A.—3.
The error has evidently arisen through the comparison having been made between the exports from the port of Rarotonga for 1905 (687 tons) and the total exports from the whole of the Cook and Northern Islands for 1906 (948 tons). Under the heading " Revenue and Expenditure," on page 6, it is stated that the revenue for the year, as per Form H, was .£5,246 14s. lid; but on reference to Form H it will be found that the revenue, excluding the balance brought forward, amounted only to £5,046 14s. lid. The first discrepancy, relating to the export of copra, escaped notice while the papers were passing through the Press, but the second was observed, and, as there was no time to refer to you, it was thought better to leave the figures as they stood, and to draw your attention to the matter, in order that, if necessary, a supplementary return might be furnished. It is, of course, highly necessary that the greatest care should be taken to insure that figures given in the annual report should be strictly accurate. T have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.
No. 21. Sic, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 4th October, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter (No. 182) of the 28th August, and regret that the errors pointed out in my report for the year 1907 should have occurred. I submit for your consideration that, under the circumstances, it will be sufficient if I draw attention to and correct these errors in my report for the year 1908. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, Minister administering Islands.
No. 21a. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 30th October, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 4th inst., with reference to the discrepancies in your report for the year ended 31st March, 1907, and, in reply, to inform you that it will be sufficient if, as you suggest, you correct these discrepancies in your report for the year ending 31st March, 1908. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jambs McGowan.
SURVEY AND SUBDIVISION OF MAUKE ISLAND. No. 22. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 20th September, 1907. I have the honour to report that I have this day returned from the Island of Mauke, at which place I have for the last five weeks been engaged in the survey of that island, and in the definition of family interests. Practically the whole island of 3,600 acres has been minutely subdivided into some 160 blocks of land of from sto 100 acres of land. There will be a few more interests to cut out next year, when the people have settled down and had time to quarrel, for they are a most quarrelsome people ; but the effect of the surveys and definition of titles already made will have a beneficial effect on the people, and will enable the owners to plant cocoanuts, a thing that they have hitherto been afraid to do lest that fact should cause their stronger neighbours to covet and set up claims to the planted land. It will also be necessary to lay out on the plan of the island all necessary roads, in order to suit the new conditions. That work will be more easily accomplished next year, when the owners have had time to consider their requirements. The survey and Court fees for work done amounts to nearly £400, and of this sum £250 has been collected. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, Minister administering Islands.
No. 23. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 2nd October, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th ultimo, reporting that you have returned from the Island of Mauke, where you have been engaged in surveying the island and in defining family interests in the land. I observe that you anticipate that the definition of titles will have a beneficial effect on the people, and I trust that your anticipations will be realised. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga, James McGowan.
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