A.—3,

94

No. 199. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 4th June, 1904. On the 13th April I received a letter from your manager here, Mr. W. A. Kennedy, stating that he had placed before the directors of the company my inquiries with regard to the possibility of establishing a fortnightly service between New Zealand and Rarotonga, and that I would receive a reply direct from you in due course. It is now over six weeks since the date of Mr. Kennedy's letter, and, as Parliament will be meeting shortly, I shall be glad if you will let me have a definite reply as early as possible; up to the present none has reached me. I have, &c, C. H. Mills. The General Manager, Union Steamship Company (Limited), Dunedin.

No. 172,

No. 200. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 7th June, 1904. I am in receipt of your letter of the 30th April, No. 35/04, with reference to the power of the High Court of the Cook Islands to grant probate to a will, or administration of an estate, and in matters relating to bankruptcy, and in reply have to say that I have referred the matter to the Law Draftsman to have the necessary provision drafted for insertion in the amending Bill which I propose to introduce during the coming session of Parliament. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 182

No. 201. Cook and other Tslands Administration, Wellington, Sir— Bth June, 1904. Referring to the question of remitting the duty on drugs imported into Niue by the London Missionary Society, which you brought before me when I was on the island, and which was also mentioned to me by Mr. Head, sen., I have to inform you that Cabinet has decided to give effect to your recommendation on this matter, and an Order in Council has been passed providing that drugs imported by a mission society for dispensation among the Natives shall be admitted free of duty. No action was taken by Cabinet with reference to the exemption of timber and iron for mission purposes, which was asked for by Uea at the Native meeting, but I purpose looking into this matter again in connection with the Rev. Mr. Lawes's application of the 12th January, 1903. A copy of the New Zealand Gazette notice re the above remission is sent you herewith. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 202. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 9th June, 1904. I am in receipt of your letter of the 28th April relative to the proposed purchase of the schooner " Countess of Ranfurly " by the Islands Administrations. I propose that the scheme shall come into effect as from the beginning of the current financial year, payments to be made in accordance with the 3-per-cent fifteen-years table sent you. The total annual payment is £502 125., which will be divided between Rarotonga and Niue in proportions of three-fifths and two-fifths. The amount of your annual instalment will therefore be £301 11s. 3d. I have advised Mr. Maxwell as to the payment of Niue's share of .£2Ol os. 9d., and I have no doubt that under the more careful management, that we are now looking for, the purchase will be effected by the Islands Administrations without any great difficulty. Any adjustment that may be necessary as between Rarotonga and Niue in respect of the period that has passed since the latter was placed under separate jurisdiction can be made later on. I may have to write you again as to the details of the scheme, but meanwhile I would like to know that the proposal for the gradual purchase of the vessel is being put into effect on the lines indicated above. I have had another application from Mr. Tame on behalf of his client, but have advised him that Cabinet has definitely decided not to dispose of the vessel. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 179,

No. 203. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 11th June, 1904. Replying to your letter of the 9th February last, No. 18/04, I have to say that the question of a site for the proposed accommodation-house at Rarotonga having now been carefully considered, the Government are of opinion that it would be best to erect the building on the Hospital grounds. The vote of £500 (on account of £1,000) has now been authorised by Cabinet to enable