A.— ;

No. 2.

Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 18th May, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 18th April last; covering your very full and interesting report on the Cook and Northern Islands for the year ending the 31st March, 1908. I have, &c, . The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jambs McGowan. «

DEATH OF RESIDENT AGENT, ATIU. No. 3. Sir, — Rarotonga, 17th June, 1907. I have the honour to report that about three months since a report came to me that Adolf yon Nagel, of Atiu, was dead, and that he had poisoned himself. I did not report this to you, as no man of experisnce can put faith in Maori reports. I therefore waited the arrival of the Mission boat " John Williams," and on the 11th May visited that island, and inquired into the circumstances attending the death of Yon Nagel. There can be no doubt that Yon Nagel committed suicide, and before doing so burned all the books of his old business, which he had given up some four years ago. From statements made me by the people of Atiu I gather that Yon Nagel was not in his right mind when he committed suicide. I do not think that the Government funds —viz., Court fees —are deficient. I have, &c, The Hon. James McGowan, Minister administering Islands. W. E. Gudgeon.

No. 4. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 9th July, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th June, and regret to hear of the death of Mr. Adolf yon Nagel, the Resident Agent at Atiu. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jambs McGowan.

VISIT OF RESIDENT COMMISSIONER TO ISLANDS OF GROUP. No. 5. Sir, — Rarotonga, 17th June, 1907. I have the honour to report, for the information of the Hon. the Minister administering these Islands, that I have made my usual tour of inspection through the Cook and Northern Islands. I left here on the 7th May in the s.s. " John Williams," and returned on the sth June, after visiting every island in the group. At Mangaia the people who have been troublesome are now quiet, but I have had to punish certain turbulent Europeans who have encouraged bush-beer drinking and resistance to the law by heavy fines —£9 and £6 respectively. At Mauke there are the usual land disputes, which will be set at rest for ever, since I am sending Mr. Connal and party to survey that island about the Ist July next. At Mitiaro and Atiu the people are quiet, and at the former island are industriously developing the place by means of roads and.cocoanut-planting. At Aitutaki most valuable work has been done in the matter of conservation of water. The spring at Arutanga has been concreted both for drinking and washing purposes; also large 8,000 gallon concrete tanks built at Nika.upara and Vaipae. At Penrhyn the hostility of the two settlements, Omoka and Te Tautua, one against the other continues, and, taking advantage of the absence of Captain Nagle from the island, the former people have seized on all the nuts of four small islands. They hud some provocation, but I have told them I will not allow them to take the law into their own hands, and have taken the four islands into the hands of the High Court, and will hold them until the share of the Tautua people has been repaid. At Manihiki and Rakahanga there is neither trouble nor bickering. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. James McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 6. Sir, — " Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 9th July, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 17th June last, reporting your visit through the Cook and Northern Islands. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga . James McGowan.

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