A.—3

MEMORANDUM.

On the reconstruction of the Ministry in August, 1906, the administration of the Cook and other Islands was placed under my control : and to facilitate the transaction of business I have appointed Mr. Waldegrave, Under-Secretary for Justice, to have charge of the Island departmental affairs. The annual reports of the Resident Commissioners at Karotonga and Niue, together with a selection from the correspondence, are attached hereto. During the recess I have had the advantage of conferring personally with the Resident Commissioners, and of discussing with them many matters of interest to the Islands 1. Census.--A census of the population of the Islands was taken last year, and particulars thereof are given in the annexed* Table A. As this is the first occasion on which the figures have been compiled with any measure of accuracy, no true comparison can be made with the returns of previous years. The returns of a census taken in 1902 are given in Table B.

Table A.—Population of Cook and other Pacific Islands now included within the Boundaries of the Colony.—1906.

* Absent in ships or at the guano islands, &c. (•) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 28 ; New Zealand, 23 ; Australia, 6 ; Tasmania, 3 ; Karotonga, 10 j France, 8 ; Germany, 5 ; Sweden, 1 ; Cape Verde Islands, 2 ; United States America, 8 ; Holland, 1 ; Portugal, 2 ; Society Group, 1 ; Hong' Kong, 6 ; Jamaica, 2 ; Manila, 1. ( b ) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 5 ; New Zealand, 2 ; Rarotonga, 1. ( c ) Birthplaces.—Australia, 1 ; Hong Kong, 2 ; Austria, 1. (<>) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 4; New Zealand, 1 ; Jamaica, l> Norway, 1 ; Aitutaki, 1. ( c ) Birthplaces.—France, 1 ; Germany, 1. (') Birthplaces.—Cape Verde Islands, 1 ; Hong Kong, 1. (c) Birthplaces not stated. (>') Birthplaces. —United Kingdom, i>; United States America, 1. (') Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 1 ; Australia. 1. (*) Birthplaces.—United Kingdom, 1. Summaby of BntTHPLACES.—United Kingdom, 44; New Zealand, 26 ; Australia, 8; Tasmania, 3; Rarotonga, 11 ; France, 9 ; Germany, 6 ; Sweden, 1 ; Cape Verde Islands, 3 ; United States America, 9 ; Holland, 1 ; Portugal, 2 ; Society Group, 1 ; Hong Kong, 9 ; Jamaica, 3 ; Manila, 1 ; Norway, 1 ; Aitutaki, 1 ; Austria. 1 : not stated, 21 (on Niue Island): Total, 161.

I—A. 3.

Whites, and Halfcastes living as Whites. Natives, and Half-castes living as Natives. Total. Absentees.* Rarotonga Mangaia Atiu Aitutaki Mauke (or Parry Island) Mitiaro 107C) 8(") 40 8( d ) 20 20 2,334 1,523 914 1.15-1 111 208 2,441 1.531 918 1,162 82 446 10 210 Total Cook Group 131 131 6,577 6,577 6.708 92* 6.708 — Nine (or Savage Island) Palmerston Penrhyn (or Tongareva) Manihilri Rakahanga Danger (or Pukapuka) .. l 210 >) 2(') 1C) 3.80! 82 III 519 361 435 3.801 82 414 519 361 435 3.822 58(i p82 420 523 22 352 50 435 32 Total other islands 30 30 5,002 5.632 Total population of Pacific islands . . 161 12.179 12,340 776*