A.—3.

COCOANUT-PLANTING, TAKUTEA ISLAND. No. 24. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 27th September, 1907. I have the honour to report that on the 4th July last I sent a small gang of men, under Howard Greig (survey cadet), to do the usual cocoanut-planting at Takutea. These men returned on the 3rd September, and report that they have planted rather over 60 acres, and have also cleaned the nuts previously planted in 1905 and 1906, and renewed all nuts that had failed to grow in the planting of the two years. We have now only 40 acres to plant on this very valuable property, and that will be done next year. In ten years this property will be worth about £12,000. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 25. Sik, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 30th October, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 27th September last, reporting on the cocoanut-planting on Takutea Island. I have, cVc. The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.

APPOINTMENT OF SURVEYOR AND ENGINEER, Etc. No. 26. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 3rd October, 1907. I have the honour to report, for your information, that I have entered into a new arrangement with Mr. Connal, the local officer controlling all the surveys and public works of the group. Hitherto Mr. Connal has given his whole time to the local Government at a salary of .£3OO per annum. Now, however, his valuable plantation will require much of his attention, and there are no longer sufficient public works to occupy all of his time. He has, moreover, taught one of his cadets so thoroughly that he is not only a good practical surveyor, but can also fix his positions by sun observations, and for the last three months he has successfully carried out all the surveys. The arrangement now is that Mr. Connal will receive £150 per annum retaining-fee, for which he will supervise all surveys, order all material required, and attend to correspondence of his department each month, and will give three months in each year to the public works that may be required. This arrangement will enable me to increase the very moderate pay of the three boys—Henry Williams, H.C. Draughtsman; Putangi, Surveyor; Howard Greig, H.C. foreman of works; and take on a boy named Parekore at the modest salary of £20 per annum for the first two years to train as a policeman. I have much pleasure in reporting that the three boys already trained are most satisfactory, and that their work will compare favourably with that of any European. I have the honour to request your approval of the above arrangement. I have, &c., W. E. Gudgeon, 1 Resident Commissioner. The Hon. Jas. McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 27. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 4th November, 1907. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd October last, and, in reply, to inform you that the employment of Mr. H. M. Connal at a salary of £150 per a.mmm, under the conditions set out therein, is approved. Your suggestions as to increasing the salaries of survey cadets, and the employment of Parekore at £20 per annum, are also approved. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jambs MoGowan.

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