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No. 181. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 29th April, 1904. In his report on the survey of Niue Island, Mr. Haszard suggests that large storage-tanks be constructed at each village, and roofed over with galvanised corrugated iron, so that the tropical rains would fill them. You mentioned in your letter of the Ist December last that you intended going on with the experiment of sinking wells in the outlying villages that did not possess the facilities for collecting rain-water that exist in Alofi, but if the necessary provision could be made, as Mr. Haszard proposed, by the erection of iron roofs, there is no reason why you should not have a reliable supply of pure water in each of the settlements. If this can be managed it will be much more satisfactory than sinking wells 60 ft. or 70 ft. through the coral rock for water, which, if found, is likely to be more or less brackish. I should like to hear your views on the matter, but as the question is an important one, you had better proceed with the work in whichever way seems most practicable as soon as your funds permit. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

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No. 182. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 30th April, 1904. I have the honour to enclose a memorandum from Mr. Blame on the subject of the jurisdiction of this Court as regards wills, and have the honour to suggest that this matter should be definitely settled. I am of opinion that the High Court has no power to adjudicate either in the granting of probate, &c, to wills, or in any matters of bankruptcy, since the annexation of these Islands to New Zealand; and I would suggest for your consideration that these matters should now be settled definitely. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands. Resident Commissioner.

Enclosure. Memorandum for the Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. It is doubtful in my opinion whether the High Court has jurisdiction or power under " The High Court Act, 1898," to grant probate to the will or administration of the estate of any deceased person. I would suggest, in order to make the matter clear, that a clause to the following effect should be inserted in the Cook Islands Bill, to be introduced this next session of Parliament: — " The High Court of the Cook Islands shall have power to grant probate to the will or administration of the estate of any deceased person having real or personal estate within the jurisdiction of the Court, and such power shall be deemed to have been existent in the Court as from the 11th day of June, 1901." I may state for your information that since the 11th June, 1901, the Court has made seven orders for probate or administration, none of which are contentious matters. E. Blame, Registrar's Office, Rarotonga, 22nd April, 1904. Registrar, High Court.

No. 183. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 3rd May, 1904. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 30th March, with descriptions of the lagoons at Penrhyn, Manihiki, and Aitutaki, required to complete the Proclamation setting apart the lagoons as public reserves under section 15 of " The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901." I agree with you that it would not be wise to make the change proposed on the strength of a Proclamation alone, in view of the questions that may be raised as to whether the areas to be dealt with are "Crown lands," and whether the rights of the Natives to fish for pearl-shell, <fee, can be superseded in this way. The intention, of course, was to confirm the provisions of the Proclamation by an Act of the General Assembly; but seeing that Parliament will be meeting now in a few weeks it is hardly worth while going on with the Proclamation at all. I propose, therefore, to let the matter stand over until Parliament is in session, when I will take an early opportunity of introducing a Bill to deal with the matter. I notice that you have included a description of the Aitutaki lagoon. I shall be glad to hear what arrangement, if any, was made with Messrs. Dexter and Winchester on the lines suggested in your letter of the 10th June last, where you proposed to give them the exclusive right to dive for shell in this lagoon for a period of ten years, in recognition of their services in planting the lagoon with Scilly shell. If any rights have been conceded to them I think it will be advisable to make reference to them in the proposed Bill. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills. 12—A. 3.

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