A.—3.

16

No. 29. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 25th August, 1902. In reply to your letter (No. 53) of the 24th July, I have the honour to forward, No. 1: "An Ordinance to regulate Village Life in the Island of Ailutaki," duly assented to by His Excellency the Governor. I have, &c. The Besident Commissioner, Earotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 23.

No. 30. Sic, — Premier's Office, Wellington, 26th August, 1902. I have the honour to forward the following Ordinances passed by the Federal Council, with the assent of the Governor duly entered on each : — 5. To extend the provisions of " The Traders' License Act, 1898," to Niue. 6. To amend " The Local Statutes Amendment Act, 1891." 7. To further restrict the use of " Chili " and other Foreign Money. 8. In restriction of Wandering Animals. 9. To provide for the Fencing of Public Lands. 10. An Ordinance to impose a Dog-tax. I have, &c, The Eesident Commissioner, Barotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 31. Sib,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 26th August, 1902. In reply to your letter (No. 50) of the 23rd July, I have now to forward an Order in Council appointing Mr. Maxwell a Judge of the Land Titles Court, with jurisdiction, however, limited to the Island of Niue. I agree with you, it would not be prudent to appoint a Native as Judge to sit with Mr. Maxwell, for the reasons stated. Under the Order in Council constituting the Court, he can summon Assessors to assist him. I have, 4c, The Eesident Commissioner, Earotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 21.

No. 32. Sic, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 18th September, 1902. In order to furnish the return asked for as to the financial position of Niue, it will be . necessary for me to visit that island, and I propose to proceed thither with as little delay as possible. I have at present the ironwork for the Niue wharf and building material for Mr. Maxwell's residence on board the " Countess," and the sooner that is landed the better. It is, moreover, advisable that I should settle certain Customs affairs at Niue, for I have now put an end to the 10 per cent, on goods landed from Tonga and Sydney, and have caused the New Zealand tariff to be collected on all such goods. Naturally the Sydney traders do not like this, but I cannot see that the New Zealand merchant can compete on equal terms unless the New Zealand tariff is collected on outside goods. I have, &c, W. B. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, New Zealand. Eesident Commissioner.

No. 33. Sib, — British Eesideney, Earotonga, 19th September, 1902. In pursuance of the instructions contained in your letter (No. 66) of the 25th August, I have the honour to forward enclosed the return called for. I may point out that the vessel did not arrive here until the copra season was nearly over, and she had then to take Mr. Smith to Niue, and in October and part of November was ordered to take me round the northern islands. This was done under instructions from the Hon. the Premier, the result being that the schooner carried little or nothing during the six months, although usefully employed. During the second half-year the boat has done better, but she will never pay expenses, and we must have a schooner at our disposal here or the islands cannot be governed in a satisfactory manner. We have just imported 100 tons of material from New Zealand, and have credited the schooner with the cost of freight at the rate of £1 ss. per ton ; but had we been compelled to send it by the Union Company it would have been £2 per ton. The services of the Government schooner are not to be gauged by actual earnings, and, though the cost is heavy, it falls on the people of the Cook Islands only, and they do not complain. That the firm of Donald and Edenborough or the Union Company should not approve of the schooner is only natural, for their ancient monopoly has been broken down by that vessel. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, New Zealand. Eesident Commissioner.

No. 28.