26

A.—3

to have this information, but in view of Colonel Gudgeon's statement that the education given at Tereora School is sufficient, and considering the expenditure that would be entailed, 1 do not think anything will be done at present in the direction of bringing children here for education.

No. 68. gIR _. Niue, 27th September, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 19th August, 1904, relative to my position as a Judge of the Land Titles Court, and note that my appointment is not affected by recent legislation. ~.,. ,-, n t rui^^i I regret to say that I have no copy of the Order in Council establishing the Court. In Colonel Gudgeon's letter of the 14th September, 1902, covering my Warrant of appointment as a Judge ot the Land Titles Court, he mentions that a copy of the Order in Council and of the rules would be forwarded to me when printed. I duly received the copies of the rules, but not of the Order in Council, and would be glad if you will cause a copy of the latter to be sent to me. With reference to a possible arrangement that Colonel Gudgeon's authority as a Chief Judge should extend to Niue, I wish to say that, although I should personally be very pleased to welcome Colonel Gudgeon to Niue in his capacity of Chief Judge of the Titles Court, I am of opinion that the suspicion and jealousy evinced by the Niue Natives toward outside interference (more particularly from Rarotonga) would neutralise any benefit which might otherwise result, and that, if possible, it would be better to make an alteration in the Order in Council to meet the case. There is, however, no necessity for immediate action. The Niue Natives do not appear to be desirous of having their titles investigated at present. Even in the matter of leasing land, 1 have not elicited any reply to my request that they should discuss the matter and furnish an expression of opinion to me. , ~„.., , I hope to enter more fully into this matter with you when I visit Wellington. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister in Charge, Resident Commissioner, Niue. Cook and other Islands Department, Wellington.

No. 49,

No. 69. „ _ Niue, 30th September, 1904. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters Nos. 145 of 9th July, 1904, and 191, of the 19th August. They both came to hand on the 12th instant, but I was unable to reply to them by return mail owing to press of work during the short time the vessel stayed at thlS I bucket them together, as the subject-matter is the same. I note that Ordinance No 13, the Suppression of Immorality Ordinance, has been sent on to the Attorney-General for his apPr ° V Ordinance No. 12, "The Niue Island Traders' License Ordinance, 1904," is to hand and your observations thereon will receive careful attention During the time I have resided m^ Niue traders have imported liquor in varying quantities. This liquor has been taken charge of by the Customsand issued in limited quantities to the persons to whom it had heen ,old by the importer. It appeared to me that if this system was to continue it was only right that **f™?J ™™__f should be paid for the privilege of selling liquor, to remunerate the Administration for the addiionaf labour involved. P Ther! has not been free trade in liquor in Niue since my «™*£_* and no Natives have been allowed to obtain alcohol on any pretence whatever. It would be an easy matter to enact that the Niue Government should be sole importer of all liquor required and hTwhite residents could obtain it in fixed quantities, which might agejte less than the quantity hitherto allowed-viz., three bottles per man per week. My idea is that the white residents should state what they require, and Government would import it in bond. It would be cleared and paid for by the person ordering it, who would receive it according to regulation. A charge of say, 25 percent, on invoice value to be made for the services rendered. This is, hOW Tam norquTtelletr whether you intend to legislate on this subject in New Zealand, or whether it is a matter so ely for the Nine Council to deal with, which I think it is. In any case, there would b!Tncdifficulty in dealing with the matter here. I have mentioned the subject to the traders, and State control is fully approved of by them. _ rWmr,s honded store There is very little liquor on this island at present, and that is in the Customs bonded store. I wTI recas"ordinan q ce No. 12, omitting section 8, and have it passed hj the Niue Council. If I let it stand over until I hear again from you, it may not be possible to take action until my return from leave. I Resident Commissioner, Niue. Hon. C. H. MilU, Minister in Charge, Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

Nos. 30 and 51.

No. 70. a Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 30th September, 1904. I have the honour to report that 1 left Rarotonga on the 13th instant with Mr Connal, and landed to Ma h ukeonthe following morning. Having finished the work on hand, I left again