THE COOK ISLANDS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3164, 16 August 1917, Page 6

THE COOK ISLANDS

ANNUAL REPORT. According to the nnmial reports of the Resilient Commissioners of Rarotonga rniit Nine conditions in the Islands have been much more lavourablc this l'ast year than those for tile two previous years, and the trauo anil revenue nave ■been fairly well maintained in spite of the drawbacks duo 'to tue lack of adeiiuate shipping facilities. The Commissioner ol the Cook Islands states that the public health has unproved and the census shows tnat the population is no longer diminishing. There were 197 whites and half-castes living as whites, and Biiti7 natives and luxlf-eastes living as natives. Tne Registrar of the Higli Court reports that the number of criminal cases lias greatly increased, being 'Jl! as against :»'J tho previous year. The principal increases are in the convictions for bush drinking and for wandering animals, lhe increase in the former is states to be due, no doubt, to the appointment oi permanent Native police and to the strict supervision and diligence of the European sergeant. . The total value of the imports lor Niuo Island for the year 1916 was <£951-, and the exports JC337a. These[figures are t'he smallest recorded since the tioverument was instituted. Iho island has not yet recovered from the c-uects ol the disastrous hurricane of January, IJij, and the subsequent drought.