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No. 54. Sin, — Cook and other 1-I.m-i- Administration, Wellington, 22nd May, 1907. I have flu , honour to acknowledge vie receipt of your letter of the 2nd instant, forwarding a petition from European residents of Rarotonga, asking for representation upon the Island Council. I sympathize very deeply with the desire of British residents in tfie Islands to acquire some share in the government thereof ; but I am not aware that they suffer under any special disabilities under the present system, nor, indeed, do they allege that the}" are labouring under any grievances. As you are aware, when the Cook Group was ceded to Great Britain one of the conditions of the cession was that the then existing Parliament should be abolished, and should be replaced by a Council of Arikis. It must be evident that the introduction into the Council of a European representative would materially affect the condition laid down at the time of the cession. For these and other reasons I regret that the Government is unable at the present time to comply with the request of the petitioners. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotom_';i. Jameb McGowan.

NICK ISLAND. No. 55. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue,. 25th May, 1907. I have the honour to forward herewith my report for the year 1906-7, together with Niue Island Revenue Statement, and account current with the Bank of New Zealand at Auckland, to the 31st March, 1907. A return of births, deaths, ami marriages for Niue has already been forwarded to you with letter No. 4-"i, dated the 16th April, 1907. A census of this island was also forwarded to you with covering-letter No. 21)7, dated the 7th June, 1906. The first-mentioned returns should have been sent forward earlier, but 1 was absent on leave. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwet.t,. Resident Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

Report oh Niue fok the Yeah knuinc 31pi March, 1907. Population. The census which was taken in June. 1906, showed the total population of Niue as 3,801, comprised of 1,758 males and 2,043 females; 521 males and .">!) females l)eing absent from the island at the time the census was taken. Comparing these figures with those for the census taken in June, 1902, there is a decrease of 115 females and 135 males, or 250 in all. Five hundred and eighty Natives were absent in 1906, compared with 418 in 1902, an increase of absentees of 162; this number deducted from the 250 mentioned above leaves 88 as the net decrease in four rears. In my covering-letter No. 207, dated the 7th June, 1906, 1 have endeavoured to explain the cause of this decrease, which seems to be common to many of these Islands, and in this case is not due to any apparent reason, as there have been no epidemics of any kind, nor have the physical conditions been adverse to the well-being of the Natives. At the same time there is a good deal of sickness amongst the Natives, constitutional diseases being prevalent. The services of a medical man would be of great value to this island. It appears remarkable that so large a oommirnitv should l>e absolutely without medical aid. Only a few days ago I assisted to set a fractured bone in a European. Rexervoirs. Two reservoirs were completed last year, one at Tuapa and another at Avatele. The Avatele reservoir has a capacity of 12,900 gallons, and cost for labour £36 145., and material £3!) ss. sd. ; total, £75 I9e. sd. The Tuapa reservoir contains 11,728 gallons, and cost £43 12s. for labour and £29 I Is. 6d. for material; total cost, £73 6s. 6d. These reservoirs are fitted with pumps, so that water may be drawn without possibility of polluting it. Two more reservoirs are in process of construction at Hakupu and Liku respectively. The Hakupu reservoir is almost completed, and that at Liku should be finished in a month or two. The eight reservoirs now in use are well filled with water, and prove a great boon to the villagers. Jetty. The sum of £30 14s. was spent in completing the jetty at Alofi. It is now serviceable, Imt an extension of the outer tee and the erection of a more powerful derrick is needed. A crab-winch has been obtained and awaits erection. Boat-channel. A passage has been blasted through the reef at Avatele to allow the approach of boats to the beach, at a cost of £17 Is. 6d. for labour. It requires widening. A similar passage should be cut at Tuapa, and a platform built to receive goods.