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A,—3

5. Any man or woman suffering from venereal disease, who shall wilfully have sexual intercourse with other men or women in sound health, and cause them to become infected with the disease with which they are suffering, shall be liable on conviction to a penalty not exceeding three (3) months' hard labour on the roads, without the option of a fine, in the case of a male, and to weed the roads for two (2) months, or make hats or mats to the value of three pounds (£3), at the discretion of the Magistrate, in the case of a female. 6. Native women cohabiting with Europeans or others shall be liable to a task of weeding roads, to be determined by the Native Magistrate, and imposed from time to time if the offence is repeated. Such task not to exceed fifty (50) fathoms of road. Enacted and passed by the Niue Island Council, this twelfth day of March, one thousand nine hundred and four. Tagavaitoa, Approved Acting President of Council. C. F. Maxwell, Resident Commissioner. [Assented to by the Governor, 26th August, 1904.]

No. 2. Sir,-- Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 30th May, 1904. You will remember that during my visit to Mangaia, Tamangaro, speaking on behalf of the Council, asked for a grant of money for road-work. This matter, among others, has been submitted to Cabinet, and it was decided to*instruct you to spend up to £200 on the work required. I have not yet had your opinion, however, as to the necessity for this work, and possibly before taking any action on the Cabinet instructions you may wish to write me on the subject. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 3. g IR Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Ist June, 1904. I have the honour to inform you that I returned to Rarotonga on the 28th ultimo, after a visit extending over twenty days, during which I visited the Islands of Aitutaki, Penrhyn, Rakahanga, Manihiki, and Pukapuka. , , Generally speaking, I found the islands in a very satisfactory condition, appreciating the equal administration of the law and other European innovations introduced during the last two years • but I regret to say that fresh cases of leprosy have been found among the people of Omoka "in Penrhyn, at Tukao in Manihiki, and at Rakahanga, and there can be but little doubt that the relatives of these afflicted people had concealed the fact from the Resident Agent in each instance. Fortunately there was a lady doctor on board the " John Williams," and the doubtful cases were brought under ber notice, and pronounced to be lepers. With reference to possible future cases Df this sort, I have told the people that I will not only isolate the persons known to be lepers, but also those with whom they have lived, and will further punish severely the head of any family concealing cases of leprosy. It is possible that by pointing out in vivid colours the possibility ot tfie whole village becoming outcasts by reason of the leprosy I may have frightened them into exercising some prudence in the matter, but I do not depend on this feeling having any lasting effect • nothing but the closest supervision and the most extensive powers given to the European officers will prevent the spread of the disease. I have the honour to suggest that in any future Act for the better government of these Islands a clause should be introduced giving extended powers for the suppression of leprosy-viz., power to appoint leper-stations, and to punish all persons harbouring lepers, either by fine or imprisonment. At Manihiki I found a very great improvement in the tone of the people, due for the most part to the kindness and tact of the Resident Agent, Mr. Williams. The people of this island were at one time bitterly opposed to the Council as at present constituted and also to any roadmaking that involved the destruction of the cocoa-palms; but now a good road three miles long through the centre of the Tauhonu Island has been made, and the landowners find that the fact of cutting down a few trees has brought many others into bearing They have therefore forgotten that they ever opposed the work, and are very proud of it. The only grievance that I could elicit was that the administration of the law and the decisions of the Council at Rakahanga were harsh and below the standard of Manihiki in intelligence. . At Rakahanga there is evidence of very bad feeling, and many land disputes. The first, is evidently due to the unnecessary severity with which the law is administered and on this point found U necessary to speak very strongly, pointing out that the law was made for the Protection of the weak members of the community, and not as an engine of oppression and that I would remove any Magistrate if undue severity was proved against him. The land dispute, are howevS the Zeal cause of trouble, and with the view of minimising this trouble I had directed the Counci of each island to hear all disputes and endeavour to settle them amicab y. This I did knowiit that no true Maori would ever submit to a decision given by his own, people, but knowing also that it could not fail to educate both the Council and the litigants, and that it would, moreover collect evidence that would be valuable in subsequent proceedings I have therefore settled the disputes so far by pointing out that any claimant can appeal to the Land Titles Court and hat when they did so in writing I would hear the cases. I have now many claims before me from