A.—3.

Summary of Total Values of Imports to Niue during Quarter ended 31st March, 1906 Value. Country. , £ New Zealand ... ... ... ... ... ••• •■• 1,086 Tonga .... ... ... ... ■. •■ ■■ 63 Germany ... ... ... ... - ■■■ ■•• •■• 29 Grand total ... ... ... ... ... ■•• 1.178 C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner, Niue,

No. 185. S IR; Niue Island Administration, Niue, 4th. April, 1906. I have the honour to report to you that affairs generally here are satisfactory, and the health of the people is good. No epidemics of any kind have occurred during the past year. My relations with the Natives continue to be cordial, and I am not aware of any grievances. I have no difficulty in obtaining all labour required for public works on my own terms —in fact, the Natives now show a greater willingness to co-operate with this Administration in objects of general utility than they have ever done in the past. Boad-works. —l2o chains = 1J miles, of the Alofi-Hakupu Road have been converted from a stony track into a road suitable for"wheeled traffic, at an average cost of Bs. 0 T 9 c d. per chain, the cost to date being £i 8 9s. Two gangs, of five men and six men respectively, are still at work on day-labour at the rate of 3s. per day for foremen and 2s. per day for labourers. I intend to complete this road to Hakupu, as it is an important one. A considerable number of Natives are also at work on the Alofi-Avatele Road on piecework. Beservoirs. —The construction of reservoirs in all the principal villages is proceeding vigorously, as I deem it a matter of supreme importance to provide an ample supply of pure water in each settlement. A reservoir has been built close to the Government Building in Alofi. It has a capacity of 13,000 gallons, and is provided with a pump, and facilities for supplying water to shipping. It is now full of water, and is an excellent piece of work. A similar one is now in use at Mutalau, and another is almost completed at Hikutavake, making five in all. Excavations are in progress for one reservoir each in Tuapa, Avatele, and Hakupu; these will be completed as soon as material comes to hand. A considerable quantity of cement and lime is required for these concrete tanks, and as they are blasted out of the solid coral, much dynamite, &c, is used. The average cost is £60 apiece, but most of the work is done by the villagers for a nominal sum. The large reservoir at Alofi cost £94-odd, but all labour, &c, was paid for, as it is wholly a ■Government affair. I hope to complete the concrete jetty this season; the portion already built is very satisfactory. The erection of a lock-up will also be put in hand. The stormy season is now practically over without damage, and the production of copra and fungus should be above the average. The cessation of demand for Niue hats, however, depresses trade to a large extent. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge Resident Commissioner. Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

No. 186. S IR; Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 7th April, 1906. Referring to your letter of the 30th January last, I have now to inform you that the Hon. the Acting-Postmaster-General has advised me that it has been decided to appoint Mr. J. T. Large to the position of Postmaster at Mangaia, and to open a money-order office on that island in his charge, when the usual fidelity bond —for which he has been asked—has been furnished. I have, kc, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 132.

No. 187. g IR; Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 7th April, 1906. Referring to the request of the Samoa Observatorium that observations with respect to hurricanes be taken in Rarotonga, I have to state that I communicated with the Director of the Meteorological Department here with a view to having the necessary instruments supplied, and he informs me that on receipt of a supply of instruments which he is daily expecting from England a set will be forwarded to you, with the necessary instructions for the establishment and conduct of a Meteorological Station at Rarotonga. In the meantime I shall be glad if you will take such observations as are possible with the instruments at hand, and forward them to the Department here, as well as to the Superintendent of the Samoa Observatory. I have, &c. The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga, C. H. Mills.

No. 166.

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