A.—3

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guarantee that the Cook Islands would, within a reasonable time, produce sufficient fruit to meet the demands of the colony, or, at least, to so far supply its need that the protective duty would not prove a hardship to the purchaser? I propose bringing the matter before Cabinet again, but before doing so I should like you to submit some definite proposal which would enable us to deal with the question on a satisfactory basis. Please let me know to what classes of fruit you think protection should apply. Should it be to bananas only, or to oranges and pines as well ? Kindly say also how long it would be after a definite promise of protection was made before the production of fruit would have increased sufficiently to warrant the duty being imposed, and what the extent of the increase would probably be in that time. lam not quite clear why you regard the growing of oranges so unfavourably. " Is not the difficulty with them, as with bananas, principally one of protection being needed against the productions of outside islands'? I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 105. Sir,— Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 24th November, 1904. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th October, No. 98/04, forwarding for assent the following Ordinances: — No. 14 (Federal Council), Immigration and Vagrancy. No. 15 (Federal Council), Public Health. No. 16 (Federal Council), High Court. No. 17 (Federal Council), Adoption of Native Children. No. 5 (Rarotonga Island Council), Rarotonga Regulations. With the exception of No. 17, about which I have written you in another letter, these Ordinances have been sent on to the Attorney-General for his certificate. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 84.

No. 106. Sir,— Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 24th November, 1904. I have your letter of the 4th October, No. 93, N.Z., forwarding draft regulations under section 5 of "The Sale of Spirituous Liquor Restriction Ordinance, 1904." These regulations are not now necessary, however, as the Ordinance is superseded entirely by " The Licensing Acts Amendment Act, 1904," of the New Zealand Legislature, three copies of which I forward herewith. The provisions of the Act differ slightly from those in the Bill sent you, notably in the deletion of the words "household purposes" in the section authorising the sale of liquor by the Customs officer. You will notice that the Act comes into operation forthwith. I shall be glad to have your suggestions as to regulations to be made under section 28. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 75.

No. 107. Sir,— Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 24th November, 1904. I am in receipt of your letter of the Ist October, with reference to the disallowance of "The Niue Island Marriage, Divorce, and Registration Ordinance, 1903," as submitted by you, and the decision that the provisions of the New Zealand Marriage and Divorce Acts necessary to give effect to the main features of the Ordinance cannot be applied to the Islands by Order in Council. I note that you are having the Ordinance repassed by the Niue Island Council with the divorce provisions eliminated. I shall be glad to discuss this matter with you when you visit Wellington. , My letter of the 6th August last was hardly correct in stating that a portion of a New Zealand Act could not be applied to the Islands by Order in Council. In the case of the Marriage and Divorce Acts it was not possible to apply them without such substantial alterations as were beyond the power of the Governor in Council to make, and it was the making of such alterations in the Acts, not the selection of certain portions of them, that the Solicitor-General referred to when limiting the meaning of " modifications " as used in section 3 of " The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1902." I have, &£, C. F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 73

No. 108. Sir — Cook and other'lslands Administration, Wellington, 24th November, 1904. I am in receipt of your letter of the Bth October, No. 94, N.Z., reporting on the progress of certain public works in the Islands, and am glad to know that you have secured such satisfactory results for the expenditure incurred.