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No. 50. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 30th October, 1906. 1 have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 12th instant, transmitting deed of gift of a piece of land in the Island of Atiu. The gifi is accepted ai an emblem of the sovereignty of the King, and of the loyalty of the Ariki Rongomatane and the people of Atiu. If it is neoessary to enrol the title of His Majesty, will you please take such steps as may be required. I have, &c, I The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.

COCOANUT-PLANTING ON TAKUTEA ISLAND. No. 51. Sih,— Rarotonga, Cook Islairls, Ist November, 1906. I have the honour to forward enclosed a tracing "i Takutea, showing the work actually done on this island during the year by a boy in the Survey Office Howard Greg —and a small party of eight men. By reference to the plan it will be seen that last year 20 acres were planted a) a cost of £■")•> 11s. Id.; this year 96 acres have been planted at a cost of £109 17s. 6d., leaving 111 acres to be planted next year. The work has been well and cheaply done, and will be most remunerative, for in ten or twelve Mars the island will readily bring a rental of from £.'i()li to 6500 per annum. 1 have, <fee, m W. E. Gudgbon, Resident Commissioner. 'Tin Hon. James McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 52. Sin, — Cook ami other Islamls Administration, Wellington, 28th November, 1906. 1 have the honour to acknowledge tin , receipt of your letter of the Ist instant, forwarding a tracing of Takutea Island, and reporting on the cocoanut-planting on the island during the year. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jamks McGowan.

EUROPEAN REPRESENTATION ON ISLAND COUNCIL. No. 53. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 2nd May, 1907. 1 have the honour to enclose a petition received from the European residents of Raroboaga, asking for representation on the Island Council. The request is not unreasonable, though any one elected to such a position must of necessity be more or less a cipher, since it cannot be doubted that the European member will be an object of jealousy or euspioion to the Natives. If this petition should be approved by the Government of New Zealand, I would suggest that he should be elected by the adult males of European extraction who aie subjects of His Majesty either by birth or naturalisation. I have, Ac, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The lion. James MoGowau, Miuistei administering Islands.

Enclosure. Sir;— We, European residents in Rarotonga, have the honour to suggest that the time has come when it is advisable to amend " The Cook and other Islands Government Amendment Act, 1904,'" by adding a clause giving Europeans a right to elect a representative to the Council, and request that, if Cook Islands legislation is before the coming session of Parliament, the New Zealand Government will give the matter consideration. We would point out in support of our request that the Native Council enacts Ordinance* which may vitally affect us, and we have no knowledge of such Acts until they are gazetted. As we represent a considerable amount of capital invested both in business and agriculture, and our interests are one with the welfare of the island, we trust that you will readily concede the reasonableness of our request and accede to it during the coming session. We have, Ac, Charles Smith. Geo. R. Crunimer. A. E. Woodforth. Sydney Davis. C. Carlson. Charles W. Banks. H. Shearman. C. Bates. A. yon Hoff. W. F. BonaT. E. Blame. A. H. Brown. Wm. Taylor. Peyrouse. C. Kohn. Thos. Shearman. P. K. M. Cowan. E. L. Greening. Tom Shearman. .1. H. Sharpe. S. Savage. H. R. Gatley. — Taylor. H. M. Connal. 1). Morrison. E. Mathews. T. Engetke. A. F. Ambridge. R. T. T. Davis. A. W. Taylor. Thos. Harries. B. T. Hamilton. W. J. Wigmore. To the Minister in Charge, Administration of Cook Islands.