A.—3.

■No. 20. Sir, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 14th July, 1905. Referring to your letter of the Ist November last, forwarding a petition from the King and chiefs of Nine, oraying His Excellency the Governor that the remuneration of the King and officials of the island be increased; that the members of the Niue Island Council be elected annually; and that day-labour be substituted for piecework, I have to state that His Excellency has directed that the petitioners be informed that nothing can be done at present in the direction of increasing the salaries paid to the King and the Government officials; that it is deemed advisable that the members of the Niue Island Council should continue to hold office for a term of three years, as provided by Ordinance; and that it is not desired to make any change in the system of paying for roadwork on Niue, as it is believed that the plan followed by the Resident Commissioner is fair and reasonable, alike from the standpoint of the Natives and the Government. I shall be glad if you will convey His Excellency's decision to the King and other petitioners. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H Mills.

A.-3, 1905, No. 96.

No. 21. g IRj Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Uth July, 1905. I beg to forward herewith a copy of an Order in Council which has been passed directing that the additional Regulations, Nos. 7, 8, and 9, made under section 50 of " The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901," shall have operation in the Cook and other Islands, arid amending the proviso to Regulation 3, as contained in the Order in Council of the 28th October, 1904. The new Order in Council appears in this week's Gazette. I have, (fee, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H, Mills.

Enclosure. Additional Regulations under Section 50 of !I The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901," to have Operation in the Cook and other Islands.

Plunket, Governor. Order in Council. At the Government House, at Wellington, this eighth day of July, 1905. Present: : ~; His Excellency the Governor in Council. Whereas by section three of "The Cook and other Islands Government Act Amendment Act, 1902 " it is enacted that the Governor may from time to time, by Order in Council, direct that any of the laws in force in New Zealand proper (other than the laws relating to the sale of intoxicating liquors) shall have operation and be observed in the said islands, either in whole or with such modifications as may" be necessary to adapt them to the conditions and circumstances of the said islands and the inhabitants thereof: And whereas by Order in Council thereunder dated the twenty-eighth day of October, one thousand nine hundred and four, and gazetted on the third day of November, one thousand nine hundred and four His Excellency the Governor did order that section fitly of "The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901," and the regulations in force under such section made on the fourth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and one should have operation and be observed in the said islands with the modifications shown in the Appendix thereto: And whereas it is expedient to amend regulation three of the said regulations as modified, and also to direct that certain additional regulations made under the said section fifty shall have operation and be observed in the said islands with such modifications as hereinafter appear : Now therefore, His Excellency the Governor of the Colony of New Zealand in pursuance and exercise of the powers and authorities conferred by " The Cook and other Islands Government Ac Amendment Act, 1902," and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of theTaid colony, doth hereby amend the proviso to regulation three of the said regu ations as modified and set out in the Appendix to the said Order in Council of the twenty-eighth day of October one thousand nine hundred and four, by substituting the words Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court " for the words " High Court " ; and doth also hereby order that the additional leAlationTmade under the said section fifty on the eleventh and gazetted on the twenty-sixth day of May one thousand nine hundred and four, shall have operation and be observed in the said islands with the modifications shown in the Appendix hereto.

2—A. 3.

11