5

A.—3

the district and sentenced to pay the dollars due, in addition to six shillings and sixpence costs of Court, and in default of payment may be sentenced to not exceeding fourteen days' hard labour on the public roads. The Ariki of the district shall recommend some building for the approval of the Chief of the Government and the British Resident, who may gazette the same a gaol for the purposes of this Act. 10. And whereas the ancient right of raui has, with the consent of the Arikis, devolved upon the Au of each district: Be it enacted that it shall be the duty of the Au to increase the power of production of the land under their jurisdiction by— (a.) Causing cocoanuts to be planted on waste lands; (b.) Beporting to the Chief of the Government the names of all of those landowners who neglect their land; (c.) Placing a raui over the cocoanuts or other fruits of the island in order to prevent undue waste of the said fruits ; („.) Protecting the lands of the sick, infirm, or inferior members of the tribe from the depredations of others; (c.) Arranging with the traders of Barotonga or other places, either by tender or otherwise, with the view of obtaining uniformity of price for the producers. 12. In order to effect these objects the Au may, with the approval of the British Resident, proclaim in the Cook Islands Gazette a raui over the whole or any part of their district: Provided that such Proclamation shall state plainly what thing it is that is to be protected, and also the duration of the raui : Provided also that it shall be necessary to obtain the concurrence of village authorities before outlying village lands are included in a raui. 13. And whereas it has been found that certain Maoris have during the continuance of a raui plundered the fruit of other people, and sold the same secretly to European traders : Be it enacted that any trader who shall purchase cocoanuts during the continuance of a raui shall give notice to the President of the Au of his district of such purchase. Any trader who shall fail to give notice of such purchase shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding twenty shillings. 14. Any trader may be called upon to explain the possession of a large quantity of cocoanuts if the Au have reason to believe that they have been stolen; to this end the Au shall report the matter to the British Resident, who may demand an explanation if required. 15. Every trader shall keep a book in which he shall enter the name of each person of whom he has purchased produce, as also the description and quantity of produce so purchased. 16. The Au shall have authority to impound or destroy all wandering horses, pigs, goats, sheep, or horned cattle, and may fine the owners in any sum of not less than one dollar in accordance with the amount of damage done by the animal. If the owner refuses or neglects to pay the fine he may be summarily dealt with by the Arikis' Court, and in lieu of payment may be sentenced to not exceeding ten days' hard labour. 17. It shall be the special duty of the Au to see that the waste lands of their district are beneficially occupied, and to encourage the planting of cocoanuts thereon. 18. The British Resident may, in the interests of trade, modify or refuse to sanction any act of the Au which, in his opinion, may be in restraint of trade, and therefore against the interests of both the Maoris and the foreign inhabitants of this group. 19. Any person may appeal to the High Court to compel the Au to perform the duties imposed upon them by this Act, and the President of the Au may in like manner seek the aid of the High Court in order to carry out the duties imposed upon him. 20. The Au shall have power to impose an annual dog-tax of not exceeding five shillings for each dog, and shall register the name of each owner and the amounts of the tax paid by him. It shall be the duty of the Native Judges to see that this tax is properly collected. 21. Any island within the Federation, or any district of an island, may adopt this Act by Proclamation in the Cook Islands Gazette, and may bring it into force within the island or district named in such Proclamation : Provided always that the consent of the local Government of the island shall be first obtained, and the boundaries of any district clearly defined in the Proclamation. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Rangi, Chairman to Cook Islands Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Federal Parliament. Approved. To come into operation on the 2nd day of August, 1899.— W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident. The Residency, Ist August, 1899.

No. 1, 1899. —An Act to provide for the Rating of Land in the Occupation of Foreigners. Whereas it is expedient that all foreign residents who are in occupation of land within the Island of Rarotonga, whether held by leasehold or by gift, should contribute towards the construction of roads and bridges and the maintenance thereof: Be it enacted by the Parliament of the Cook Islands, with the consent of the British Resident : — 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Public Works Rating Act, 1899." 2. The Chief of the Federal Government, with the concurrence of the British Resident, may in each financial year impose a rate not exceeding one shilling in the pound on the rental value of all