A.—3.

of definite information, not too well received here, and I would further say that the interests of the fruit-shippers in Wellington or Auckland are not the interests of the growers of fruit, and for this reason there is not the most remote probability that the " Countess " will receive cargo for Wellington. One matter seems to me to be very clear, and that is that the wants and recommendations of the middleman in New Zealand will receive no indorsement in the Cook Islands. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering the Lslands, Wellington.

No. 181. Sib, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 31st March, 1906. In reply to your letter of the 12th instant, I have the honour to inform you that full maps giving every detail of the following islands have for some time been in course of preparation in order to accompany my report for the year 1903-6: Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Mauke, Manuae, Takutea, and Rakahanga. lam now in a position to show the surveys that have been carried out up to date, and I may say that every block that has been surveyed has also passed the Court, and been awarded to the real owner. Yesterday I finished the last block of Tupapa, one of the largest and quite the most valuable of the taperes under Makea. This has hitherto been one of the most troublesome of all of the taperes, by reason of the fact that at least fifty of the owners had been ejected by the Mataiapos Taraare, Vakapora, and Tamaioa. These people are now restored to their ancestral lands, and I have told them I shall expect them to repay me by improving their lands. I have, <fee, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering the Islands, Wellington.

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No. 182. 'Sir,—- Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 2nd April, 1906. I am in receipt of your letter of the 24th February, intimating that Te Tianui, wife of Makea Daniela, had been elected Ariki of Takitumu, in succession to the late Pa Maretu, and am glad to hear that you consider this selection a good one. I note that you propose to discontinue the sittings of the Ariki's Court at Takitumu in future, and will take all cases in that district yourself. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 144.

No. 183. g IR _ Niue Island Administration, Niue, 2nd April, 1906. I have the honour to forward to you herewith a Return of Exports from Niue for the Quarter ended the 31st March, 1906. The total value of the exports for the period (excluding merchandise reshipped) amounts to £1,177, produce valued at £882 being shipped to New Zealand proper, and specie and produce, value £295, to Rarotonga. Comparing this result with the return for the corresponding period of last year, there is ft falling-off of £332. This deficit can be at once accounted for by the collapse of the hat trade, only 288 dozens, value £186, being exported during the quarter, as against 1,118 dozens, value £836, for March quarter of last year —practically a loss of £650 to this island. If the hat market had remained normal the present return would show a considerable increase, instead of a falling-ofi, in value of produce exported. Excluding hats the outlook for the rest of the year is satisfactory, and the output of copra should be above the average I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

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