A.—3

20

No. 56. Sib,— Aitutaki, Ist September, 1903. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 46, of the 15th July, enclosing the following warrants of appointment: Mr. John Thomas Large, its Resident Agent for the Island of Mangaia; Mr J. C. Cameron, as Resident Agent for the Island of Aitutaki. These warrants have been handed to the two gentlemen above named, but I have the honour to poinl out that Mr. Large's name is John Thompson, not Thomas, Large. Mr. Cameron arrived here by the last trip of the " Taviuni," and is now receiving practical instruction in his duties. He is a very practical man, and will make an excellent officer. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister for the Islands. Resident Commissioner.

No. 36.

No. 57. Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Sir,— Ist September, 1903. Enclosed I forward Ordinance No. 3, passed by the Island Council of Rarotonga, to regulate the erection and repair of dividing-fences on lands in the occupation of Europeans, which has been assented to by His Excellency the Governor. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mii.i.s.

No. 41.

No. 58. Union Steamship Company of New Zealand (Limited), Wellington, Sir,— Ist September, 1903. In reply to your letter of the 11th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that our present service from Auckland to Rarotonga and Tahiti provides for departures from the firstnamed port every four weeks, and the voyage, from time of departure from, Auckland till the completion of the discharge of cargo at that port on return, occupies so long that if Wellington were made a port of call for the steamer the time lost by the detour would materially affect the present regular sailings for the Islands; and, apart from the fact that we are tied down by our contract with the Government of Tahiti to a four-weekly service, any irregularity in departures would be detrimental to the best interests of the fruit producers and dealers, as the Rarotonga steamer, under such conditions, would every now and then clash with either the Tongan or Fijian steamer, thus flooding the markets, and as a natural consequence depreciating the value of the fruit. It is true that for two or three months in the year, while the " Taviuni " has been employed in the running, she has reached Auckland on Wednesdays, but the time-table running has been framed to suit the " Ovalau," a slower steamer, which ordinarily reaches Auckland on Friday, and thus makes a close connection with our steamer which leaves there for the south on Saturday, and as the " Ovalau " will probably be required to resume the Rarotonga running, the delay in transhipment at Auckland, to which you refer, is unlikely to recur. The matter, however, will have the careful consideration of my company, and your recommendation will have full attention. It may be worth while mentioning that we are giving special attention to the eastern Pacific trade, and that by the establishment of an agency at Rarotonga we are getting into closer touch with the producers, the general effect being that the imports from Rarotonga, as compared with those from other South Sea groups, are increasing. I have, &c, W. A. Kennedy, Manager. The Hon. the Commissioner of Trade and Customs, Wellington.

No. 46.

No. 59. (Urgent.) Department of Lands and Survey, Wellington, 7th September, 1903. Memorandum for the Hon. C. H Mills, Commissioner of Trade and Customs. Mr. 11. D. M. Hnszard, District Surveyor. Mb. Haszard, a District Surveyor on the staff of the Assistant Surveyor-General at Auckland, and who has been some twenty-three years in the Government service, lias just been granted three months' leave to recruit his health, which lias been very much shattered in consequence of a bad attack of blood-poisoning accidentally contracted whilst assisting to carry a patient suffering from that complaint a short distance. I shall be much obliged if you could kindly see your way to allow Mr. Haszard to be a passenger on the " Countess of Ranfurly " during her coming trip to the Islands, as the sea-trip is expected to materially benefit him, and Mr. Haszard deserves well of the Government for his good service. T. Y. Duncan, Minister of Lands,