A.—3

96

No. 208. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sib,— 11th June, 1904. I enclose herewith for your information a copy of a letter received by His Excellency the Governor from Admiral Fanshawe, with reference to opening a boat-passage through the reef at Tuapa, Niue. I have, &c, The Resident Comissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

Enclosure. [See No. 207.]

No. 209. Cook and otGter Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 11th June, 1904. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 28th April, with reference to your visit to Mauke, Mitiaro, Atiu, and Manuae, during which you were able to settle all pending cases in the High Court and Land Titles Court. I am glad you have had the road from the landing-place at Tamanganui to Areora Village in Atiu proclaimed in the name of His Majesty, and that the people themselves approve the step. I hope you will be equally successful with your surveys of roads throughout the Islands. I note what you say as to the present condition of things in the Island of Mauke. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 177.

No. 210. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 11th June, 1904. I was glad to read in your annual report such satisfactory references to the work being done at Tereora School. I have been making inquiries lately from those in charge of the Victoria College at Auckland and the Te Aute College, Hawke's Bay, as to what it would cost to receive, say, five girls at the former and five boys at the latter, and educate them with the view of sending them back to the Islands as teachers. Directly I have received replies I will communicate with you again, but, meanwhile, perhaps you will let me have your opinion on the proposal. Is some such step necessary or desirable, or can Tereora School be made to supply the needs of the Islands for the present? I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 169,

No. 211. The Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Dunedin, Sir,— 13th June, 1904. I have had under consideration your communication through our Wellington manager inquiring on what terms this company is prepared to provide a monthly service from the southern ports of New Zealand to Cook Islands, alternating with the monthly service now in existence between Auckland, Cook Islands, and Tahiti. I regret very much that we cannot see our way to make you an offer for this service on favourable terms, as it does not seem possible that the trade to and from the Cook Islands can support two separate steam services. The Group is at present almost entirely supplied from New Zealand, the total imports being valued at £34,886, of which £25,800 is credited to New Zealand, leaving only £9,000 from other places. Although there is no doubt that with careful government these figures will increase gradually from year to year, there appears to be nothing to warrant a second line, which would only have the effect of diverting a portion of the meagre trade from the present route and rendering the existing service unprofitable. It seems to me that the Cook Islands market can be best supplied from Auckland, as the Auckland merchants, from long association with the various island trades, understand its requirements. On the other hand, the southern merchants have never made a study of the island trade, nor would it be worth their while to do so. As an evidence of this I may mention that although Fiji has been fairly well connected with Wellington for some past years, the exports from Wellington to Fiji do not aggregate 150 tons in the year I would point out that the " Taviuni," now employed between Auckland, Cook Islands, and Tahiti, is doing her work well, and fulfilling all reasonable requirements of the trade; and it must not be forgotten that she derives part of her support from the Tahiti trade. As regards the exports from Cook Islands, these amounted last year to £34,750, of which goods to the value of £16,100 (or rather less than one-half) came to New Zealand, the remainder, I presume, being copra and other island products forwarded by sailers direct to Europe.

No. 77.