A.—3.

doctor can visit the Northern Islands, and that is once a year by the "John Williams " Mission steamer. By this boat he will have one, or at the outside two days at each island, and I fail to see that the people can benefit by such flying visits. In these Northern Islands, where there are few visits from foreign ships, the people are comparatively healthy, and need but little attention ; but even there the Medical Officer should stay a week or ten days at each island. It is in the Cook Group that the people require the most attention, and at Atiu, Aitutaki, and Mangaia a doctor should reside among the people for a month at a time, and he should be a man to whom a Maori will listen. If his manners are rude or abrupt they will have none of him. For the work he does Dr. Gatley ia already too well paid, but that is rather his misfortune than his fault. I hope 1 have made it clear that if there is to be efficient medical supervision of the outlying islands there must be two qualified men. These flying visits are merely attempts to humbug the public into a belief that something is being done. It may be said that the lepers in the Northern Islands require a doctor to be at hand, but I say no. The Resident Agents know a good deal more of the early forms of leprosy than any doctor we are likely to get, and have as yet made no mistakes, whereas the doctors have already made one or two that might have been serious in the matter of leprosy. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. James .McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 34. • Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 3rd March, 1908. With reference to my letter No. 77 and my suggestion that greater benefit would result to the people of this group if you could see your way to employ another doctor rather than a teacher, I have now the honour to inform you that a Dr. Morgan has come here by the last steamer with the intention of settling in these islands as a planter. I have asked him if he would be prepared to take six months' work in the year as a visiting medical officer at 20s. per diem, and he replied that he might do that once he had his plantation started. Whether they are likely to get land here I do not know; but, if not, the doctor and his partner will, I am told, try Atiu and Mauke for land, and in either of these cases it would be well to employ Dr. Morgan, for to have his headquarters at Atiu would be suitable for all of the Windward Group. A salary of £200 should cover everything but the travelling-expenses and drugs, and this much the local Administration would take on themselves to pay. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. James McGowan, Minister administering Islands.

No. 35. Sir,- — Cook and other Islands Administration, Wellington, 4th April, 1908. I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 3rd March, and, in reply, to inform you that 1 trust you will be able to make a satisfactory arrangement with Dr. Morgan, which will probably solve the question of better medical attendance for the Cook Group. I have, <fee, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. James McGowan.

RESIGNATION OF RESIDENT AGENT, PENRHYN. No. 36. Sir,— Rarotonga, 12th March, 1908. I have the honour to inform you that, owing to his wife's illness, Captain Nagle has resigned his position as Agent at Penrhyn, but has offered to remain if he can get six months' leave. For some time past I have known that Nagle would resign, and cannot recommend the six months' leave. I have therefore to request that Nagle's resignation be accepted, and that Mr. E. F. Hawk, of Manihiki, be appointed Resident Agent at Penrhyn. Mr. Hawk is a NewZealander, a most suitable man, and speaks the northern languages, and this is a matter of extreme importance, for I know of only two men who do. Mr. Hawk is also a sober man, and a business man, and has worked for the Nathan's, of Wellington. Kindly wire approval to catch steamer, as a boat will go north some time in April. I have, &c, W. E. Gudgeon, The Hon. the Minister administering Islands. Resident Commissioner.

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