A.—3.

caused me to appoint Mcßirney, and he has justified his appointment by seizing 50 lb. of tobacco and four bottles of rum this morning. I have the honour to request your approval of the appointment. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. James Carroll, Minister administering Cook Islands.

No. 22. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 15th March, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd February, reporting that you have appointed Mr. W. Mcßirney as Chief Constable and Tidewaiter at Rarotonga. My approval of the appointment was conveyed to you in my letter of the sth February last. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. J. Carroll.

LAND TITLES COURT, AITUTAKI. No. 23. Sir, — Rarotonga, 9th December, 1908. I have the honour to inform you that I have this day returned to Rarotonga from Aitutaki, at which island I have been engaged for the last month in the hearing of cases in the Land Titles Court. I have to report also that my work has been most satisfactory, for I have heard and decided over one hundred and fifty disputed titles, and the fees of the Court and survey amount to £260. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon. Resident Commissioner. The Hon. James McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 24. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 21st December, 1908. I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th instant, reporting that you have just returned from Aitutaki, where you have been holding a Land Titles Court. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jas. McGowan.

SALE OF CLARET TO TRAVELLERS. No. 25. Sir, — Eastern Pacific, Rarotonga, 29th January, 1909. With reference to the sections of the Licensing Act of 1904, Nos. 19 to 28 inclusive, I have the honour to report that the only people who are under any disability by virtue of the provisions of this Act are the people whom it was probably not intended to penalise—viz., travellers by the Union Company's steamers. Many Frenchmen pass through on their way to New Zealand and land for the day, and these people, who" drink nothing but claret and water, find it impossible to get a glass of claret. I would therefore suggest that, under subsection (1) of section 22, Mr. Laurence G. Grieves, lessee of the " Whare Manuhiri," should be authorised to sell on behalf of the Government of the Cook Islands. As lessee of the Whare, we can easily restrict the sale of claret to travellers only. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister administering Cook Islands, Wellington.

No. 26. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 15th March, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 29th January last, suggesting that Mr. Grieves, lessee of the " Whare Manuhiri," at Rarotonga, shall be authorised under subsection (1) of section 22 of " The Licensing Act, 1904 " (now subsection (1) of section 277 of the consolidated Act of 1908), to sell claret to travellers only.

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