A.—3

21

No. 60. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, Sir,— Wellington, Bth September, 1903. Referring to our conversation of a few days ago regarding moorings at Mangaia, &c, I have been looking into this matter, and I think that so far as Mangaia is concerned it is possible the moorings you suggest would be of some service to us, but it is hardly likely they would be of much use to us at Niue, as we do not call there. Before definitelj communicating with my head office on the subject of the conveyance of the moorings to the islands I should be pleased if you could give me some indication of the measurements and weight that they would run into. Yours, &c, ' W. A. Kennedy, Manager. Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister of Customs, Wellington.

Nos. 5 & 17.

No. 61. (Telegram.) Wellington, Bth September, 1903. The Minister of Lands has informed me that you are unwell, and would like to go to the Cook Islands in the schooner " Countess of Ranfurly." I will arrange for your passage accordingly. Are you willing to take your instruments with you and lay off some roads on Niue Island? If so, I will tell Mr. Maxwell, the Resident Agent there, to allow you whatever remuneration he thinks reasonable. Please reply at once by memo, if proposal satisfactory. Steamer will probably leave on Friday, 11th. H. D. M. Haszard, Esq., District Surveyor, Auckland. C. H. Mills.

No. 59

No. 62. (Telegram.) Thames, Bth September, 1903. In reply to your wire, shall be glad to oarry out proposed surveys Niue Island. H. D. Haszard, Hon. C. H. Mills, Wellington. District Surveyor.

No. 61

No. 63. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— Bth September, 1903. Mr. H. D. Haszard, District Surveyor at Thames, has been granted three months' leave of absence to recruit, his health, which has been very much impaired through an attack of bloodpoisoning. He wishes to go down to the Islands for a change, and 1 have arranged that he shall have a passage on the " Countess of llanfurly." I enclose a copy of a telegram I have sent him and a copy of his reply, from which you will see that I have arranged to utilise his services while at Niue. Directly he is able to do so, you had better get Mr. Haszard to undertake the most urgent surveys on the island, so thai he may be finished by the time that he will have to leave, although, if necessary, I can get his leave extended for a short time. He will draw his salary here, but I leave it to you to allow him what you consider a fair and reasonable sum for the work he performs for you, paying the amount out of the island revenue. I have, &c, C, F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Agent, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 59,

Enclosures (See Nos. 61 and 62).

No. 64. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— Bth September, 1903. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th July, covering a statement of receipts and expenditure of Niue Island revenue for the quarter ending June, 1903. I have noted what you say with regard to the payment of the official salaries during that quarter; also your remarks with reference to the Customs dvities. I enclose herewith a copy of a letter to Colonel Gudgeon on this matter, dated the Ist instant, No. 82, so that you may know what has been done. I will advise you in detail subsequently when the Bill is passed, as I intend that Niue shall receive its own revenue, irrespective of whether it is paid in Niue, New Zealand, or Rarotonga. You should have included the amount received from the sale of Niue stamps, as it is part of the revenue of the island. I will obtain from the Postmaster-General a statement showing what has been realised from the sale of the stamps in New Zealand, and have the amount paid into the Niue Island Account at the Bank of New Zealand, Auckland. Yours, &0., C. F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Agent, Niue. C, H. Mills.

No. 31.

Enclosure (See No. 54).