A.—3.

After protracted negotiations I decided upon a suitable piece of land, known as " Tufu," situate in South Alofi, and the owners agreed to sell the land for the sum of £100. On making my decision known to the Natives, they at once set about collecting subscriptions, with the result , that £108 was raised, and it was agreed that the whole sum should be paid to the owners of " Tufu." I then prepared the necessary deed of conveyance, in the English and Niue languages, and it was duly signed on the Ist instant, in the presence of a large gathering of representative Natives. As no survey has been made in the neighbourhood of " Tufu," I prepared the plan attached to the deed of conveyance by observations made by means of a prismatic compass, and am satisfied that the plan and descriptive matter is sufficient to fully identify the property. On the 2nd instant a meeting of the Niue Island Council was held, and an Ordinance was passed confirming and ratifying the sale. The deed of conveyance and the Ordinance are being forwarded by this mail under separate cover. I have prepared plans for a building 100 ft. in length by 30 ft. in breadth, the whole to be surrounded by a verandah 8 ft. 3 in. wide. The building will be divided into three rooms, and the floors will be made of concrete throughout. The principal class-room will be 40 ft. by 29 ft., and the other two rooms 29 ft. by 29 ft. each. One of the two smaller rooms will probably have to be fitted up as a sleeping-room for boys who come from distant villages (see ground-plan attached hereto). The walls of the building will be 13 ft. high, and will be constructed of timber covered with laths and plaster made from coral lime. lam ordering a quantity of kauri timber for those parts of the building where it is necessary to have perfectly straight and square timber. For ordinary studs between windows and doors, tie beams, king posts, struts, &c, I propose to use kavika (Niue hardwood), which is very strong and durable. I am also ordering corrugated galvanised iron, ridging, guttering, downpipes, nails, hydraulic lime and cement, &c. The Natives have promised to make and present to me, free of cost, all the lime I require for the schoolhouse and master's residence, and as a considerable quantity will be necessary, their generous offer will mean a considerable saving in the cost of construction. As the roof of the schoolhouse will provide an excellent catchment, I propose to construct a concrete tank with a capacity of about 7,500 gallons, so that the school may always be provided with a good supply of fresh water for washing and domestic purposes. I attach hereto the orders on Auckland firms with whom we are in the habit of dealing for the necessary material required for the schoolhouse, and, provided there is no hitch, I should be glad if you would forward the orders to the Auckland firms addressed as early as possible, so that the material may be prepared in time for despatch by the first direct ship. If, as I expect, the material comes to hand about June, the building will be put in hand straight away. In the meantime I will have the ground cleared and the concrete foundations put in. I now propose to get out plans for a residence containing about five rooms, suitable for the schoolmaster, and will order the necessary material therefor by the next mail. The material should then come to hand about the time the schoolhouse will be completed, and the men will then be available to commence building the residence. In conclusion, I would like to acknowledge the great assistance I have received in this matter from the Rev. F. E. Lawes, Resident Missionary, in bringing the negotiations to a successful issue. I have, &c, H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 74. Sic, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 2nd June, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the ith April, stating that the Niue Island Council has agreed to erect a school building and teacher's residence and to maintain the same, and that the Natives had collected a sum of money with which a site has been purchased and conveyed to His Majesty the King. It is gratifying to find the Natives taking so much interest in the matter, and, as I have already stated, this Government will select a suitable master for the school in New Zealand, and will pay his salary. The orders for the material for the schoolhouse have been sent forward to the respective parties. I shall be glad if you will advise me as to when the buildings will be ready, so that the necessary arrangements can be made with regard to the teacher. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. - James McGowan.

No. 75. Sir, —- Niue Island Administration, Niue, 4th April, 1908. I have the honour to transmit herewith the deed, in the English and Niue languages, conveying the piece of land selected as a site for a public school from the Native owners to His Majesty King Edward the Seventh; also an Ordinance entitled " Niue Island Public School Ordi-

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