49

A.—3,

VISIT OF GERMAN SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITION. No. 38. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 9th June, 1909. I have the honour to report, for the information of the New Zealand Government, that the North German Lloyd steamer " Natuna," of Bremen, 458 tons register, arrived at this island yesterday from Singapore, New Guinea, Fiji, &c, via Nukualofa, with a German scientific expedition (Hanseatische Sudsee Expedition) on board. The party landed this morning, broke up into sections, and made journeys into the interior for the purpose of obtaining specimens of the flora and fauna, &c, of the island. The party take their departure from Niue this evening bound for Apia. I am informed by Dr. G. Friederici, Ph.D.. the leader of the expedition, that after leaving Apia the party will proceed to the Cook Islands, Tahiti, and the Paumotus, in the order named, thence to the Marshalls, Carolines, and other German possessions in the Pacific. 1 have, &c, H. Cornwall, The Hon. James Carroll, Resident Commissioner. Minister in Charge, Cook Islands Administration, Wellington.

No. 39. Sir, — Cook Islands Administration, Wellington, 14th July, 1909. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 9th June last, reporting the visit of the German scientific expedition under Dr. G. Friederici to Niue, for the purpose of obtaining specimens of the flora and fauna of the island. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Niue. J. Carroll.

EDUCATION. No. 40. No. 16. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 14th August, 1909. Adverting to my letter of the 3rd ultimo, I have the honour to report that the Tufu School was opened on Tuesday, the 10th instant, with a complement of sixty-four boys, of varying ages. It was not intended that Mr. Malcolm should take so many pupils, but, as considerably over two hundred boys offered themselves, Mr. Malcolm undertook to extend the number from fortyfive to sixty-four, rather than disappoint so many. Each of the eleven villages has been given a certain number of places in the school, the number being arrived at on a population basis. 1 have further arranged that as soon as Mis. Malcolm arrives, probably in two months' time, to take, say, thirty young girls. With regard to the white children, and half-caste children living as whites, of which there are about half a dozen, arrangements will be matle to take them as dayscholars. When it was decided that the children should remain at the school as permanent boarders, the Natives of the various villages held a meeting, and, as a result, have erected in the school grounds a large Native house for the children to have their food in. Part of the house is suitably partitioned off for the storage of food, while the remainder is fitted with permanent tables and forms for meal purposes. Owing to the adoption of the plan of the pupils living at the school, 11 became necessary to appoint a Native married couple to assist in the general work outside the class-rooms. This has been done at a combined salary of £36 per annum. A very large crowd of Natives assembled from all parts of the island to assist in the opening festivities, bringing with them a wealth of food presents. Speeches suitable to the occasion were delivered by Mr. Malcolm, the Rev. Mr. Lawes, and myself. Great satisfaction was expressed by the Natives assembled at the buildings, and arrangements made for accommodating the pupils, and altogether the school has started its work under the most favourable auspices. With reference to the technical branch, I have arranged for a carpenter's shop, the dimensions of which will be 28 ft. by 14 ft., and provision will be made therein for twelve boys' benches. The erection of the buildings will be undertaken by Mr. Malcolm, with the assistance of the pupils. A blacksmith's shop will also be erected as time goes on, and at the last meeting of the Niue Island Council a vote of £50 was passed, to be expended when necessary in equipping the shops with tools, including a small turning-lathe. At this stage it may interest you to learn that the total expenditure on the whole scheme to date has amounted to £1,552, made up as follows: — £ s . d. Levelling site and grounds ... ... ... ... ... 66 10 8 School building ... ... ... ... ... ... 835 14 2 Residence and outbuildings ... ... ... ... ... 543 7 11 Reservoir, including pipes and pumps ... ... ... 54 16 7 Boundary-wall and gates ... ... ... ... ... 1813 6 School stationery, &c. ... ... ... ... ... 17 14 6 School furniture ... ... ■ • •• ■■■ 14 18 6 In addition to the foregoing there are liabilities amounting to about £150, as follow: Residence, £5: school furniture, £55; carpenter's shop (material only), £25; blacksmith's shop (material only), £15; tools for shops, £50.