A.—3,

The limits of the Port of Rarotonga shall be the area enclosed by a line extending from high-water mark at a point 400 yards eastward of the Union Steamship Company's wharf, situated at the place known as the Avarua Harbour, in the Island of Rarotonga, extending thence northward 1,000 yards, thence westward 800 yards, thence southward to high-water mark, thence along high-water mark eastward to starting-point. The Union Steamship Company's wharf at the Avarua Harbour, together with the beach extending 100 yards on either side thereof, shall be the only legal place for the lading or unlading of goods within the Port of Rarotonga.

No. 46. Sir,— Rarotonga, 16th August, 1904. With reference to your letter No. 164, and the copy of Mr. James Mills's letter attached No. 39 thereto, I have the honour to state that I think the latter has placed the matter before you very fairly from the business point of view. The last three shipments of oranges and bananas from these Islands have resulted in actual loss to the shippers —that is, they have received nothing for the fruit, and, in some instances, have had to pay for the boxes. There is, under these circumstances, no inducement to increase the amount shipped. That the exports will increase is quite certain, in the natural order of things; but, under present conditions, it will be a very gradual increase. Geographically, Fiji occupies a position superior to us, and they can inundate New Zealand with bananas at a price that we cannot compete with. We should do well to plant the whole of this island with cocoanuts and cut down our orange-trees, for by so doing the Union Company would be the only losers. For my own part 1 hope to see the day when there will be no orange export from the Cook Islands. We have living in Rarotonga a gentleman who has had long experience with fruit, and who is most careful in his packing. His loss on the June shipment was £65 17s. I quote this last in order to show that without some measure of protection any great increase in production may not be looked for. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering the Islands, Wellington.

No. 47. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 17th August, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. 174, of the 4th instant. No. 35, As it has now been decided that a portion of any Act cannot be applied to the Cook Islands, I will take action in the matter of the northern lepers shortly, and introduce an Ordinance defining the powers of the Federal Administration in dealing with these afflicted people. This is in a great measure a matter of money, for it is impossible that the administration of the Group should take on themselves to keep these people at the public expense. The island, which is relieved of their presence, must be primarily liable, with, power to recover from the relatives. The extract from the Auckland Star of the 11th July is like all of the other effusions. There is not one new case known to me. Ever since 1 have been in these Islands there has been leprosy at Manihiki and Rakahanga, and the case at Palmerston is merely a migration from Penrhyn, the chief seat of the disease in these islands. . I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. 11. Mills, Minister administering the Islands, Wellington.

No. 48. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 18th August, 1904. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th June, No. 226, on the subject No. 15, of the alienation of land on Niue. I shall be glad to hear from you again after you have brought the matter before the Island Council and ascertained the feelings of the Natives. I recognise that the question is a delicate one, which must not be dealt with hurriedly. I have, cfec, C. F. Maxwell, Esq., Resident Commissioner, Niue. C. H. Mills.

No. 49. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 19th August, 1904. In reply to that portion of your letter of the 27th June relative to position as jj 0 15 Judge of the Land Titles Court of the Cook and other Islands, I have to say that there is nothing in recent legislation to affect your appointment. I assume you have a copy of the Order in Council establishing the Court, section 13 of which empowers you to exercise all the powers of the Court. Some alteration may be necessary later on in the Order in Council in respect of certain matters in which the Chief Judge is required to act, unless it can be arranged that Colonel

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