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No. 41. Sir, — Cook and other [elands Administration, Wellington, -'ird October, 1906. I have the honour t<> acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the lltli September, reporting thai ,\on have appointed Pokino and Puroku Native Magistrates for Tamarua and Ivirua respectively, and. in reply, (<> inform you thai your action meets with my approval. I liave, iVc. The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga Jambs McGowan.

No. 42. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 3rd October, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 11th September, reporting that you have appointed the Collector of Customs to act for you as Resident Commissioner, and Mr. Blame, Registrar of High Court, to act as Magistrate, during your absence from Cook Islands, and, in reply, to inform you that your action meets with my approval. 1 have, Ac, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James MoGowan.

DUTY OX BI.AOK-TWJST TOBACCO. No. 43. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 23rd September, 1906. 1 have the honour to inform you that representations have been made to me by merchants that the price of black-twist tobacco has now advanced to a figure beyond Is. per pound, and thai consequently it will not reap the advantage: of the reduced rate of duty fixed by Order in Council. Prom inquiries I have made it appears that the current quotations for this class of tobacco are —Black Swan twist, Is. 2d. pel , pound; Lion twist, Is. to Is. Id. per pound. It is suggested that the limit of price might be raise-d to Is. 3d. per pound, and I propose to recommend the issue of iin Order in Council fixing that limit; but before doing so I shall lie glad to have your views on the subject. Kindly let me have your reply by return mail. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jamrs McGowan.

No. 44. Sin, — • Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 10th October, 1906. In reply to your letter of the 23rd September on the subject of the duty now imposed on tobacco known as Beaoonsfield twist, I am informed In the traders of this island that only those who import direct from .America can obtain the black-twist tobacco at Is., and therefore the smaller traders who purchase from Auckland merchants have to pay more than Is., and are seriously handicapped by that fact. I think that if the price was fixed at Is. 2d. per pound it might perhaps meet the difficulty; but. I do not make a point of this, as any price would suit that would keep the superior class tobacco (like Derby) from coming in under Is. per pound duty. I have, A-c., W. E. GuiiiiKON, The Hon. the Minister administering Islands Resident Commissioner.

No. 45. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 7th November, 1906. Referring to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of an Order in Council revoking the Order in Council of the 2nd August, 1905, reducing to Is. the pound the duty on certain tobacco imported into the Cook and other Islands, and fixing the duty on black-twist tobacco imported into the said Islands at Is. the pound where the genuine invoice value at the time of importation does not exceed Is. 3d. per pound. The Order in Council will be published in this week's issue of the New Zealand Gazette. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner. Rarotonga. James McGowan.

Enclosure. Duty on certain Tobacco imported into the Cook and other Islands reduced. Plunket, Governor. Order in Council. At the Government House, at Christchurch, this sixth day of November, 1906. Present: His Excellency the Governor in Council. In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by "The Cook and other Islands Government Acl Amendment Act, 1902," and "The Cook and other Islands Government Act Amendment Act, 190.?." and of all other powers and authorities enabling him in this behalf, His Excellency the

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