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A.—3

4. All stich arms and ammunition may be seized by the police on the written order of the Government Resident Agent or of a Native Magistrate and confiscated. The foregoing Nine Island Arms Ordinance was passed by the Niue Island Council, at Alofi, this 25th day of August, 190-' i. TOGIA, President of Niue Island Council. Approved, C. F. Maxwell, Government Resident Agent, Niue. [Assented to by the Governor, Gth February, 1904.J]

Ordinance No. 8. — -Nrou Island Private Debt Okdinance, 1903. Niue island Council. Whereas the Native inhabitants of Niue Island have been allowed in the past to contract debts of such magnitude that it will be difficult or impossible for them to liquidate: And whereas the moral effect of such practice is extremely injurious to the welfare of the said Natives, and it is to their interests that this sj-stem of trading should cease forthwith: Now, therefore, be it enacted by the Niue Island Council as follows: — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is " The Niue Island Private Debt Ordinance, 1903." 2. A debt incurred after the coining into operation of this Ordinance by any Native of Niue, or half-caste living as a Native, shall not be recoverable by any process of law known in the Island of Niue. 3. Contracts entered into by any chiefs or patus, for or on behalf of any family or section of people, may be enforced by either of the parties to the contract. Provided always thai such contract shall have been entered into ami signed in the presence of the Government Besident Agent, or in the presence of some person duly appointed by him for that purpose, and shall have been approved by the Government Resident Agent. 4. Debts contracted previous to the passing of this Ordinance may be sued for in the Court of the Government Resident Agent (hereinafter called "the Court"). 5. When the aforesaid Court shall have granted a debt certificate to any suitor under section four of this Ordinance, it shall be the duty of the Native Magistrate of the district in which the debtor lives to inquire into the circumstances of the debtor, and recommend to the Court a reasonable arrangement for the payment of the debt. 6. The Court shall make such order for payment as shall seem just and reasonable, and in default of payment may order the debtor to be imprisoned with hard labour for any period not exceeding one calendar month for each default. 7. All moneys recovered under this Ordinance shall be paid in the manner directed by the Court. The foregoing Private Debt Ordinance 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.]

Ordinance No. 9. — Niue Island Site for Government Buildings Ordinance, 1903. Niue Island Council. Whereas by the ancient law of Niue no land could be alienated by sale to foreigners: And whereas it is expedient and necessary for the establishment of the Government of Niue Island, and for convenience in administering the said Government, that land should be acquired as a site for public and other buildings: And whereas a suitable section of land has been selected in the Village of Alofi: And whereas the said section of land has been purchased from the acknowledged owners thereof for the sum of fifty pounds (£5O), which sum was collected by public subscription by the Native people of Niue and paid by them to the said owners, who thereupon executed a deed of gift of the said section of land to His Majesty King Edward the Seventh: Be it therefore enacted by the Niue Island Council as follows: — 1. The Short Title of this Ordinance is "The.Niue Island Site for Public Buildings Ordinance, 1903." 2. The parcel of land at Alofi, Niue, known by the name of " Lialagi," the boundaries whereof are marked on the ground, and described in a certain " deed of cession " dated the twentyeighth day of February, one thousand nine hundred and two, by virtue whereof Ikimata, Kilitaia, and Tuhega, admitted owners of the said land, do cede, convey, and assure, absolutely and without reserve, all their rights, title, estate, and interest in the said land to His Majesty King Edward the Seventh: Now, therefore, the said Niue Island Council doth hereby ratify and confirm the cession of the said parcel of land to His Majesty the King, for himself, his heirs and assigns, for ever. The foregoing " Niue Island Site for Government Buildings Ordinance, 1903," was passed by the Niue Island Council, at Alofi, on the 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.]