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university colleges to one of which a student must join himself in order to graduate, are quite undenominational in the constitution of their governing bodies, and all their privileges are open to any subject of Her Majesty. 2. My Government have no means of ascertaining how many of the total number of university students are Eoman Catholics. 3. With regard to the governing bodies, the Most Eeverend Archbishop Eedwood is a Fellow of the Senate of the University, the Eight Eeverend Bishop Grimes is a member of the Board of Governors of the Canterbury College, and the Very Eeverend Dr. Waiters is on the Council of the Victoria College, Wellington. 4. These have been elected not as Eoman Catholics, but in the same way as other citizens. Similarly, my Ministers inform me that they understand that one layman of the Eoman Catholic Church is a Fellow of the University Senate, a second is on the Auckland University College Council, and a third is on the Council of the Victoria College. I have, &c, The Eight Hon. J. Chamberlain, EANFUELY. Secretary of State for the Colonies.

No. 19. (No. 64.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 18th September, 1899. I have the honour to inform you that the Cook Islands Legislature have passed the following Bills, which have received the assent of the British Besident : — (1.) " Import Duties Act 1898 Amendment Act, 1899 " : This Act raises the duty on spirits to 12s. per proof gallon; the duty prior to this was 10 per cent, ad valorem. (2.) An Act to provide for the Institution of Local Government within the Islands of the Cook Group : This Act was passed at the instance of the chief men of Barotonga, in order to define the powers of that local body known as the " Au," and it has met with such general approval that it has been adopted by every island of the group. (3.) An Act to provide for the Bating of Land in the Occupation of Foreigners : This Act is for the purpose of making foreign residents contribute the proportion of cost to the construction of bridges and the maintenance of roads, and is a necessary sequence of No. 2. 2. The Parliament have also done much good work in revising and codifying the laws of Mangaia and Aitutaki, which were in a state of chaos. Colonel Gudgeon, the British Besident, expresses his belief that the new code will be adopted by all the other islands of the group. 3. The statement of revenue and expenditure for the past year is satisfactory, and there is an actual cash surplus of over £380. Owing to the primitive printing arrangements at Barotonga the Besident has not, so far, been able to forward the balance-sheet. 4. The Group continues to remain in a satisfactory state. I have, &c, The Bight Hon. J. Chamberlain, BANFUBLY. Secretary of State for the Colonies

No. 20. (No. 67.) Sir, — Government House, Wellington, 29th September, 1899. I have the honour to enclose you a resolution passed by the House of Bepresentatives on the 28th September. On the declaration of the division —fifty-four in favour and five against—there was a scene of the greatest enthusiasm, the whole House rising and singing the National Anthem, followed by rounds of applause.