A.—3.

24

No. 74. Sir,- - ftarotonga, 22nd September, 1903. 1 have the honour to inform you that Mr. J. C. Cameron arrived in Aitutaki about the 29th August, and took up the work of his office on the Ist September. Mr. Cameron's is one of the best appointments that lias been made here, for not only has he liad extensive knowledge of the New Zealand Maoris, but he is a linguist and a good business man. He has, moreover, the tact that enables a man to enter into the feelings of foreign races, and govern them in accordance with their ideas, while teaching them European methods. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington.

No. 56.

No. 75. Sir, — Rarotonga, 22nd September, 1903. 1 have the honour to inform you that the schooner " Countess " has been chartered by Messrs. Grice, Sumner, and Co., of Melbourne, at the rate of .£5 per diem to bring stores and workmen, &c, from and to Maiden Island. This charter takes effect during the summer months only, when there is nothing doing in the Cook Group, and it will, moreover, fit in with the work at Penrhyn and enable us to carry cargoes to the last-named islands. The charter, therefore, means at least ,£2OO in the pocket of the local Government. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington.

No. 76. Km, — Rarotonga, 22nd September, 1903. 1 have the honour to report that I returned to Rarotonga yesterday after a very successful sitting of the Laud Titles Court at Aitutaki. During the two months that I was absent surveys of the roads and mission properties were made at Atiu and Mauke, and at Aitutaki no less than 107 blocks of land were surveyed, and 102 blocks heard in Court and the title determined. The survey fees for work done amount to £88 10s., and the Court fees to £76 10s. for orders of title in addition to hearing-fees and other incidental work of the Court, which will amount to £40. I submit that the work has been satisfactory in every respect, and most popular among the Maoris, who have now at least sixty claims before the Court to be heard. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Chief Judge Land Titles Court. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington.

No. 77. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sm,~ 22nd September, 1903. Yours of the Ist instant came duly to hand, and the matter referred to has received most careful consideration. I shall feel obliged if you will let me know whether you think your company would be prepared within a reasonable time to enter into another contract to carry on a service, with a suitable boat of good average speed, from Wellington to Rarotonga and the other islands of the Cook Group, returning to Wellington again via Rarotonga. This, together with the present service from Auckland to Rarotonga and Tahiti, would mean a fortnightly boat for the Cook Islands. I am writing to Colonel Gudgeon on this subject, and would like to talk it over with you and hear what you think of the prospect of a reasonable trade being worked up through such a service. Yours, &c, C. H. Mills. The Manager, Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington.

No. 58]

No. 78. Sir, — Rarotonga, 22nd September, 1903. 1 have the honour to inform you that I have, under the provisions of the Cook and other Islands Act and the Order in Council establishing the Land Titles Court, acquired two pieces of land at Aitutaki for the purposes of the Government, viz. :- Section 1., Arutanga, adjoining the wharf, rather more than J acre, as a site for wharfsheds. For this I have paid £28, much to the satisfaction of the owners. There are in this piece, besides the land required for Government use, five small blocks which I propose to lease for fifty years at a rent of £1 10s. per lot. Section 111., Arutanga, the site of the Courthouse, for which the absurd rent of £4 10s. per annum has hitherto been paid as ground-rent. This land I have acquired for £13 10s., the house thereon being the property of the Island Council. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington.