A.—3a

11

on. Possibly education as to the evil physical results may in time do some good, but I greatly doubt it. Some form of the Contagious Diseases Act applicable to men and women alike might be tried. At the least, any one convicted of an offence against the laws relating to adultery and illicit sexual intercourse should be compelled to submit to a medical examination for venereal disease. I must confess these suggestions seem futile even to myself, but even out of condemnation of them some proposal of value may come. I observe proposals for obtaining a Government vessel to be used for health purposes. This is desirable enough if the expense can be provided for. The unassisted resources of the Islands cannot do it. And I fear the expense will be greater than has been estimated. Ido not know what a suitable vessel would cost, but probably ,£4,000, and I am told the upkeep would be £100 a month at the least. There would be small opportunity of earning remunerative freights. There are three schooners now trading in these Islands, and a fourth is said to be coming shortly. There would probably be a prejudice against "the hospital ship." The proposal therefore needs very careful consideration. I would prefer, at any rate, to see it postponed till it can be seen how the Health Department as now constituted can manage under existing conditions, and to my mind it certainly ought to be postponed to the question of water-supply. Live-stock Department. It seems to me doubtful whether the benefits gained are commensurate with the expense of this department, and in view of the many urgent calls upon the public purse it should be considered whether this department should not be abolished. General . There are other matters to which I might refer, but I think all of them have previously been fully reported upon at different times and it is needless to do so again. My observation and experience during my residence of over seven months in these Islands can only lead me to say that, while there must necessarily be room for difference of opinion on details of administration, the general result shows that valuable work has been done, and is beingdone, for the health and prosperity of the community, and that there is no serious cause for complaint. I have received every assistance from the various officers of the Administration, whom I have found both zealous and-efficient in their several capacities. As a whole I consider the Administration fortunate in its staff. I have, &c, Chas. MacCormiok, Judge, Acting Resident"Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington. Memorandum for Acting Resident Commissioner. Re IjOndon Missionary Society Schools. Rarotonga, 31st October, 1912. Generally speaking, the lands occupied in the various islands of the Group by the London Missionary Society for school purposes were the subject of grants many )-ears ago by the Native owners of the lands. These grants have been confirmed by the Land Titles Court, and freehold certificates of title to the same issued in favour of the London Missionary Society corporation, subject to the condition that the land should be used for school or church purposes, as the case may be. There are, however, differences in some cases, which I will particularize. 1. The Araura School at Aitutaki (Allotment 80, Arutanga). —The title to this is in the name of the London Missionary Society corporation, and the encumbrances noted thereon are as follows : " The conditions contained in the grant of the land to the London Missionary Society dated the 16th day of November, 1898, document lodged in the Court No. 105 : the condition that the said land shall be used by the London Missionary Society as a site for a school." The condition contained in the grant is as follows : " We, the owners of the land, sign our names to this paper as proof that we have given this section of land to the London Missionary Society, that it may remain in the possession of that society until the day it ends its work on this island. When that time comes the land will revert to the owners." 2. The Schoolhouse at Arotanga, Aitutaki (Allotment —The title to this is in the name of the London Missionary Society corporation, and the encumbrances noted thereon are as follows : " The conditions contained in the grant of the land to the London Missionary Society dated the day of January, 1877, document lodged in the Court No. 103 : the conditions that the said land shall be used by the London Missionary Society for school purposes, and that on default being made in such use the land shall revert to the Crown." 3. The Tereora School, Rarotonga (Allotment 106b, Nikao). —This is a leasehold, now vested in the London Missionary Society corporation. The term of the lease is thirty years from the Ist January, 1894, and is renewable. Annual rent, 100 dollars, or £10.

3—A. 3a,