A.—3.

2. All roads and landing reserves in Niue Island marked on the ground and delineated in the map of Niue Island, deposited in the Government Survey Office of New Zealand (a tracing thereof being now produced before the Niue Island Council), are hereby dedicated to and vested in His Majesty King Edward VII and his successors, absolutely and without reserve, for ever, to wit: — The landing reserves at Avatele, Aloii, Tuapa, and Mutalau respectively; The main road commencing at Alofi and extending round the island, connecting all the villages except Hikutavake, Fatiau, and Tamakautoga; The main roads from Lakepa, Ljku, and Hakupu converging on Alofi, through the centre of the island; The branch roads to Hikutavake, Fatiau, and Tamakautoga. 3. The average width of the main roads is sixty-six feet. All cocoanut-palms growing within the limits of any road shall remain the property of their present owners, but may be removed at any time by the Niue Island Administration for the purpose of widening the formation. Fair compensation shall be paid to the owner for any trees so removed. i. From and after the date on which this Ordinance is assented to by His Excellency the Governor of New Zealand, all public roads and landing reserves in Niue as aforesaid shall be vested in His Majesty the King, and any person obstructing the same in any way shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding five pounds or to not exceeding two months' hard labour. Enacted and passed by the Niue Island Council, this eighth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and six. Togia, Approved. President of Niue Island Council. C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner. [Assented to by the Governor, 28th June, 1906.]

No. 163. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 12th March, 1906. I have the honour to forward to you herewith Ordinance No. 18, " The Niue Island Maintenance of Public Roads Ordinance, 1905," for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor. Since the establishment of a Government in this island the difficulty of keeping the public roads weeded has increased owing to the reluctance of the Natives to do anything to them unless paid for it, claiming that all public work should be paid for by this Administration. While they may be right to a certain extent, I do not see that they should be entirely exempt from contributing to the upkeep of the roads, either in money or labour. They ha-d to do this in the past, but at the present time pay nothing in the shape of road rates, and decline to keep the roads passing through their villages clear of weeds. I have therefore had this Ordinance passed by the Council, which will, I think, meet the case. I find from inquiry that it is the custom in adjacent islands for the landowners — -i.e., the Natives —to keep the roads in repair, and I do not see why Niue should be an exception. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

Enclosure. Niue Island Ordinance No. 18.—Niue Island Maintenance op Public Roads Ordinance, 1905. Nine Island Council. Whereas it is expedient that action shoul-d be taken to enforce the weeding and maintenance of public roads by the owners or occupiers of land through which such roads pass, and who are benefited thereby, such labour being done in lieu of payment of road rates: Be it therefore enacted by the Niue Island Council, as follows:— 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is "The Niue Island Maintenance of Public Roads Ordinance, 1905." 2. The inhabitants of every village in Niue Island shall keep the main roads passing through such village free of weeds or other vegetation. Every householder shall maintain in good order that portion of the main road in front of his or her section or dwelling-place. 3. Once in every three months, or when the state of the roads requires it, all landowners or householders in every village of Niue shall be notified by the police to weed the roads passing through their lands. One day of each week shall be devoted to such work until the task is completed. If a landowner or householder is from any cause unable to attend personally to such work, a substitute shall be provided by him or her. 4. Neglect on the part of any householder or landowner to comply with the police notification as aforesaid shall render him or her liable to a fine of five shillings for every such act of neglect. The Niue Administration may have the necessary work executed, and recover the cost of the same from the landowner,

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