A.—3

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officers of the Islands Administrations are not governed by theih. Mr. Large must therefore comply with the requirements of the Postal Department, and I think the eimplesi way will he to take out a policy with the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation, the premiums under which will be paid by this office. As Mr. Cameron, at Aitutaki, is in the same position, a policy will also be required in his case. I enclose herewith the necessary forms, and shall be glad if you will have them filled up and returned to me as early as possible. 1 have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 26. Sir, — Cook Islands Administration, Uarotonga, 18th July, 190 G. In reply to your letter No. 225, of the 4th instant, I have the honour to inform you that I have forwarded on the form of application for policy in the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation to both Mr. Cameron and Mr. Large, and have requested those officers to fill in the forme and return to me as speedily as possible. I think that the objection felt to providing a guarantee on part of Mr. Large was due to the fact that Mr. Cameron had not been asked t<* do this; he therefore resented (lie fact of being singled out. t I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister administering Islands. Resident Commissioner.

No. 27. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, Bth October, 1906. Referring to your letter No. 91, of the 18th July last, I have the honour to inform you that arrangements have been completed in connection with the money-order office at ty[angaia ; and that the office will be opened on the 16th instant. Guarantee policies in the names of Mr. Large and Mr. Cameron have been taken out with the Ocean Accident and Guarantee Corporation (Limited) I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jamkb McGowan.

COMPENSATION COURT PROCEEDINGS. NO. 28. Sin, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 4th July, 1906. I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 22nd May reporting on the proceedings of the Compensation Court, held at Rarotonga, to deal with the claims under section 3, subsection (8), of " The Cook and other Islands Government Act Amendment Act, 1904 " [A.—3, 1906, No. 213]. I am glad you have been successful in nettling the claims of both owners and lessees satisfactorily. I have, Ac, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

PUBLIC PEARL-SHELL FISHING RESERVES. No. 29. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 7th July, 1906. As the notices taking the lagoons at Penrhyn and Manihiki, under section 3 of " The Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1904," have now been published in the Cook Island* Gazette, a Proclamation setting aside the lagoons as reserves for pearl-shell fishing, &c, may be issued at once. I propose, therefore, to have this done, and shall be glad if you will consider what regulations should l>e issued under section 4 of the Act. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. C. H. Mills.

No. 30. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Bth August, 1906. In accordance with the instructions contained in your letter No. 231, of the 7th ultimo, I have the honour to forward draft regulations for the working of the Penrhyn and Manihiki shell lagoons. I have s'.lso the honour to draw jour attention to a memo, by Mr. Blame on the situation. It is clear that the lagoons must be administered from here, but as no person lias been appointed to administer the lagoons I have by the regulations placed more power in the hands of the Councils than is altogether wise.