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No. 17.

Sir,' — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 27th September, 1907. 1 have the honour to forward to you, under separate cover, copy of the Tariff Bill as it passed the House of Representatives. You will observe that,section 14 provides that the Act shall not come into force in the Cook and other Islands until a day to be determined by the Governor in Council. The effect of section 14 is that until the issue of the Order in Council the existing tariff will be maintained in the Islands; and thereafter, in addition to the duties specified in the new tariff, the duties mentioned in subsection (4) will be levied on sugar and cotton piece-goods, &c, entered in the Islands. I have, etc., The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.

No. 18. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 10th October, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 211) of the 27th ultimo, with reference to the operation of the new tariff within the Cook Islands. It is gratifying to find that the local Administration will not lose revenue thereby, as in new islands like these there are many calls on the revenue that must, in the interests of the inhabitants, b'j met as quickly as possible. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon Jas. McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 19. Sir, — Cook and Other Islands Administration, Wellington, 19th November, 1907. Referring to previous correspondence, I have the honour to transmit to you the accompanying copy of an Order in Council bringing " The Tariff Act, 1907," into force in the Cook and Other Islands on and after the Ist day of January, 1908. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James MoGowan.

Enclosure. Tariff Act to be in force in Cook and other Islands. Plunket, Governor. Order in Council. At the Government House, at Wellington, this eighteenth day of November, 1907. Present: His Excellency the Governor in Council. Whereas by section fourteen of the Tariff Act, 1907 (hereinafter termed "the said Act"),, it is provided that the said Act shall not take effect in the Islands situated within the boundaries set forth in the schedule to the Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901, until a day to be determined by the Governor by Order in Council gazetted : And whereas it is expedient that the said Act shall take effect in the said Islands on and after the day hereinafter mentioned: Now, therefore, His Excellency the Governor of the Dominion of New Zealand, in pursuance and exercise of the power and authority conferred upon him by section fourteen of the Tariff Act, 1907, aforesaid, and acting by and with the advice and consent of the Executive Council of the said Dominion, doth hereby determine that the said Tariff Act, 1907, shall take effect in the Islauds situated within the boundaries set forth in the Schedule to the said Cook and other Islands Government Act, 1901, on and after Wednesday, the first day of January, one thousand nine hundred and eight. Alex. Willis, Clerk of the Executive Council.

DISCREPANCIES IN ANNUAL REPORT. No. 20. • Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 28th August, 1907. In forwarding to you the enclosed copy of parliamentary paper A.-3, 1907 (Cook and other Islands), I beg to draw your attention to two discrepancies in your report for the year ended 31st March, 1907. On page 3 it is stated that the export of copra has been 948 tons, as against 687 tons for the previous year; but on reference to Table C (page 14) it will be seen that the total export for the previous year is given as 1,212 tons. These figures correspond with the figures given in the report for 1905-6 (A.-3, 1906, Table C, page 91).

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