A.—3

32

Niue Island Cash Account. 903. Receipts. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d Oct. 1. Total receipts brought forward .. 1,055 610 Forward .. .. .. 196 18 11 Niue Island Account, Bank of New P. F. Colledge .. .. .. 1 10 0 Zealand, Auckland .. .. 700 0 0 Heather, Roberton, & Co. . . .. 7 6 0 Proceeds sale Niue stamps, C.P.M. 50 0 0 A. H. Nathan .. .. .. 916 8 Levers P.P. (Ltd.) draft for collection 129 11 10 Ross & Ansenne .. .. .. 6 011 Post-Office Savings-Bank balance .. 117 12 0 Kauri Timber Company .. .. 17 19 11 Wingate & Co. . . . . .. 44 6 0 Fixed Deposit, Bank of New Zealand .. 500 0 0 Exchange on Lever's Pacific Plantations draft .. .. .. .. 013 1J 784 11 6J Balance .. .. .. 1,267 19 H £2,052 10 8 £2,052 10 8 C. F. Maxwell, 10th October, 1903. Collector of Customs, Niue.

No. 85. Sir,— Niue, 10th October, 1903. In order to secure more regular and frequent communication between Niue and Auckland through the medium of the schooner " Countess of Ranfurly," I think this island should pay her a subsidy to enable the schooner to maintain a regular service. This subsidy (supplemented with the cargo and passengers she would obtain) I am confident would be sufficient to defray expenses and leave a margin of profit. I have the honour, therefore, respectfully to suggest that ,£lOO per annum be paid out of Niue revenue to the Schooner Department, and request you to be so good as to sanction this payment if you deem it expedient. The improved communication would be a great boon to Niue, and the vessel would eventually acquire almost the whole carrying-trade of this island. I have, «fee, C. F. Maxwell, Resident Government Agent, Niue. The Hon. the Minister of Trade and Customs, Wellington.

No. 72.

No. 86. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 15th October, 1903. In response to a request sent by His Excellency the Governor with reference to having a boat-passage made through the reef at Tuapa, Admiral Fanshawe has stated that he will have the work carried out on the first favourable opportunity. I enclose a copy of the Admiral's letter to Lord Ranfurly. I have written to Togia informing him of the arrangement made. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Agent, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 87. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 16th October, 1903. I am in receipt of your letter of the 22nd September (No. 37, N.Z., 1903), stating that the " Countess of Ranfurly " had been chartered to Messrs. Grice, Sumner, and Co. for the summer months at the rate of .£5 per diem. The arrangement appears to be a very satisfactory one, and I think you have been fortunate in finding such profitable employment for the vessel during the slack season. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 75.

No. 88. Sir,— Niue, 16th October, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 63, of the 30th July last, referring to the importation of liquor into Niue. I beg to state that an Ordinance (No. 6) dealing with this subject has already been passed by the Niue Island Council, and forwarded to the Resident Commissioner for transmission to His Excellency the Governor. The provisions of this Ordinance, I think, will confer the necessary power to control the traffic in spirituous liquor in this island. If this Ordinance is assented to by the Governor no Niue Native will be able to obtain liquor. I have, &c., C. F. Maxwell, Government Agent, Niue. The Hon. the Minister of Trade and Customs, Wellington,

No. 40.