46

A.-3

3. Any person found guilty of convening or attending any general meeting of the people other than those convened as prescribed in section two (2) hereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five -pounds (£5), or in default thereof maybe sentenced to a term not exceeding three months' hard labour. 4. Any person found guilty of taking part in the declaration or enforcement of any " tapu " having for its object Ihe interference with the liberty of the subject by means of threats of punishment, or other coercive, measures, shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five pounds (£5), or in default thereof may be sentenced to hard labour for a term not exceeding three months. 5. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to apply to village meetings held to discuss matters other than those referred to in clause four (4) hereof. 6. All prosecutions in respect of offences committed under this Ordinance shall be taken in the Resident Commissioner's Court. Passed by the Niue Island Council this twentieth day of August, nine hundred and eight. Togia, Approved President of Niue Island Council. H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner, Niue. Assented to by the Governor on the 2nd December, 1908.

No. 48. Sir,— Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 3rd December, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 7th September last, forwarding " The Niue Island Trade Regulation Ordinance, 1908," No. 23, and " The Niue Island Native Meetings Regulation Ordinance, 1908," No. 24, for the assent of His Excellency the Governor. In reply, I have the honour to return the Ordinances duly assented to by His Excellency the Governor. I also forward 100 copies of each Ordinance printed in English and Niuean. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. James McGowan.

No. 49. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 12th May, 1909. I have the honour to forward herewith two copies of both the English and Native versions of each of the following Ordinances, which have been passed by the Niue Island Council:— No. 25. " The Niue Island Courts of Justice Ordinance, 1909." No. 26. " The Niue Island Village By-laws Ordinance, 1909." With reference to the first-named Ordinance, owing to obscurity in the meaning of some of the older Ordinances, it was found necessary to establish the Resident Commissioner's Court on a sounder basis. Provision has -also been made for hearing civil cases, and for the approval and registration of deeds made between foreigners and Natives. This latter provision is very necessary in order to safeguard the interests of the Natives. " The Niue Island Village By-laws Ordinance, 1909," has been passed with the object of dealing with a-number of minor matters over which there is a great diversity of opinion among the different villages. Under this Ordinance it will be possible to have suitable by-laws brought into force when and where they are desired. By these means it is hoped that the unsatisfactory conditions prevailing in many of the villages of Niue_may be improved. I have, &c, H. Cornwall, The Hon. the Minister, Cook and other Islands, Wellington. Resident Commissioner.

Enclosures. Ordinance No. 25.—The Niue Island Courts oe Justice Ordinance, 1909. Be it enacted by the Niue Island Council as follows : — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is " The Niue Island Courts of Justice Ordinance, 1909." 2. There shall be a Court for the Island of Niue called " the Resident Commissioner's Court " presided over by the Resident Commissioner for the time being. 3. Sittings of the Court shall be held at such times and places as the Resident Commissioner may appoint. 4. " The Resident Commissioner's Court " shall have jurisdiction to deal with all offences mentioned in sections 6 to 26, both inclusive, and sections 28, 37, 40, and 41, of " The Niue Island Native Magistrates and Police Ordinance, 1904," or in any ordinance in amendment or substitution thereof. 5. The Court referred to in sections 2, 32, 34, 35, 38, and 39 of " The Niue Island Native Magistrates and Police Ordinance, 1904," shall mean " the Resident Commissioner's Court." 6. The Court referred to in sections 2, 11, and 15 of " The Niue Island Marriage and Registration Ordinance, 1904," shall mean " the Resident Commissioner's Court."