19

A.—3

1 regret to say that the anticipation* I made in my last report, as to the services of the schooner being availed of to a greater extent than formerly by the traders of the Group, have not been realised. This may U partly du<: to the fad that in many of the islands visited by the fohooner the production of copra shows -,\ falling-off of about 330 tons as compared with the previous year. The schooner may !*■ said to have had the support of only one firm of traders in the Cook Group during the whole of her running. T have, Ac, The Resident CoDiimmioner, Rarotonga. E. Bt.aine, Secretary.

GoVKUNMENT ScHOONBR DEPARTMENT. Worktn-if Account of Schooner " Countest of Ranfurly," 1906-7. Dr. £ s. d. Or. £ c. d. To Passenger-farce .. .. .. 250 14 6 By Profit and Loss Account, balance 1905-* i 52 2 4 Special charters .. .. .. 568 0 0 ' „ bad debt .. 07 6 Freights .. .. .. .. 712 3 ii Benzine .. .. .. .. 132 18 5 Communion .. .. .. 16 14 2 Wagee .. .. .. .. 921 10 8 Subsidy .. .. .. .. 436 13 0 < Mlice expenses—Auckland, £37 14s. 9d. ; Sundry creditor* .. .. .. 156 2 7 Rarotonga, £33 14s. .. .. 71 8 8 Provisions . . .. .. .. 368 5 It Miscellaneous expenditure .. .. 103 1 2 Outfit and repein .. .. .. 404 r> :f Claims .. „ .. .. 7 ."> 1 Sundry debtors .. .. .. 77 2 10 * £2,140 7 3 £2,140 7 :i ftarotonga, 3rd April, 1907. E. Bt.atnk. Secretary. Audited and found correct.—Peuct Brown, Auditor.

Profit inn/ /,»<* Account in connection with the Working of the Schooner "Countess of Ranfurly," 1906-7. Dr. £ s. d. Cr. £ B. d. To Balance. 1906-6 .. .. .. 52 2 4 By Passenger-fares Account .. .. 250 14 6 Had debt .. .. .. .. 0 76 Special Charter Account .. .. 568 0 0 Benzine Account .. .. .. 132 18 r> Freight Account .. .. .. 712 3 0 Wages Account .. .. .. 921 10 8 Commission Account .. .. 16 14 2 Office Expenses Account .. .. 71 8 9 Subsidy Account .. .. .. 430 13 0 Provisions Account .. .. .. 368 6 3 Balance .. .. .. .. 78 10 0 .Miscellaneous Expenditure Account .. 105 1 2 Outfit and Repairs Account .. .. 404 6 3 ('liiinis Account .. .. .. 7 5 1 £2,063 4 5 £2,063 4 5 Dr. t s. d To balance carried forward .. .. 78 19 9 Rarotonga, 3rd April, 1907. E. Bi.aine, Secretary. Audited and found correct. —Percy Brown, Auditor. No. 2. R> Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 7th June, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letters of the 21st and 30th April last, forwarding your annual re)>ort and returns relating to the Cook and Northern Islands for the year ended the Slat March last. I have, Ac, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.

POWERS OF RESIDENT COMMISSIONER. NO. 3. jS IR Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 20th June, 1906. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter No. IS4, of the 9th instant [A -3, 1906, No. 220], enclosing Order in Council defining my powers as Resident Commissioner. i' regret that it should have seemed necessary to restrici the powers of the Resident Commissioner, inasmuch as the Native of Polynesia can have no respect for a man who has no power. So far as I am personally cone; mod. neither laws nor regulations can affect my position here, hut they can and will affect the position of those who will follow me. The position now is that I cannot appoint even a policeman (Native) without referring the matter to you : and I submit that this is a waste of time and paper. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. C. H. Mills, .Minister administering Islands.