A.—3.

No. 79. Sir, — : Niue Island Administration, Niue, 16th October, 1905. I have the honour to enclose to you herewith an Import Return for the quarter ended the 30th September ultimo. The total value of imports from all places for the period amounts to £2,668, and the duty assessed thereon amounts to £237 Bs. 7d. Part of this duty (amounting to £57 13s. lid.) was not paid until October, and will appear in the return for the December quarter, leaving the sum of £179 14s. Bd. as the amount of duty actually collected during the quarter. The imports from New Zealand proper total £1,730, which is nearly four timea as much as from Samoa, which comes next on the list with the sum of £437. Practically the whole of the imports from New Zealand proper (excluding tobacco and spirits) are duty-paid in Auckland. Comparing the result with the corresponding quarter of last year, there is a total increase in the value of imports of £1,794, and an increase in the value of imports from New Zealand proper of £1,338. As the imports from New Zealand consist chiefly of the products or manufactures of that country, it is apparent that the Niue trade is becoming of increasing value to the colony; at the same time, as New Zealand is the principal market for Niue productions, the benefits enjoyed are reciprocated. It would be unwise to take the results for one quarter as a criterion, but as the value of the exports for this quarter exceeds the value of imports by £586, it would seem that the commercial position of this island is satisfactory. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge Resident Commissioner, Niue. Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

No. 80. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 18th October, 1905. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th July, forwarding Ordinance No. 26. No. 1 of the Mangaia Island Council, " An Ordinance to regulate Village Life in Mangaia." I approve of the alteration and addition you suggest, and return the Ordinance herewith for amendment by the Island Council. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H Mills.

No. 81. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Wellington, 18th October, 1905. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 13th September, forwarding a plan No. 63. of Takutea and a report by Mr. H. M. Connal on his visit to the island for the purpose of surveying and planting it. I have read this with much interest, and am glad to know that a satisfactory beginning has been made with the work. I note that Mr. Connal estimates the cost of planting the whole island at £300. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 82. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 18th October, 1905. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th September, No. 114, and have n O . 61. to thank you for the interesting statement you have supplied as to the manner in which land in Rarotonga was held in the past by the Arikis or Tutaras. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 83. Sir,— = Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 20th October, 1905. Referring to the question of the representation of white residents on the Niue Island Council, dealt with in your letter of the 9th September, and in Mr. E. yon Fremersdorf's of the 7th, which you forwarded, I have to say that the question was considered by Cabinet last year in connection with the Cook Islands, and it was deemed inadvisable to make any change at present. As I understand the position, the European residents in Niue have no vested interest in the island in any way, and might close their business and leave at any time, and it might be argued that they are sufficiently represented on the Council by you. I would like you, however, to say whether you can suggest any practicable scheme, other than direct representation, by which the interests of the white population could be properly safeguarded. Could such laws as affect the European residents be submitted to a committee of them for consideration before being finally passed by the Council, or could the Council receive a deputation, or consider representations made to it in any way? Please write me fully x>ll the matter, and I shall be pleased to consider any feasible plan you may propose. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

35