21

A.—3

The people of Aitutaki being left destitute by the hurricane, and so unable to contribute, wished to give up to the War Fund the Administration grant of £50 for relief purposes. Their offer, which entailed their being short of food until their own supplies came in, was refused by the Resident Commissioner, whose action was approved by the Hon. the Minister. ' Further, the women of Aitutaki, in response to an appeal by Mrs. Duncan (wife of the Resident Agent), made and donated eight cases of hats, mats, kits, necklaces, and other island things of all kinds, which were forwarded to the Dominion, and sold in aid of the fund. A quantity of clothing was sent from the white people, through Dr. Baldwin, to the Belgian Consul at Auckland, for transmission to Belgium.

Principal Items of New Zealand Produce and Manufactures which are admitted into the Cook Islands Free of Duty. (Were the same articles imported from any place beyond New Zealand, duty would be collected according to the New Zealand Customs tariff.) Value. Approximate Duty. Agricultural produce (oats, chaff, hay, wheat, potatoes, and £ £ onions) .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,198 250 Biscuits and cabin bread .. .. .. .. 5,125 750 Building material .. .. ..' .. .. 422 100 Butter and cheese .... .. .. .. 1,453 290 Cement .. .. '.. ... .. .. 359 45 Carriag js and parts for same . . . . . . . . 237 50 Confectionery .. .. ..... .. .. 154 30 Cordage .. .. ... .. .. .. 480 96 Flour/. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,018 300 Furniture .. .. .. .. .. ... 730 180 Meats, frozen .. .. .. .. .. .. 565 115 „ preserved .. .. .. .. .. 8,078 1,600 „ salted .. .. .. 511 100 Milk, preserved .. .. .. .. .. 477 120 Provisions .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,960 400 Rugs .. . . .. .. .. .. 301 60 Soap .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,209 250 Timber .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,464 150 fruit-box* j. .. .. .. .. 8,000 r £35,741 £4,886 * It is questionable if the Administration -would charge duty on these if imported from beyond New Zealand. W. J. Stevenson, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 9th April, 1915. Collector of Customs.

Cook Islands Land Titles Court. Sir,- — Rarotonga, 10th April, 1915. I have the honour to report as follows as to the work of the Land Titles Court for the year ending the 31st March, 1915 :— There has been no sitting of the Court during the year. The fees outstanding on the 31st March, 1914, amounted to £558 12s. Since that date £109 19s. has been collected and paid into the Treasury, leaving the amount outstanding on the 31st March, 1915, £448 135., as follows :— £ s. d. Rarotonga .. .. ... .. .. .. .. 309 10 0 - Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 6 0 Mauke .. . . . . .. .. . . . . 89 17 0 Mangaia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 0 £448 13 0.