31

A.— B

Pests and Diseases. A pamphlet has been prepared on our plantation pests, &c. A short life-history of each has been given, and also hints on control where possible. This pamphlet when printed and circulated will, I hope, prove of benefit to local planters, and also of interest to horticulturists in other tropical countries. Competition. T. W. Kirk, Esq., Director of Orchards, &c, New Zealand, is kindly forwarding a shield for competition. This is for yearly competition, and is to be awarded to the village packin°the best fruit for export. The shield ultimately becomes the property of the village winningit three times in succession or at intervals. I feel sure competition will be keen. Our thanks are due to Mr. Kirk for his generous gift. Other Islands. I regret that owing to pressure of work locally I was unable to visit the other islands of the Group. Mr. E. T. Taylor, Orchard Instructor, New Zealand, has been appointed to assist in the Group. On arrival he will take charge of the instruction and inspection work in the outlying islands, and also when possible relieve me of this work in Rarotonga. Experimental Work. The land which the Administration acquired for drainage purposes has been well fenced, and about 2 acres cleared, stumped, and ploughed, and an experimental nursery and testingground established. Another 4 acres has been cleared, partly stumped, and ploughed This will make an excellent testing-ground for useful trees and fruits from other tropical countries 'I he remaining 6 acres will be taken in hand and cleared as soon as possible, and will serve as fl testing-ground. An implement-shed and propagation-houses have been erected, and over a thousand seedling orange-plants were raised for propagation during the season Over thirty varieties of citrus trees were planted out for propagation and testing purposes, also a few varieties of other likely fruits. A collection of useful plants from Hawaii and Jamaica are already makinoa good show in pots, while a collection of varieties of bananas growing locally has also been planted, and will no doubt prove of interest to oversea visitors. Plants are on order from other tropical countries, and when planted will, I feel certain, prove of interest, and I hope in many instances of benefit, to our local planters and Natives. In addition to supervising the work on the experimental nursery, demonstrations in methods of renovating old orange-trees were given m each of the settlements. The instruction hag "caught on "—so much so that there are more requests for instruction than can be attended to. However, demonstrations will again be given unci with a little more tuition the Natives should make a creditable showing. This branch of work is an important one. as unless the existing orange-trees are pruned and attended to our orange industry will suffer considerably, and it will be some years yet before the trees to be propagated and distributed from the experimental nursery will come into bearing and make ud the deficiency. Considering the experimental work has only been instituted one year creditable progress has been made, and on the appointment of Mr. Taylor more time will be devoted to propagation experimental, and instruction work. In conclusion,'thanks are due to the authorities of other countries for collections of seeds received and proimsed, and also to Messrs. D. Hay and Sons, Auckland, for their promise of a collection of timber-trees. E. A. Reid, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Fruit Inspector

LAND TITLES COURT. The following Order in Council, amending the Order in Council establishing the Cook Islands Land Titles Court, was deemed necessary to facilitate the operations of the Court : Amending Order in Council establishing Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court.

Liverpool, Governor. Order in Council. At the Government House, at Wellington, this eleventh day of August, 1913. Present: His Excellency the Governor in Council. Whereas by Order in Council made on the seventh day of July, one thousand nine hundred and two, under the powers in that behalf conferred upon the Governor in Council by the Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901, and its amendments, the Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court (hereinafter called " the said Court") was established, with the power and functions in the said Order in Council mentioned: And whereas it is expedient to amend the said Order in Council ;n manner hereinafter appearing: