A.—3

92

No. 195. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 26th May, 1904. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 18th January, Nos. 137 and 139, vith returns of exports and imports for the quarter and year ending the 31st December, 1903; also your letter, No. 186, of the 7th Ajsril, forwarding an amended summary of imports. I am also in receipt of your letter of the 2nd April, No. 179, with statement of the revenue of Niue for the quarter ending the 31st March, 1904. These all show a very satisfactory advancement, and it is gratifying to know that the affairs of the island are in such a sound position. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

Nos. 127, 128, & 167

No. 196. Sir, — Harotonga, Cook Islands, Ist June, 1904. I have the honour to forward attached Ordinance No. 1 of the Island of Manihiki for the approval of His Excellency the Governor. It is unfortunate that there has been such delay in obtaining the approval of His Excellency to this Ordinance, but I would point out that lamin no way to blame for the same. Any measure of this sort must be passed by the Council in the crudest form and in Maori, and I have to translate the same from the books of the Council. To send this European translation back to the Council for their approval is little more than a form, for they do not understand it, and would not indorse the translation if they did not trust me. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington.

Nos. 144 &168.

Enclosure. No. 1 of 1902. —An Ordinance to Regulate Village Life within the Island of Manihiki. 25th October, 1902. Be it enacted by the Island Council of Manihiki: — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance shall be " The Manihiki Ordinance No. 1." 2. The ancient law of Manihiki as to dogs is hereby re-enacted. Any dogs now on the island shall be destroyed at once by the owner or police, and any person hereafter importing a dog shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding ten shillings, and the Court shall order such dog to be destroyed by the police. 3. It shall not be lawful to allow pigs to wander at large. The owner of any pig who shall be guilty of an offence against this section shall be liable to a fine of not exceding five shillings, in addition to the cost of any damage done by the said pig. In any case where the owner of a wandering pig cannot be ascertained, the pig shall be killed. 4. Any person wandering about after 9 p.m. may be arrested and taken to the Courthouse, where he may explain his reasons for being abroad. The Island Magistrates may fine any offender under this section not exceeding two shillings. 5. The ancient right of rahui shall devolve upon the Island Council of Manihiki, and, subject to the approval of the Resident Commissioner, the said Council may impose such restrictions upon the gathering and sale of cocoanuts as they shall deem advisable in order to prevent theft, and to enable the widows and weaker members of the community to gather their nuts without hindrance. 6. Any regulations made under section five of this Ordinance shall have the force of law, and any infraction thereof may be punished by a fine of not exceeding twenty shillings. 7. During the existence of a rahui it shall not be lawful to trade in or sell nuts except at the village mart, in the presence of the island authorities. Any offence against this section may be punished by a fine of not exceeding ten shillings. 8. Whereas thousands of green cocoanuts are wasted yearly on the occasions of births, deaths, and marriages, and the building of houses: it is hereby enacted that from the date of this Ordinance not more than one thousand nuts shall be gathered for any such occasion, and the green nuts aforesaid shall be gathered under the supervision of the police. Any offence against this section shall be punished by a fine of not exceeding five pounds. 9. Any person found trespassing on the land of another, and who shall be unable to show sufficient reason for such trespass, shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding forty shillings; and any one trespassing on land under rahui may be prosecuted by order of the President of the Island Council, and shall be liable to the above fine. 10. From and after the passing of this Ordinance no debt incurred by any Native inhabitant of Manihiki shall be recoverable in any Court, except such debts as shall have been incurred previous to that date, which may be recovered by process of law within twelve months from the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and three.