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No. 24. S IR) — Cook Islands Administration, Wellington, 27th November, 1909. Referring to previous correspondence, I beg to forward herewith Warrant under the hand of His Excellency the Governor, appointing Mr. G. Esam to be Fruit Inspector for the Cook Islands (other than Nine Island). I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. J. Caeholl.

No. 25. Sir, — Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 29th November, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, informing me that Mr. G. Esam, Orchard Inspector, is to succeed Mr. A. E. Reid as Fruit Inspector, and will leave for Rarotonga by the steamer this month. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, The Hon. James Carroll, Resident Commissioner. Minister in Charge, Cook Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 26. Sir, Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 6th December, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (C.1.A., 09/123, No. 271). dated 27th November last, enclosing a Warrant under the hand of His Excellency the Governor appointing Mr. G. Esam to be Fruit Inspector for the Cook Islands (other than Niue), and to inform you that the Warrant has been handed to Mr. Esam. Mr. Esam arrived yesterday. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, The Hon. James Carroll, Resident Commissioner. Minister in Charge, Cook Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 27. gi R) Cook Islands Administration, Wellington, 31st December, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd November last, forwarding the report of Mr. Reid, Inspector of Fruit, which I have read with much interest. I presume that you have communicated the remarks of Mr. Reid on the picking and packing of the fruit from the various islands to the Resident Agents, and have instructed them to impress upon growers and shippers the urgent necessity of carrying out the suggestions of the Inspector. The question of extending the Fruit Ordinance to the other islands, and of making regular visits by the Inspector, must be left to the local Administration. The duplicate copy of the report has been forwarded to the Hon. the Minister of Agriculture. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. J. Carroll.

No. 28. g IR Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 25th January, 1910. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 31st December last (No. 3, C.1.A., 09/126), and, in reply, to inform you that I have taken all the necessary action with regard to the subject mentioned. I refer you to my letter K 1, of 11th October last, in which I pointed out to you that something should be done to improve the packing of fruit, and to grant powers to the Resident Agents to not only reject, but inspect shipments of fruit. I have now the honour to inform you that the Agents residing upon the islands of Mangaia, Aitutaki, and Atiu have been duly gazetted Local Inspectors under the Fruit Inspection and Diseases Ordinance, 1909, with power to appoint in writing some fit or proper persons to act for them on steamer-days. _ I enclose for your information copy of a letter containing notification of appointment and instructions, posted to each Agent in the islands named. . This question is of such importance to the welfare of the fruit industry that it is my intention, if time will permit, to accompany the new Inspector, Mr. Esam, when he is visiting the islands, xvhich I hope will be at the beginning of the season. I have, &c, J. Eman Smith, The Hon. James Carroll, Resident Commissioner. Minister in Charge, Cook Islands Administration. Wellington.