39

A.—3

own support, " and would successfully oppose any attempt on the part of Europeans to acquire a block of land for plantation purposes. In these circumstances no attempt has hithherto been made to set up the Land Titles Court in Nine. Before the Court could adjudicate on any laud, surveys would require to be made, which would be very expensive. It would also be difficult to obtain the services of a oompeteni interpreter for regular Court-work. It must Imj borne in mind that cocoanut-planting in Niue would be under different conditions in those which obtain in more fertile islands. No subsidiary crop, such as bananas, could be grown to defray the cost of keeping up the plantations until the cocoanut-trees came into bearing and profit. Bananas do moderately well in Niue, but the expense of planting and handling them would be prohibitive: it would be from eight to ten years before any return could be expected from the pocoanut-treee. Financial Position. The hnancial position of this Administration at the end of the financial year may be regarded as satisfactory, the total funds accumulated on that date amounting to £2,066 16s. 6d. Of this itiii £1,232 3b. 10d. is bearing interest, and £8.'54 12s. Bd. was available for carrying on the business of this Administration It would appear from the Revenue Account for the year ended the .'ilsl March that the disbursements were nearly equal to the receipts—viz., total receipts, excluding cash balance, £943 ss. Bd.; disbursements, £934 10s. 2<1., leaving a balance of £8 15s. 6d. To this must be added repayment by Grice, Sumner, and Co. £15 13s. 6d., and remittance to Bank of New Zealand £f<6, or £110 9s. in all. A sum of £66 ss. frd., expenses incurred in connection with sending the party of Niue Natives to the Christchurch Exhibition, is also expected to be refunded to this Administration, by the New Zealand Government. The other items of expenditure do not appear to call for explanation here. Assistant. Mr. Alfred House, who has been appointed as Assistant—in place of Mr. Wallace, resigned— has arrived and taken up ih<> duties of his position. Mr. 11. Cornwall, of Wellington, has been in charge of this Administration for the first fliree months of I his year, while I was away in New Zealand on leave of absence. C. F. Maxwei-i,, Resident Commissioner.

Enclosures. Niue Island Revenue Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1907. 1906. Receipts. £ s. d. I Disbursements. £ s. d. April 1 Balance brought forward.. .. 553 4 0 Labour on various roadn .. ~ 131 11 3 Customs duties .. .. 700 2 9 „ Avatele Road .. .. 61 15 6 Sale of stamps at Nine . . .. 73 0 0 „ Hakupu Road .. .. 41 0 0 Trading licenses.. .. .. 50 0 0 „ jetty at Alofi .. .. .. 30 14 0 Fines and feel .. .. .. 49 2 6 „ boat-channel, Avatele .. .. 17 1 6 Emigration fees .. .. 28 14 0 „ Avatele Reservoir . . .. 35 16 0 Tobacco-sales .. .. .. 25 7 <i „ Hakupu Reservoir .. .. 3 2 0 Spirit-sales .. .. .. 11 11 0 „ Li ku Reservoir .. .. 1 16 0 Shipping fees .. .. .. 315 0 „ Hikutavake Reservoir . . .. 28 8 3 Kunilry receipts .. 1 12 11 „ Tuapa Reservoir .. .. 43 12 0 ~ miscellaneous works . . . . 40 6 6 Siilary of Assistant .. .. .. 83 8 6 ~ Native Magistrates .. .. 34 !l O Niue Councillors . . .. 83 0 0 Pay of police .. .. .. .. 46 2 0 Office-rent to the 30th June, 1907 .. 15 Iβ 4 Material for Christchurch Exhibition .. 16 <> (i Timber for Christ church Exhibition .. 'J 0 0 Cost of census .. .. . . .. 5 10 0 Boat's crew .. .. . . . . 3 110 Allowance to police .. .. .. 4 14 0 Compensation for trees, &c. .. .. (i 0 0 Green food for Government hone .. .. 4 8 0 Payment on account of Grice, Sumner, and Co. 16 13 6 Freight .. .. .. .. 62 9 7 Explosives .. .. .. .. 19 8 4 Refunds .. .. .. .. 0 13 3 Rent of gaol-site .. .. . . 0 12 0 Interpreter's fee .. .. .. 0 5 6 Vim■ hats for Christcliuivh Exhibition .. 2 6 0 Sundry expenses .. .. .. 6 10 8 Remitted to Bank of New Zealand .. 86 0 0 Cash balanee> hand .. .. .. 561 19 6 £1.406 it 8 £1.41)6 9 8 C. F. Maxwell, Vine. 26th May. 1907 Resident Commissioner.