese and Native stores, all of which are more or less sly-grog shops. With reference to the estimated revenue for the year 1898-99, I cannot say that it will reach the sum of £2,868. It is not likely that the Customs duties will equal the estimates, inasmuch as the past year was a bad one both for coffee and oranges, and therefore the spending-power of the people of the group must necessarily have been curtailed; but lam pleased to be in a position to report that though the surplus may be smaller than is anticipated by the Parliament,- yet there is no doubt that the revenue will more than cover the expenditure. I have the honour to request your Lordship's approval of the Acts passed this year, so far as they relate to the Island of Aitutaki. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident.

Enclosures. " The Asiatic Restriction Act, 1898." Whereas leprosy and other loathsome diseases have been introduced into the Islands of the Pacific by Asiatic immigrants: And whereas the Chinese are addicted to opium smoking, and are morally objectionable : Short Title :" The Asiatic Restriction Act, 1898." Be it enacted by the Cook Islands Parliament, with the approval of the British Resident, — 1. No Asiatic shall be allowed to land or reside in the Cook Islands unless they shall first obtain the permission of the Chief of the Government and the approval of the British Resident: Provided that this section shall not apply to those Asiatics who at the. date of passing of this Bill are already domiciled on any of the islands of the Cook Group. 2. The Chief of the Government and British Resident may permit Asiatics to reside on the Islands, subject to the regulations made under this Act, and which shall have the force of law. Approved. Make a, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government.

. . "The Traders' License Act, 1898. Whereas it is deemed necessary for the protection of bond fide traders in the Cook Islands that a Traders' License Act shall be imposed, to come into operation on the Ist November, 1898: Be it enacted by the Parliament of the Cook Islands, with the approval of the British Resident, — 1. That the Short Title of this Act shall be " The Traders' License Act, 1898." The following license-fees shall be paid annually in advance : — 2. All vessels sailing and trading within the Cook Islands Group (excepting mail-steamers), £10 sterling: Provided always that sailing-vessels or steamers who merely carry freight and passengers, and do not trade on their own account, shall not be deemed to be liable to pay this fee. 3. Wholesale and retail trading stores, £10 sterling. 4. Eetail trading stores, £5 sterling. 5. Hawkers and pedlars, £20 sterling. 6. Bakers (other than stores, hawkers, or tea-shops), £2 sterling. 7. Tea-shops and restaurants (other than bakers), £2 sterling. 8. The Chief of the Government, with the approval of the British Resident, may make such regulations and appointments as shall from time to" time be found necessary for the proper administration of this Act, and these regulations shall have the force of law and form part of this Act. 3—A. 3.