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Now, therefore, His Excellency the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand, in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred by the said Act, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said colony, doth hereby order as follows : — Interpretation. 1. In this Order in Council, if not inconsistent with the context, — " Minister " means the Minister in charge of the said islands. " The said islands " means the Cook and other Islands (other than Niue) within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand, as defined by " The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901." " Resident Commissioner " means the Resident Commissioner appointed under the said Act. Powers and Duties of the Resident Commissioner. 2. The Resident Commissioner shall administer the government in the said islands in accordance with the laws for the time being in force in tßte said islands. 3. The Resident Commissioner shall have in the said islands the following powers and duties: — (1.) To recommend to the Minister fit persons for appointment to any office in the said islands, and generally to control all Government officers in the said islands in the performance of their duties, and to make reports thereon from time to time to the Minister. (2.) In the event of the absence,.disability, or death of any officer, to appoint temporarily a fit and proper person to act for such officer so absent, disabled, or dead. Such temporary appointment shall be immediately notified to the Minister. (3.) For fit and'proper cause to suspend any officer from the performance of his duties. Such suspension shall be immediately notified to the Minister. (4.) To exercise all powers conferred on " the Chief of the Government, with the approval of the British Resident," by virtue of the local laws of the said islands in force for the time being. 4. The Resident Commissioner shall from time to time duly report in writing to the Minister all acts, matters, and.things in connection with the administration of the Government, and other matters in the said islands. 5. The Resideut Commissioner shall, on the 31st day of March in each year, prepare a statement of the revenue and expenditure of the administration of the said islands for the previous twelve months, and also an estimate of the revenue and expenditure for the next twelve months. Such statement and estimate shall, when prepared, be forwarded to the Minister, together with a general report for the previous twelve months. 6. The Resident Commissioner shall in all matters act in accordance with the instructions of the Governor or the Minister, as the case may be. G. C. Schmidt, Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 221. g IRj Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 9th June, 1906. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th April, forwarding your report for the year 1905-6, with financial* and trade returns for the year and reports by Mr. Connal and Mr." Blame on the survey and schooner departments respectively. The result of the schooner's working for the past year is particularly satisfactory, and the financial position generally of your Administration in most gratifying. I was pleased to receive the plans which accompanied your report. They are now being lithographed. I may deal with the report more in detail later on. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 196.

Approximate Cost of Paper.— Preparation, not given ; printing (1,600 copies), £88 lis. M.

Authority: John Mackav. Government Printer, Wellington. 1906

Price 2s. 6d.]

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