17

A.—3

Enclosure. (a.) Total amount of cargo conveyed from the Cook and other Islands to Auckland for year ended 31st March, 1902 : 72 tons copra, 1 case taro,-4 cases hats. (b.) Freight charged per ton for such cargo, 15s. Total amount earned for freight, Islands to Auckland: £55 Is. Bd. (c.) The number of trips run during year ended 31st March, 1902, from Islands to Auckland and vice versd: Auckland to Islands, two trips; Islands to Auckland, one trip. (d.) The total cost of running the vessel during year ended 31st March, 1902 (paid by the Cook Islands Administration) : £1,492 3s. Note. —This amount is made up as follows : Outfit and repairs (including £369 ss. lid. for outfit before vessel left Auckland), £607 16s. 3d.; provisions, £344 16s. lid.; wages, £438 14s. 5d.; miscellaneous, £100 15s. sd. : total, £1,492 3s. Note. —The freight and passage-money earned for this period (less 1901-March, 1902) was £234 10s. Id. The vessel has not been credited with freight on about 100 tons of coal carried from Auckland to Earotonga for the New Zealand Government, nor with the cost of a voyage to Niue to convey Mr. S. Percy Smith, nor of a voyage to Penrhyn and the northern islands to establish authority there. (c.) Total cargo carried between different islands for the year ended 31st March, 1902, 35 tons 18 feet; total freight earned, £16 17s. Id. Supplementary. For the period Ist April to 18th September, 1902, the amount paid by the Cook Islands Administration for the running of the vessel was £901 13s. 6d. ; less freight, &c, earned, £472 19s. 7d. : total, £428 13s. lid. W. B. Gudgeon, Earotonga, 18th September, 1902. Eesident Commissioner.

No. 34. Sm,— Premier's Office, Wellington, 29th September, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 21st April, reporting the existence of leprosy amongst the Natives of the Island of Niue, and asking that a doctor may be sent to report generally upon the health of that island. In reply I have to state that the Chief Health Officer, Dr. Mason, will visit the islands as soon as possible. I have, &c, J. G. Waed, The Eesident Commissioner, Earotonga. Acting-Premier.

No. 3,

No. 35. Sib, — Premier's Office, Wellington, Ist October, 1902. I have the honour to transmit herewith warrants under the hand of His Excellency the Governor, appointing Mr. Thomas Eiddle Herd Collector of Customs at Earotonga, and Postmaster at Earotonga. I have, &c, The Eesident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 36. Sib, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 7th October, 1902. I have the honour to report that the revenue for the half-year ended the 30th September, 1902, amounts to £2,143 17s. 10d. collected in Earotonga, as also a further sum of £268 ss. Bd. collected in New Zealand on sale of Penrhyn postage-stamps, in all £2,412 3s. 6d. In other words, the revenue actually received exceeds the estimate for the whole year by £212 3s. 6d. This is a very satisfactory condition of affairs, and not altogether unexpected ; but as I have already pointed out, it is dangerous to overestimate revenue in these islands, and a steady and progressive surplus is a necessity of our position. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, New Zealand. Eesident Commissioner.

No. 37. Sib,— British Eesidency, Earotonga, 12th November, 1902. I regret to inform you that measles have been introduced into this island by the s.s. " Ovalau," and we have now some fifty cases in the Village of Avarua. The annoying circumstance connected with the disease is that this introduction is due to the neglect of 3—A. 3,