A.—3

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G. A member of the Council shall cease to hold office under the following circumstances: — (1.) Upon the effluxion of time for which he was elected. (2.) If he breaks any of the laws enacted by the Council. (3.) If he takes money for supporting any matter before the Council. (4.) If the inhabitants of the village which he represents prefer a request to the President that he be removed. After the Council has heard the member concerned, should it agree that the complaint is sustained, such member, with the approval of the Government Resident Agent, shall cease to hold office. (5.) If he absents himself from any Council meeting without leave, unless in the case of illness. 7. Upon a vacancy occurring as above, the President of the Council shall give notice to the village concerned to select another member, who shall hold office until the expiry of the term of office of the Council then next ensuing. 8. All laws and regulations, &c, shall be introduced to the Council through the President, and upon being approved by a majority of the Council (being a quorum) such laws, &c, shall become the laws of Niue upon being assented to by the Governor of New Zealand (hereinafter called " the Governor "). 9. In the case of any difference of opinion amongst the members of the Council, or any question that may come before them for consideration, the decision of the majority of members shall be final; each individual member in such case shall, upon being asked by the President, record his vote " Aye " or " Nay," and such vote shall be entered in the minutes of Council. Such decision so arrived at shall be binding on all members of Council and shall be considered as final. 10. No law or Ordinance passed by the Council shall become effective unless approved by the Government Resident Agent, nor until the same shall have received the assent of the Governor. Upon such assent being given such law or Ordinance, &c, shall become the law of Niue until amended or repealed, as from the date of such assent. 11. It shall be competent for the Council, upon resolution of the whole number, to repeal or amend any law or Ordinance previously made; but such repeal or amendment shall only be made with the concurrence of the whole Council and that of the Government Resident Agent, and shall not take effect until assented to by the Governor. 12. It shall be competent for the Council to appoint or remove committees, to be composed of members of the Council or others, to carry out any portion of the functions of Government in any part of the Island which the Council may decide on, and, further, to appoint or remove any officer for the same objects, and to assign them such duties and such remuneration by way of salary or fees as may seem to the Council right and just. Such appointments or removals shall be made by resolution of the Council, but shall only be effective on the approval of the Government Resident Agent. 13. The Council shall have the power to raise a revenue for the purpose of carrying on the Government of the Island in such manner, and at such times, and for such particular purposes as shall be approved by the Governor. 14. The Council shall meet at Alofi in manner heretofore stated, and shall continue sitting each day until dismissed : but it may, on the resolution of the majority, adjourn its meetings from time to time and place to place. 15. All Ordinances, &c, made by the Council shall be written in English and Niue, and in the case of any difficulty of interpretation the English version shall be authoritative. 16. The President of the Council, whilst holding the office of Patuiki, shall be paid a salary of flft} r pounds (£5O) per annum, and each member of the Council at the rate of three pounds (£3) per annum, to be paid half-yearly as the case may be. But any future President shall be paid for his services at a salary to be decided on by the Council when the occasion arises. The foregoing " Niue Island Council Constitution Ordinance, 1902," was passed by the Niue Island Council at Alofi this 25th day of August, 1903. Togia, Approved, President of Niue Island Council. C. F. Maxwell, Government Resident Agent, Niue. [Assented to by the Governor, 6th February, 1904.f] Ordinance No. 2. —Revenue of Niue Ordinance, 1903. Niue Island Council. Whereas it is necessary that a revenue be raised for the proper government of Niue Island: Now, therefore, be it enacted by the Niue Island Council as follows: — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is " The Revenue of Niue Ordinance, 1903." 2. The revenue of Niue shall consist of all Customs duties, fees, fines, or other moneys which are payable under enactments of the Niue Island Council (hereinafter called " the Council "). 3." All revenue so raised or levied shall be paid to the Government Resident Agent at Alofi, and shall be placed by him in an account to be called the " Revenue of Niue Account." 4. All moneys payable out of such " Revenue Account " shall be authorised from time to time by the Council and be paid by the Government Resident Agent. An accurate annual statement of the revenues and disbursements shall be laid before the Council by the Government Resident Agent at its first meeting after the thirty-first of March, in each year. 5. The Governor of New Zealand may appoint some person to audit the Revenue Account as provided by section fourteen of " The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901," and a certified copy of such report shall be furnished to the Council as soon as possible after the audit,