A.-3

91

No. 191. Memorandum for the Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister of Trade and Customs. Department of Public Health, Wellington, 23rd May, 1004. Regarding the application by the Resident Commissioner, Nine, for a supply of vaccine to be sent to that island, I have to inform you that the Health Department will despatch a supply to the Resident Commissioner per s.s. " Countess of Ranfurlv," as requested. J. G. Waud, Minister of Public Health

No. 152,

No. 192. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 23rd May, 1904. Referring to the question of the alienation of land, which was brought up at the Native meeting when I was in Niue, and also mentioned by yourself, I have to say that the matter has been considered by Cabinet, and it was thought that it might be advisable for the Island Council to pass an Ordinance providing that no laud shall be sold except to the Government. Cabinet would prefer that the Native land be leased, and if the Island Council considers this course desirable, arrangements might be made as it would appear from Mr. Haszard's report that there are large areas of land on the Island that the Natives might lease, and thus add materially to their private resources. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. 11. Mills.

No. 193. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 23rd May, 1904. I am in receipt of your letter of the 27th February, No. 157, with reference to the schooner " Countess of Ranfurlv." It has been decided that the vessel shall be retained for the Islands service. The scheme for her purchase by the Islands Administration will therefore be carried into effect, and I propose that the payments shall commence as from the beginning of the current financial year. Payments will be made by the Administrations in accordance with the 3-per-cent. fifteen-years table forwarded with my letter of the 21st September last, and I propose that the annual instalment of £502 12s. shall be divided between Rarotonga and Niue in proportions of three-fifths and two-fifths, making Niue's yearly payment £201 os. 9d. This seems a fair adjustment on the basis of annual revenue, and Colonel Gudgeon falls in with the idea. I will probably write you later on with reference to the details of the scheme. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H Mills.

No. 148

No. 194. Sir,— Niue, 25th May, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 26, of the 22nd March, 1904, together with Niue Island Ordinances Nos. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, which have received the assent of His Excellency the Governor, and No. 3, " The Native Magistrates and Police Ordinance, 1903," which is returned for amendment. I note the action taken in regard to the Marriage, Divorce, and Registration Ordinance, No. 4, and consider it is in every respect preferable that the procedure governing such an important measure should be in conformity with the New Zealand law. In future Niue Island Ordinances will be forwarded direct to you. I would explain that my reason for not filling in the date in the heading and short title of some of the Ordinances, also the date to which the members of the Niue Council should hold office, is that I was doubtful as to what date they should bear. When forwarding the Ordinances to the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga for transmission to His Excellency the Governor I stated the cirucmstances, and requested him (as my superior officer) to fill in the proper date (see extract from letter herewith). Evidently the matter either slipped his memory or he considered it beyond his powers to do so. I shall be able to complete any Ordinances which may be passed in future before despatching them to you. When the translations of these Ordinances are put in order I will send them to the Govern ment Printer, so that some copies may be struck off for distribution. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner, Niue. The Hon. Mr. Mills, Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington,

No. IG3