A.—3.

APPENDIX. Additional Regulations under Section 50 of ''The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act, 1901," as modified to adapt them to the Conditions and Circumstances of the said Islands and the Inhabitants thereof. 7. Before registering, any adoption the Registrar shall require in respect thereof a certificate by the Chief or a European Judge of the Cook and other Islands Land Titles Court, or by the Resident European Magistrate or Agent at the island where such adoption takes place, that he has inquired into the circumstances of the said adoption, and that he is satisfied that the same is a bona fide adoption according to Native custom and ought to be given effect to. 8. Such inquiry shall be made in open Court after receipt of the application by the Registrar or by the Resident European Magistrate or Agent. Every application shall, at least three days before the hearing thereof, be duly notified by notice in writing posted at the Courthouse. Registration of every adoption shall be duly notified by the Registrar in the Cook Islands Gazette. 9. The fee payable in respect of every application under Regulation 6 shall include the certificate and registration fee, but shall not include fees incidental to hearing unless so ordered. J. F Andrews, Acting Clerk of the Executive Council.

No. 22. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 18th July, 1905. In reply to your letter No. 150, of the 6th instant, I have the honour to report that I have from the first enforced the view that men who have for at least twenty generations occupied and cultivated the land have an inalienable right to a certain portion of the land, subject to the rights of the overlord. The result has been that all the people living on the land are now owners under Makea, and the Court has wisely retained the right to reduce the Arikis , rights to a money value, whenever it shall appear to the Court that it is expedient to do so. The reason for this arrangement is that it has been made clear to the Court that the so-called owners had only a limited ownership in the land, and that the governing power had equal rights with the cultivators. Now, I regard the Government of New Zealand as the natural successor to the present Arikis, and therefore I have conserved the right of the Arikis whenever their rights were clearly shown. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering the Islands, Wellington.

No. 17.

No. 23. Sir, —. Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 20th July, 1905. In reply to the last paragraph in your letter No. 110, of the 6th ultimo, I have the honour to inform you that I took the road from Taunganui to the village at Atiu with the approval of all the people interested. But the formalities necessary were not observed at that time owing to doubts in my mind as to my powers. I have now the honour to forward draft notice for your approval and the signature of the Governor. You will notice that nothing more has been taken than is absolutely required by the people; the road has simply been taken as a wise precaution to rjrevent one section of the people annoying another by putting gates across the road and fastening them with chain and padlock. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering the Islands, Wellington.

No. 24. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 20th July, 1905. In reply to your letter No. 147, of the sth instant, I have the honour to report that the only bar to profitable settlement in this Group is the want of land. lam in the receipt of numerous letters from would-be settlers, who would be glad to come here if they could only be certain of getting the land. The very bad prices obtained for produce since the month of January may possibly dispose those who are large land-owners to lease; but, as I reported in my confidential letter to you on the lands of this district, there is no other way of dealing with the latter than this: that the Government shall lease all lands now. in possession of the Native owners which may be open to lease, for terms of not less than fifty years, and shall re-lease the same to European settlers at the same rent, charging only the usual transfer and survey fees. In the event of my receiving authority to do this, I should be in a position to send you maps of areas so acquired.

No. Iβ.

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