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No. 113. g IR> Niue, Ist December, 1903. I have the honour to submit for your favourable consideration a project for conserving the large quantity of rain-water from the roof of the Government Building here. I propose to excavate a reservoir in a convenient position and construct a cistern capable of containing 2,000 or 3,000 gallons of water, connecting it by piping with the Residency. The large area of catchment-surface would speedily fill the reservoir in the rainy season. With the aid of a pump the villagers would be able to obtain an ample supply of pure drinking-water. This_ would be a great boon to them, as the water derived from the rock caverns is more or less brackish. I am afraid the same condition would be found in wells sunk in this part of the island. I intend, however, when the appliances arrive, to put down wells in those settlements which are unprovided with similar facilities for collecting rain-water which are available in Alofi. I do not anticipate that the cost of this work will exceed the estimate given below: — £ s. d. Cement (twenty bags New Zealand, four casks Portland) ... ... 6 6 0 Piping ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 0 0 Pump ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 2 0 0 Collecting-tank ... ... ... ... ... ... 210 0 240 ft. O.G. spouting ... ... ... ... ... 210 0 Brackets, screws, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 140 Labour ... ... ... ... ... .. ... 10 0 0 £29 10 0 If you approve of this suggestion, kindly authorise the purchase of the material. I will order it to come by the " Countess "in May next. The schooner is expected to visit Niue in February next, and should bring a mail for us. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Government Resident Agent. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister of Trade and Customs, Wellington.

No. 114. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— 2nd December, 1903. You will be glad to learn that I have succeeded in getting the Cook Islands Amendment Bill passed, validating the constitution of the present Federal Council, and all Ordinances passed by it up to date. I send you three copies of the Act herewith. You will notice that provision has been made for the present Council to continue in office until the 31st December, 1904. We shall now have the Islands administration placed on a secure and valid foundation. I am now taking steps to have an Order in Council passed reducing the duty on the lower-class tobacco for the benefit of the Natives who use it. It is proposed to make the duty Is. a pound on all tobacco invoiced at or under Is. a pound. I sent you a wire to this effect by the " Ranfurly " a few days ago. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 115. Cook and other Island Wanganui, Sir,— 7th December, 1903. I enclose a copy of " The Cook and other Islands Act Amendment Act, 1903." As already advised by wire, I am having an Order in Council gazetted reducing to Is. a pound the duty on all tobacco invoiced at or under Is. a pound. I will send a copy of the Gazette on my return to Wellington. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Agent, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 116. Sib,— Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 16th December, 1903. Before the Land Titles Court makes any reservation and vesting order, under subsection (10a), of section 10 of the Order in Council establishing the Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court, I think it would be wise to obtain the opinion of the Attorney-General on the following points: — 1. Does subsection (10a) of section 10 of the Order in Council come within section 6 of "The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901," or is such subsection (10a) supplemental to section 15 of the said Act? 2. Can the Land Titles Court act under such subsection (10a) with or without a Proclamation being made under section 15 of the Act? 3. Can the powers conferred by section 15 of the Act be acted on without reference to the Land Titles Court? It will be noticed that section 15 gives no power to determine compensation for land taken, while subsection (10a) gives the Court such power. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands, Wellington, N.Z.