A.—3.

that the schoolmaster should be chosen not so much for his educational qualifications, but rather that he should be capable of establishing, in conjunction with "the ordinary school, a small technical branch, in: which suitable boys could be taught carpentry, wood-turning, and, if possible, metalwork. The position briefly is this : Niue urgently requires both a mail and cargo service and a school, but, owing to her limited resources, she could not bear the cost of both; therefore, if the New Zealand Government is unwilling to help Niue in one of the .projects, one or the other will have to be abandoned —an event I should greatly deplore. As the matter is one that is looming large in the Native eye just now, I should be glad if you will inform me by return boat of the Minister's views on the subject. I have, &c, . H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 71. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 3rd December, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th November, with reference to the matter of establishing a school in Niue. In reply, I have the honour to inquire whether the Islands Administration will provide a school-building and a residence for the teacher, and also undertake the upkeep of the school and residence. If so, this Government will be prepared to pay the salary of the teacher, who would be selected in New Zealand. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. James McGowan.

No. 72. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 30th December, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd instant, with reference to the matter of establishing a school for Niue. In the short time at my disposal before the " Waiapu " sails again there is not sufficient time to call the Island Council together to discuss the matter, but I am confident that the Council will agree to provide a school-building and residence for the teacher, and also maintain the buildings, providing the Government of New Zealand will undertake the payment,of the teacher's salary. Ido not think there will be any difficulty in the matter of obtaining a site, as I have several pieces of land under offer at the present time, any of which I am informed will be presented to the Crown for school purposes free of cost. I have suspended negotiations with the Natives lately, as I desired to obtain your views before finally committing myself in the matter. I will undertake to convey the Island Council's decision in the matter by the first mail that leaves after the hurricane season, and will forward to you sketch-plans and a list of the necessary building materials that will be required. Should the proposal be finally approved by the Minister, arrangements can then be made to have the orders for the necessary material executed, and the erection of the buildings can be taken immediately on the arrival of the material at Niue. I hope that when the time comes for selecting a schoolmaster every effort will be made to obtain a man who will be capable of establishing a small technical school in conjunction with the ordinary school, as indicated in my letter of the 12th November last. The action of the New Zealand Government in agreeing to pay the salary of the teacher will, I am surej give great satisfaction here, and will strengthen my hands very much. I have, &c, H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 73. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 4th April, 1908. With reference to your letter (C.1.07/100) dated 3rd December last, and my reply thereto of the 30th of the same month, concerning the establishment of a public school at Niue, I have the honour to report as follows : — The Niue Island Council has agreed to build a school and schoolmaster's residence, and maintain the same, out of the funds of the Niue Island Administration, provided the New Zealand Government will send a suitable schoolmaster to Niue and pay his salary. In putting the project before the Council and Natives generally, I managed to work up a considerable amount of interest in the matter, with the result that representative Natives from each of the eleven villages met at Alofi, and decided that, as soon as I had selected a suitable piece of land and arranged as to the price to be paid to the owners, they would publicly subscribe, the necessary sum a,nd present the land to the King of England. . •

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