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No. 13. Lieut.-Colonel Gudgeon to His Excellency the Governor. My Lord,— . Rarotonga, 14th September, 1899. I have the honour to forward herewith five copies of the following Acts of the Cook Islands Legislature : The Constitution Act 1891 Amendment Act, the Cook Islands Currency Act, the Offenders Punishment Act, the Mauke Arms Act, the Statute of Aitutaki, and the Christmas Day Act. The second Act on this list was passed at the earnest request of the Parliament; but before it is brought into force I wish to consult the merchants of this island, especially Mr. Percy Brown, who is now at Aitutaki. ■ \ The Statute of Aitutaki contained that of Mangaia, and also some provisions necessary to meet the case by a European Magistrate. The Christmas Day Act was designed to change the time to that of Tahiti and all other civilised places east of the 180 th degree of longitude : it is a measure that has been strongly opposed by the Maoris on previous occasions. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, His Excellency the Earl of Ranfurly, K.C-M.G., British Besident. Governor of New Zealand.

Enclosures. , No. 11, 1899.—An Act to Amend the Constitution Act of 1891. Be it enacted by the Federal Parliament, with the approval of the British Resident: — 1. The Short Title of this Act shall be " The Constitution Act 1891 Amendment Act, 1899." 2. Section one of " The Constitution Act, 1891," (hereafter to be called " the Act ") is hereby repealed, and in lieu thereof it is enacted that each island shall continue to govern itself in purely local affairs ; but the administration of the law in each island shall be under the control of the Federal Government. 3. The Federal Parliament shall alone have power to make laws within the limits of the Federation. 4. All laws passed by the Parliament shall be expressed as made by the Federal Parliament of the Cook Islands with the approval of the British Resident. No law shall be valid until so approved, and a day fixed on which each Act shall come into operation. 5. Each electoral district shall return a member of Parliament, and the election shall be held in accordance with regulations hereafter to be issued by the British Resident and Chief of the Federal Government. 6. The Parliament shall meet in Avarua at ten a.m. on the first day of August in each year: Provided always that when the first of August shall fall on a Sunday the Parliament shall meet on the day following. 7. The Parliament of the Cook Islands as at present constituted shall be the Parliament up to the thirty-first day of December, 1902, and thereafter the members elected at each general election shall be deemed to have been elected for a term of three years. 8. At the first meeting of Parliament held after each general election it shall be the duty of the members to elect a Chairman, who shall retain office during the period for which the said Parliament has been elected : Provided always that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to deprive the Parliament of the right to remove their Chairman from his position should they consider it necessary to do so. 9. Members of Parliament shall, be elected by native-born adults of the Maori population. No foreigner shall be eligible to vote at such elections. 10. Foreigners shall not be eligible for election as members of the Cook Islands Parliament, excepting only the member for Arorangi, who has already been elected. 11. The half-caste children of Maori mothers born within the Cook Islands Federation shall be eligible for election, and may sit as members of the Cook Islands Parliament. 12. No person shall be eligible for election as a member of the Cook Islands Parliament who shall have been adjudicated a bankrupt; and any one who shall become bankrupt after election shall forthwith resign his seat or be removed therefrom. 13. All laws passed by the Parliament shall be printed in both English and Maori. 14. Tinomana, Ariki, is hereby appointed Vice-President of the Federal Government. 15. Section seventeen of the Act is hereby amended by striking out the words " Supreme Court," and substituting the following: " High Court of the Cook Islands." 16. The following sections of the Act are hereby repealed, namely: One, four, six, seven, eight, fifteen, and sixteen. Passed. Te Ariki Tapu Rangi, Chairman to Cook Isla,nds Parliament. Approved. Makea, Ariki, ' Chief of the Federal Government. Approved. To come into operation on the 22nd day of August, 1899. —W. E. Gudgeon, British Resident. The Residency, 22nd August, 1899.