A.—3

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No. 16. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord, — British Residency, Barotonga, 28th August, 1900. I have the honour to forward you copies of each of the following Acts, which have been passed by the Cook Islands Parliament during the past session, viz.: No. 1, the Local Statutes Amendment Act; No. 2, the Labourers Emigration Eestriction Act; No. 3, Import Duties Amendment Act; No. 4, Private Debts Act; No. 5, Asiatics Immigration Restriction Act; No. 6, Medical Officer's Inquiry Act. The first-named of these statutes has been passed with the view of facilitating the administration of the land at Aitutaki and elsewhere among the islands of the group. No. 2 is intended to regulate the labour that is occasionally required for islands outside this group. No. 3 statute is designed to meet the condition of the trade of the Cook Islands by imposing a heavier duty on goods imported from Tahiti, where there is absolutely no reciprocity, as also to prevent smuggling, and to limit the importation of Chili coin. The Private Debts Act is a most important measure, since it is intended to check the system by which Maoris have heretofore been allowed credit, so that they can never liquidate their indebtedness. As it is not in the interests of the Maoris that this state of things should continue, it is intended that the High Court shall ascertain what sum the debtor can pay, and make him pay that amount only. The Asiatics Restriction Act is primarily intended to prevent an influx of Chinese from Tahiti, where they are very numerous, for any increase in the taxation of that island might send a large number of Chinese to this group. The Medical Officer's Inquiry Act requires but little comment. It is simply a measure to prevent European or Maori quacks from killing off the sick Maoris, by giving the Medical Officer of the group power to inquire into every death. I have also the honour forward, for the information of your Lordship, four copies of the return of revenue and expenditure for the financial year ending 30th June, 1900, showing a balance of £976 18s. I-have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C.M.G., British Resident. Governor of New Zealand.

No. 1, 1900. —The Local Statutes Amendment Act, 1900. 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be '■' The Islands Statutes Amendment Act, 1900." 2. Whereas it is a matter of complaint that young persons are in the habit of entering the houses of others after dark and unsolicited, to the annoyance of the owners of the said houses : It is hereby enacted that from and after the passing of this Act any person entering a house after the hour of nine p.m., unless invited to do so by the owner of the said house, shall be guilty of an offence against the public peace, and on conviction may be fined not exceeding fourteen shillings, or in default the same number of days' hard labour. 3. Any woman convicted of the offence of adultery may be sentenced to not exceeding thirty days' hard labour : Provided always that her husband shall have formally consented to this sentence in open Court. 4. There shall be no appeal from the Resident Magistrate's Court of Aitutaki in any criminal or quasi-criminal case where the fine or penalty shall be less than twenty shillings. 5. Any person who shall have been thrice convicted within twelve months of any one of the following offences, or shall have been four times convicted of the said offences within the space of two years— Drunkenness; Manufacture of bush beer, or roro,— shall be deemed to be a hardened offender, and may, on a subsequent conviction for either of these offences, be fined not exceeding five pounds, or in default three months' imprisonment. 6. The Resident Magistrate at Aitutaki may hear and determine all civil cases, whether between Maoris, Europeans, or Europeans and Maoris, provided always that the matter at issue shall not exceed in value fifty pounds sterling. 7. In all cases in which Natives of the Cook Group are concerned a day's work shall be held to be the equivalent of one shilling of his fine. 8. The High Court of the Cook Islands may, at the request of the Chief of the Government, do any one of the following things in order to decide or prevent land disputes :— (a.) May order a survey of any land. (b.) May ascertain, and inscribe on the rolls of the Court, the names of all the owners of any block of land. (c.) May assess the land-tax payable by such land in each year in order to defray the costs of survey and of the hearing. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Rangi, Chairman of the Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Government. Approved.—W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident.—The Residency, 22nd August, 1900.