A.—3

12

3. That the Custodian shall cause a proper inventory of such property to be taken, and shall report the same within the four weeks above named to a Judge of the Federal Court, who may then order such property, or such portion thereof as he may consider necessary, to be realised, in such manner as may seem to him most suitable. 4. That the proceeds of such sale shall be deposited with the Federal Court and appropriated to the payment in full, or, if insufficient for that purpose, to the payment in such proportions as the Court may direct, with the approval of the British Eesident, of debts to the Federal Government or to the Government of any Island respectively. 5. That, failing the appointment of any person by the Chief of the Government, the Collector of Eevenue shall take all necessary action under this Act. Dated at Earotonga, this 20fch day of August, 1894. Approved. To come into operation forthwith.—2lst August, 1894. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Eesident.

No. 10. His Excellency the Goveenoe to Mr. J. F. Moss. Sic,— Wellington, 17th September, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch of the 14th August (No. 7), informing me that the Federal Parliament of the Cook Group has passed an Act " To establish a British currency" in lieu of the Chilian and other South American dollars which have become the current coin of the Islands. While I regret that the non-concurrence of one trader has prevented your reporting that the merchants and traders are unanimous in favour of the measure, I beg to congratulate you on your success in getting an enactment so important in the interests of the Island trade carried through the Legislature, and I trust you will find its success equal your anticipations. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, Earotonga. Glasgow.

No. 11. His Excellency the Goveenoe to Mr. F. J. Moss. Sic,— Wellington, 17th September, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch (No. 8) of the 14th August, enclosing the following Acts which have been passed by the Federal Parliament during the present session : (1) Supreme Court Amendment Act; (2) Passengers Act; (3) "Appropriation Act, 1894." Also (4), Declaration of Parliament as to System of Land Tenure; and (5) Estimates and Expenditure for 1893, 1894,1895. These Acts appear all to be highly necessary, and I am rejoiced to learn that $1,000 are devoted to the assistance of the school for teaching English; also that no further taxation has been necessary. I have, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Eesident, Earotonga. Glasgow.

No. 12. His Excellency the Goveenob to Mr. F. J. Moss. Bm,— Wellington, 17th September, 1894. I have the honour to acknowledge your despatch (No. 9) of 14th August, enclosing a resolution passed by the Federal Parliament with reference to the appointment of a medical practitioner in the Cook Islands. I am extremely glad to learn that such a resolution has been addressed to the head of the Government, as you mention, for I am very certain that upon such an appointment depends to a great extent the question whether those beautiful islands are to become in future the home of a healthy and increasing population, or whether the inhabitants are doomed to extinction. But, with reference to the address presented to you as regards the site of the temporary hospital, I regret that I am not able to approve of the proposal to use the Eesidency for that purpose, for the following reasons : — 1. The Eesidency is built on land granted to Her Majesty the Queen, with funds contributed by the Arikis of all the islands of the group. It therefore appears to me that it should not be put to a use which would, practically, be for the benefit of Earotonga alone. 2. The Eesidency, being intended by all the Islands to be used for the occupation of the Eesident, it would not, in my opinion, be proper to allow it to be used as a hospital. The next Besident might consider that the fact of its being so used would make it unsuitable as a residence. 3. Even if the first and second reasons had not the weight which I attribute to them, the Eesidency is not well situated for a hospital: it is too remote from the centre of the settlement, and not near enough to the public road. 4. If the Eesidency were allowed to be used as a temporary hospital, it would only put off the time for choosing a site until the appointment of the next Eesident. Its situation makes it as admirable as a Eesidency as it makes it undesirable as a hospital, and, therefore, the proposal that it might be granted permanently as a hospital cannot be entertained. At present, building sites in Avarua are scarce, and it is therefore advisable that a site should be procured without delay. . For these reasons I an unable to concur in approving of the Eesidency being used as a temporary hospital. I am, &c, F. J. Moss, Esq., British Resident, Earotonga. Glasgow.