A.—3.

date of the publication of this Order in the Cook Islands Gazette, the importation of the following perfumed spirits or perfumery—to wit, Florida-water, eau-de'Cologne, lavender-water, and bayrum, or any colourable imitation thereof respectively —into the Cook and Northern Islands shall be prohibited except subject to the following conditions :— 1. Any person desiring to import any of the said perfumed spirits or perfumery shall apply in writing to the Collector of Customs at liarotonga for permission so to do, and such application .shall state the amount of such perfumed spirits or perfumery proposed to be imported. The said Collector of Customs may thereupon, if he thinks fit, give permission in writing for such importation. 2. All perfumed spirits or perfumery imported pursuant to such permission shall be imported only at liarotonga, and in separate packages addressed to the importer (being the person so applying for permission to import) through the said Collector of Customs. •3. Perfumed spirits or perfumery so imported may, as the said Collector of Customs thinks expedient, either be delivered to the importer or be stored in the King's bond or some other place of safe custody under the control of the said Collector of Customs for delivery to the importer from time to time in such quantities as the said Collector of Customs thinks fit : Provided that delivery shall not be given until all duties and charges payable to the Crown have been duly paid. 4. Every person or his agent importing perfumed spirits or perfumery in accordance with this Order, and every person selling such perfumed spirits or perfumery, shall keep a full and true account of all such perfumed spirits or perfumery sold by him, showing the date when and the person to whom such perfumed spirits or perfumery were sold. Such account shall be open for inspection by the said Collector of Customs at any time. 5. Any person importing any of the aforesaid perfumed spirits or perfumery except in accordance with the provisions hereof, or any person contravening in any way the provisions of this Order, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding fifty pounds, to be recovered in the High Court of the Cook Islands, and in addition the said Collector of Customs may seize and forfeit for the benefit of the Crown all perfumed spirits or perfumery imported contrary to the provisions of this Order. As witness the hand of His Excellency the Governor, this seventeenth day of December, one thousand nine hundred and seven. Jambs McGowan.

MEDICAL ATTENDANCE IN COOK GROUP. No. 32. Sir, — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 19th December, 1907. 1 am desirous that further provision should be made for medical attendance on the Natives of the Cook Group; and I shall be obliged if you will ascertain on what terms Dr. Gatley will be prepared to make periodical visits to the various Islands of the Group, say, once or twice a, year. You will recollect that in Dr. Pomare's report he suggested that the Resident Medical Officer should have regular hours of attendance at Ngatangiia, Titikaweka, and Arorangi, and I shall be glad to learn whether anything has been done. I should also be glad to know whether the condition of the Hospital remains unchanged. 1 have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Jame« McGowan.

No. 33. Sin, — Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 16th January, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, No. 280, of the 3rd ultimo, on the subject of visits by Dr. Gatley to the outer islands of the group. lam glad that you have seen fit to open this question of the Medical Officer, for it is one that has given me much anxiety for the last four years, and it is the only branch of the local government service that has not been satisfactory. By " The Medical Officers Act, 1898," section 3, it is provided that the Medical Officer shall visit the group at least twice a year; but Dr. Gatley has generally found that he had patients that he could not well leave, and as this was a matter I was unable to question I have always left it to his own discretion. Under these circumstances I can hardly ask Dr. Gatley on what terms he is prepared to do that which he is bound to do by law. I have not fixed any hour for regular attendance at the villages outside of Avarua, for the reason that two-thirds of the population live at the latter place, and numerous buggies come in daily from the outlying places. Moreover, Dr. Gatley drives through these villages at least twice a week and visits all those who call for him. The trouble is, as I have said, that the Natives seldom do call him in. As for the Hospital, 1 have to report that any objection there may be to it is entirety professional, and it is at least up to the standard of the New Zealand hospitals of twenty years ago. For the last three years it has, I believe, only had one Native inmate. Under these circumstances I have not felt justified in building a £500 hospital that would not be used. As regards the necessity for the Medical Officer visiting the outlying islands, I would draw your attention to the fact that under the present system there is but one method by which the

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