A.—3

10

(3.) That any person charged with either of the above offences shall be brought before the Arikis' Court of the district in which the offence has been committed, and may by the said Court be sent as a prisoner for trial by the Federal Court in Rarotonga. (4.) That if the said prisoner be found guilty of murder he shall suffer death, or such other punishment as the Federal Court may award. (5.) That if the said prisoner be found guilty of murderous assault he shall suffer such punishment, not exceeding ten years' imprisonment with hard labour, as the Court may award. (6.) That these sentences shall be subject to approval by the Chief of the Government and the British Resident, and when so approved shall be carried out in such manner and by such persons as the Chief of the Government may in writing appoint. Dated at Avarua, this 27th day of July, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident. —10th August, 1896.

Enclosure No. 5. No. 5, 1896.—Hospital Boabd. Wheeeas it is desirable that the hospital should as much as possible be under the supervision of the people, and receive their full sympathy and support : Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands :— (1.) That the Chief of the Government may at any time authorise the formation of a Hospital Board, to consist of twelve persons, namely,— Six persons elected yearly by all other than Maoris who have been for the previous year resident in the Cook Islands; Six persons, of whom two shall be elected yearly by the Maori people of Avarua, two by the people of Takitumu, and two by the people of Arorangi; And may make all necessary arrangements and regulations for the conduct of such elections. (2.) It shall be lawful for the Government, in the formation of such a Board, to hand over to it the hospital, and to pay to said Board any sums available for the maintenance of such hospital. (3.) The entire management and control of the said hospital shall be vested in the Board, which shall send to the Chief of the Government, not later than the Bth day of July in each year, a full report on the hospital and accounts of its expenditure to the 30th June preceding. (4.) The British Resident and any Ariki of any of the Cook Islands shall, ex officio, be Visitors of the said hospital. (5.) The said Board shall regulate its own proceedings, and, in event of a vacancy among the members, shall appoint some person to act until the next regular election. Dated at Avarua, the 6th day of August, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.

Enclosure No. 6. No. 6, 1896.—T0 steengthen Aeikis' Covets. Be it enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of Cook Islands :— 1. That if any person neglect or refuse to obey the judgment of an Arikis' Court in any of the Cook Islands the Judge of such Court may, with the previous approval in writing of the British Resident, cause such person to be sent in proper custody for trial by the Federal Court in Rarotonga for contempt of Court. 2. That the prosecution shall be in the name of the local government of the island in which the contempt was committed, but the costs of sending the person for trial shall be borne by the Federal Government. 3. That the penalty for such contempt of Court shall be any sum not exceeding twenty pounds, in addition to enforcing the original judgment of the Arikis' Court, and, failing the payment of such .fine and the satisfaction of such judgment, to such term of imprisonment in Rarotonga, not exceeding six months, and with or without hard labour, as the Federal Court may, with the approval of the British Resident, decide. Dated at Avarua, this sth day of August, 1896. Approved. To go into operation forthwith. Feedeeick J. Moss, British Resident.—loth August, 1896.

Enclosure No. 7. No. 7, 1896.—Appeopeiation Act, 1896. It is hereby enacted by the British Resident and the Parliament of the Cook Islands, — 1. That the expenditure for the public service for the year ending the 30th June, 1896, shall not exceed the sums stated in Schedule A of this Act, amounting in all to one thousand seven hundred and forty-two pounds twelve shillings. 2. That the Chief of the Government, with the approval of the British Resident, may authorise the transfer of moneys from any vote (other than a vote for salaries) to any vote (other than a