A.—3.

5. Any trader purchasing dry coooanuts from any Native as aforesaid for the purpose of converting the same into a marketable product shall be liable to a fine not exceeding ten shillings for each offence. Enacted and passed by the Niue Island Council, at Alofi, Niue, this third day of November, one thousand nine hundred and five. Togia, Approved. President of the Niue Island Council. C. P. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner. [Assented to by the Governor, 13th January, 1906.]

Ordinance No. 16. —Niue Island Fish-protection Ordinance, 1905. Niue Island Council. Whereas the practice of destroj-ing fish with dynamite on the shores of Niue Island is becoming general, and the fish are thereby being driven away, and it is expedient to impose restrictions upon this injurious method of taking fish : Be it therefore enacted by the Niue Island Council as follows : — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is " The Niue Island Fish-protection Ordinance, 1905." 2. From and after the date on which His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand shall have assented to this Ordinance it shall be unlawful to kill fish with dynamite or other explosives on the reefs surrounding Niue; but no one shall be prosecuted for so doing until the Governor's assent to this Ordinance is made known in Niue. 3. Every person who infringes the provisions of section two of this Ordinance shall be prosecuted by the police in the Courts of the Native Magistrates, or before the Resident Commissioner, and upon conviction may be fined not exceeding five pounds, or sentenced to hard labour on the public roads, or other work of public utility, for any term not exceeding two months. The Niue Island Administration may offer a reward for the detection of offenders, and such reward shall be paid out of the public revenue. Enacted and passed by the Niue Island Council, this the third day of November, one thousand nine hundred and five. Approved. Togia, C. F. Maxwell, President of Niue Island Council. Resident Commissioner. [Assented to by the Governor, 13th January, 1906.]

No. 89. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 7th November, 1905. I have the honour to report that I left Rarotonga in the Government schooner on the 15th September for Rakahanga, taking with me Messrs. Connal and Savage. On the 16th we arrived at Aitutaki, and took in labour from Maiden Island, and here I left Mr. Savage to relieve Mr. Cameron, whom I took with me for the benefit of his health. On the 24th of the same month we called at Manihiki in order to ascertain what cargo could be obtained on our return trip, and also to take Mr. Williams and some two hundred people, who had interests in the Rakahanga lands, to that island. We landed our passengers that same day, and on the 26th I held a meeting of all the inhabitants and explained that I intended to survey the whole island, and would further survey and hear all special claims made to the Court. To this a man named Repoama demurred, saying that they had been told that the survey was a measure preliminary to a land-tax, and that the Church feared that if the lands were individualised the people would leave the village and each live on his own section. In reply to this I said their fears had no foundation in fact, and that they might well leave the matter in my hands; that we would not allow the interests of the people to suffer, and that I would survey the lands of all those who wanted surveys, and that the time would come when they would have reason to bless my decision. On this all opposition ceased, and we began the survey that day. For the first ten days of our stay I found it necessary to go out each day with Mr. Connal and settle the boundary disputes on the ground, and for this reason I could not sit many days in the Court; but from the 26th September to the 16th October I heard and decided no less than thirty-five small blocks of land that have been in dispute for the last fifty years, and which same have now been awarded to no less than 264 people. During the same period Mr. Connal not only surveyed the Outer coasts of the island and the lagoon-shores, but survej'ed sixty-five blocks of land, thirty-two of which have yet to be dealt with by the Court. Towards the end of the work the people expressed themselves well satisfied, and insisted on paying fees to the amount of some £18, although I told them that they need not do so for the next two years. They were deeply impressed by a sense of the security of the new title, and therefore desired to clear the land of all liabilities.

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