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A.—3.

4. That the Paymaster shall not issue any cheques, nor the Auditor countersign the same, unless the services to be paid for are certified by the head of the department as having been properly performed, or the works to be paid for certified by the Inspector of Works as having been properly clone. 5. That the name of the Inspector of Works shall be notified to the Auditor by the Clerk of the Government. 6. That, in this Act, the dollar shall be equivalent to three shillings of British money for all salaries payable from first January, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-five, and to two shillings and threepence in British money for all public works. It shall be lawful for this financial year to advance the salary for the six months from first January to thirtieth June to all who desire to take it. Dated at Avarua, this 25th day of October, 1894. Passed by the Arikis' Council, 26th October, 1894. Approved. To come into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.—29th October, 1894.

Schedule.

No. 19. Mr. F. J. Moss to His Excellency the Goveenor. My Loed, — British Eesidency, Earotonga, 12th February, 1895. I have the honour to enclose the annual trade report for the year ending 31st December, 1894. I have, &c, Feedeeick J. Moss, His Excellency the Earl of Glasgow, G.C.M.G. British Eesident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosure. Eepoet on the Trade of the Cook Islands for the Yeae ending 31st December, 1894. , . Shipping and Navigation. There is little change to note in the returns of this year as compared with 1893. The entries inwards for 1894 were 82 vessels, of 20,299 tons ; and the entries outwards 81 vessels, of 20,221 tons (Table I.). Of these entries the mercantile tonnage, in and out, was 36,198, against 36,474 for the year 1893. The entries of vessels owned and worked by natives of the Cook Islands were, in and out, 58, and the tonnage 2,599, against 59 entries with a tonnage of 2,665 for the previous year. Two of the native shooners made voyages to New Zealand; but their trade is with the Cook and adjacent islands. The mail steamer " Eichmond" has called regularly at Earotonga, and has occasionally visited other of the Cook Islands on her monthly round between New Zealand and Tahiti. There has been no alteration in the port charges. Vessels anchoring in either of the harbours pay a pilotage of 18s. up to 50 tons, with 3s. for every 10 tons additional. An old-established royalty to the chief who owns the harbour, of 12s. for every vessel using it, is the only other charge.

Vote. No. Service. Voted. 1894-95. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Clerk to Council and Government Paymaster Auditor ... Bent of Bond Clerks to Courts, three districts Police, three districts Interpreter, and clerical assistance Fixed Appropriations : Arikis and Mataiapos ... Fixed Appropriations : Judges, three districts ... Maintenance of roads, three districts ... Expenses of Council General contingencies Inspector of Works Eoads and bridges ... $ c. 50 00 50 00 50 00 36 00 210 00 480 00 250 00 670 00 440 00 400 00 80 00 150 00 60 00 1,600 00 $4,526 00 Dated at A ■arua, 19th October, 1894. P