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" That :the said members of the Councils are also of opinion that the time has now come when 'there should be a European member of the Federal Council, who should also be ex officio a member jai each and every Island Council, and that such European member should be elected by adult male Europeans resident in the Cook and Northern Islands." Dated this 24th day of October, 1908. Makea, Ariki. Makea Daniela. Pa, Ariki. Teeiao. Karika, Ariki. Tauei. Kaimuku, Ariki.

No. 18. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 15th March, 1909. Your letter of the 24th October last, forwarding copy of resolutions passed at a meeting of the Federal Council and of the Rarotonga Island Council, has been carefully considered, and I desire that the Arikis and members of Council be informed that this Government has no intention to propose that representation in the New Zealand Parliament shall be extended to the Cook Islands. As regards the second resolution—" That the said members of the Councils are also of opinion that the time has now come when there should be a European member of the Federal Council who should also be ex officio a member of each and every Island Council, and that such European member should be elected by adult male Europeans resident in the Cook and Northern Islands"—l am of opinion that it is desirable that the European residents should be represented as proposed. I think the matter can be dealt with by local Ordinance, as an amendment to " The Constitution Amendment Act, 1899." I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. J. Carroll.

PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING. No. 19. Sir,- — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 21st December, 1908. I regret to inform you that I have ascertained that there is a good deal of smuggling done here on the return of the steamer from Tahiti, and that I find it impossible to deal satisfactorily with this evil so long as I have only Native constables. I propose, therefore, to employ some European, who shall go round in the steamer as an officer of the Customs. I shall close the landing-place at Avatiu, where nearly all of the smuggled goods are landed, and which it is impossible to watch with our limited staff, and shall gazette local regulations preventing canoes approaching the steamer while anchored off Avarua. The European can act as head of the police here, and take charge of hard-labour prisoners. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. the Minister administering Islands. Res dent Commissioner.

No. 20. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, sth February, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 162) of the 21st December last, stating that you propose to appoint a European officer to check smuggling on the return of the steamer from Tahiti. In reply, I have to inform you that I approve of such an appointment being made. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. J. Carroll.

No. 21. Sir, — Rarotonga, 3rd February, 1909. In continuation of my letter (No. 162) of the 21st December last, I have the honour to report that I have appointed Mr. William Mcßirney as Chief Constable and Tidewaiter of this island, and to have general charge of all prisoners and public works, his remuneration being £100 per annum. Mr. Mcßirney is very highly recommended by Colonel Pole-Penton and others, and has been a sergeant-major in the Royal Artillery, and for many years a clerk in the War Office. For some time past we have known that smuggling was being carried on, especially in spirits, and we also knew that the Native police neither could nor would detect the cases. It was this fact that