COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1921.]

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1922 Session I, A-03

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1922. NEW ZEALAND.

COOK AND OTHER ISLANDS. [In continuation of Parliamentary Paper A.-3, 1921.]

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

MEMORANDUM. Summaries of the annual reports of the Cook Islands and Niue Administrations are attached hereto. There has been a change in the administration of Niue during the year. Mr. J. 0. Evison resigned his position as Resident Commissioner. He will be succeeded by Mr. (I. N. Morris, the former Commissioner. The trade of our Islands, in common with that of all other tropical countries, is still suffering as a result of the world-wide depression in the prices of their special products. Lack of shipping-facilities, particularly in the more remote islands, also continues to hamper trade and development, but certain proposals which should effect a great improvement in the matter of inter-island communications are now under consideration. The census of the inhabitants of the Islands, which was taken last year at the same time as the census in the Dominion, shows that the population is 13,209, as compared w-ith 12,685 of the previous census of 1916. Full details of the census will be found in Appendices 13 and.O to the New Zealand Census published in 1921. M p OMAEBj 27th June, 1922. Minister for the Cook Islands.

REPORT OF COOK ISLANDS ADMINISTRATION. Rarotonga, 14th August, 1922. Financial. The revenue for the year amounted to £17,719 6s. 4d., and the expenditure to £23,528 os. 6d. In this connection it must be remembered that there were debts incurred during 1920*21 standing unpaid on the 31st March. 1921, amounting to £7,126 19s. 10d., all of which, with the exception of the Wireless Account, have been paid during the year. These back debts are spread through nearly all the items of expenditure, and this must be kept in mind when considering any individual item : for example, the salary items for the outer islands of the Croup cover in each case a period of eighteen months. It is true that there was a balance of receipts over expenditure on the 31st March, 1921, amounting to £7,939 15s. Id., but, while some of the assets representing this balance were bad. others were so slow of recovery as to be almost worthless. The debtors, on the other hand, were insistent and pressing, and to save the Administration's credit it was necessary that their debts should be paid as quickly as might be, at the expense of current local, requirements. The present year's operations, as shown by the Revenue and Expenditure Accounts, result in a credit balance of £2,131 ()s. lid., but this does not represent the true position of the Administration's finances as at the 3Lst March, 1922. This is shown by the Statement of Assets and Liabilities (permanent assets, plant, &c., not being taken into account). Referring to this statement, under the heading " Contingent losses," it will be noticed that the Mangaia and Aitutaki Fruit-cases Accounts, the High Court and Native Land- Court Fees Accounts, and some other accounts have been written down. With the exception of the Native Land Court Fees Account it can be said with reasonable certainty that the amounts written off arc bad, though the Administration is not at present in a position to write them off definitely. This will be done as soon as the exact figures are ascertained.

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With regard to the Native Land Court Fees Account, the position is as follows : — £ s. d. Amount of fees outstanding, 1903, to 31st March, 1921 ... .. 762 0 7 Work done during 1921-22— Rarotonga .. .. . . . . .. .. 61 12 0 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 316 6 1 Adoption fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 2 0 1,147 0 8 Less receipts for 1921-22 .. .. .. . . 227 4 5 £919 16 3 On these figures the Native Land Court Fees Account has been treated as being worth £300 as a present asset. Many of the fees go back ten years and more, and are no doubt at this date quite irrecoverable. On the 31st March, as is shown at the end of the Expenditure Account, the following items, which were proved to be bad, were definitely written off : — £ s. d. Defence Department .. . . . . . . . . .. 164 5 8 Fruit-cases Account — Rarotonga . . . . .. . . .. . . .. 103 17 11 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. .. 63 18 4 Mauke .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 2 4 £346 4 3 Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for Year ended 31st March, 1922. Revenue. £ s. d. \ Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance, 31st March, 1921 .. .. 7,939 15 1 Aitutaki salaries and contingent .. 716 18 1 Aitutaki Wharf Account .. .. 31 15 G Ammunition Account, Dr. .. .. 2 7 7 Copra export duty .. .. .. 1,216 9 4 Atiu Boat Account .. .. .. 19 13 0 Customs duties .. .. .. 6,942 4 4 Atiu salaries and contingent .. .. 421 2 6 Cinema licenses .. .. .. 30 0 0 Atiu cargo-shod and tank .. .. 110 9 6 Dog-taxes .. .. .. .. 51 19 0 Audit .. .. .. .. 340 0 0 Fruit Inspection Account .. .. 930 15 10 Contingencies .. .. . . 612 15 5 Film censorship .. .. .. 910 3 j Courts .. .. .. .. 1,772 2 1 High Court foes and fines .. .. 1,267 15 8 Education .. .. .. .. 1,427 15 2 Hall licensos .. .. .. 9 0 0 Experimental farm .. .. .. 353 119 Interest on fixed deposit .. .. 45 0 0 Freezer Account, Dr. .. .. .. 282 12 7 Liquor Account .. .. .. 966148 Furniture .. .. .. .. 1,536 1 6 Marriage fees .. .. .. 41 1 6 Government Buildings, maintenance .. 2,537 4 0 Motor fees .. .. •.. .. 71 0 0 Hospital .. .. .. .. 2,864 2 6 Native Land Court fees .. .. 227 4 5 Leper Account .. .. .. 328 16 9 Passport fees .. .. .. 12 5 0 Lunatics, maintenance .. .. 105 0 0 Post-card sales .. .. .. 18 13 9 Mail subsidy within Group .. .. 44 15 0 Post Office boxes .. .. .. 7 4 0 Mangaia salaries and contingent . . G3O 9 0 Rents .. .. .. .. 227 2 4 Manihiki-Rakahanga salaries .. .. 395 5 0 Road rates .. .. .. .. 89 0 0 Mauke salaries and contingent .. .. 500 10 0 Shipping fees .. .. .. 8 6 0 Mitiaro salaries .. .. .. 11l 18 4 Stamp-sales .. .. .. 3,859 17 11 Penrhyn salaries and contingent .. 412 10 0 Trading licenses .. .. .. 617 0 0 Police, Rarotonga .. .. .. 1,029 15 5 Water rates .. .. .. 432 18 0 Post Office .. .. .. . . 846 12 10 Wireless Account .. .. .. 606 8 4 Printing Account, Dr. . . .. 230 2 1 Prisoners .. .. .. .. 250 4 9 Public works .. .. .. 661 1 8 Pukapuka salaries .. .. .. 27 0 0 Resident Commissioner's Office .. 1,293 17 2 Roads and bridges .. .. .. 1,130 2 6 Subsidy—Flying-foxes and rats .. 263 14 5 Telephone service .. .. .. 56 15 2 Treasury and Customs .. .. 755 3 3 Truck Account .. .. .. 501 16 11 H.M.S. " Veronica " visit .. .. 61 17 11 Water Account .. .. .. 318 10 1 Whare Manuhiri .. .. .. 163 1 1 Hospital Liquor Account, Dr. .. .. 66 1 3 Total expenditure for year .. 23,181 16 3 Amounts written off during year— Defence Department .. .. 164 5 8 Fruit-case Account— Rarotonga .. .. .. 103 17 11 Atiu .. .. .. .. 63 18 4 Mauke .. .. .. .. 14 2 4 23,528 0 6 Balance as below .. .. 2,131 0 11 £25,659 1 5 £25,659 1 5 Particulars of Balance. £ s. d. Cash in hand .. .. . . .. .. .. 170 18 G Balance, Bank of New Zealand . . .. .. .. 233 15 G Amounts due to Administration .. .. .. .. 1,726 6 11 £2,131 0 11

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Statement of Assets and Liabilities (not including Fixed Assets) as at 31st March, 1922. Assets. £ s. d. Liabilities. £ s. d. Cash in hand .. .. .. 170 18 6 Wireless Account to 31st March, 1922 Cash in bank .. .. .. 233 15 6 (estimated)* .. .. .. 3,700 0 0 Sundry creditors .. .. .. 1,720 Gll Sundry debtors — Proceeds of Customs reported as due but Local .. .. .. .. 412 6 5 not yet paid .. .. .. 1,388 17 9 j Defonoe and medical stores .. .. 127 19 3 Stamp-sales in New Zealand duo but not Briscoe and Co. .. .. .. 74 8 2 yet paid .. .. .. .. 1,615 710 Orchards Agency .. .. .. 106 7 7 High Court fees .. .. .. 197 6 0 Smith and Smith .. .. .. 51 511 Native Land Court fees .. .. 919 16 3 Other accounts in Now Zealand .. 45 19 5 Sundry accounts due for rates, fees, &c, Nurses' Home, Aitutaki .. .. 125 15 0 not yet received .. .. .. 104 15 11 Advances made in New Zealand .. 80 10 2 Wireless terminal charges duo but not yet Contingent losses— £ s. d. paid .. .. .. .. 283 19 11 Mangaia Fruit-case Account 375 0 0 Aitutaki Fruit-case Account 25 13 6 400 13 6 High Court foes that will be worked off in lieu of payment of fine .. .. 100 0 0 Native Land Court fees ostimated as irrecoverabie .. .. .. 619 16 3 Sundry accounts duo, ostimated as irroeoverable .. .. .. .. 31 19 0 Balance .. .. .. .. 764 3 11 £6,641 4 7 £6,641 4 7 * To bo adjusted by voto on Cook Islands Department's estimates for this year. Trade. The overseas trade for 1921 amounted to £182,335, imports being £112,974 and exports £69,361. The disparity between imports and exports, though far from satisfactory, is not so marked as in the previous year. The most satisfactory feature of the fruit-export trade is the increase in bananas, which shows 52,388 cases, as against 25,944 cases in 1920. Tomatoes also show an increase, but the orange crop was poor. Copra exported amounted to 803 tons, but there was no export of pearl-shell. Both oranges and bananas are now more plentiful, and the shipping facilities are somewhat improved. Judging by current figures, the position at the end of this year will prove better. Poet of Avarua. Return of Imports for the Year ended 31st December, 1921. £ £ New Zealand .. ... .. 97.226 United States of America .. .. 9,390 United Kingdom .. .. .. 2,947 France .. .. .. .. 11 Australia .. .. .. .. 560 Tahiti .. .. .. .. 2,830 South Africa .. .. .. 2 British New Guinea.. .. .. 8 £112,974

Return of Exports for the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

Article. Where exported. Where exported. Quantity Quantity. yValue. Total. Bananas .. . . New Zealand Oranges . . .. ,, Tomatoes .. . . ,, Pines .. . . „ Lemons/Limes . . ,, Kumeras/Taro . . ,, 52,3S 57, ie 34,4E 2,06 3E 1,22 88 cases 69 „ 57 „ 62 „ 54 „ 30 „ £ £ 52,388 cases 57,169 „ 34,457 „ 2,062 „ 354 „ 1,230 „ 21,680 22,343 11,169 361 176 397 21,680 22,343 11,169 361 176 397 Arrowroot . . .. ,, 83 kits 83 kits 124 124 Cucumbers .. „ 3 cases 65 „ 3 cases 1 16 1 16 Mangoes .. .. ,, 6 65 „ Coffee .. .. „ 76 sacks 7 76 sacks 608 608 Coconuts .. . . „ Tahiti 2,581 cases and sacks 12 sacks 2,58 1 SI cases a 12 sacks and sac inn <j a n cks 642 3 645 Copra . . .. New Zealand United States of America Tahiti 2,593 cases and sacks S5,0« 12 45 22 tfd cases a 24 tons 54! .. 24! » ind sac cks 124 tons 454! .. 224! » 1,721 6,826 3,294 11,841 -Total 803 tons 80 33 tons ■ • £69,361 SUMMAI IY. £ 19,238 6,826 3,297 New Zealand United States of America Tahiti 5' £6' 19,361

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Vital Statistics for the Year ended 31st March, 1922.

Public Works Department. Mr. E. A. Reid, in addition to his duties as Fruit Inspector, took over charge of this Department at the end of February, 1921, and commenced work by taking stock. Proper property and stock lists were prepared, showing the property, tools, and stock then in hand belonging to the Department, arranged under the following subheadings : Water, Painting, Building and Carpentering, Experimental Farm, Fruit Inspection, Survey, and General Public Works. From the stock-lists a stock-book was compiled in which is recorded, in addition to the stock then found to be in hand, all stock from time to time coming to hand. ■ A delivery-book was also set up, showing all issues from stock from time to time made, and the works on which such issues were to be used. A book was also opened in which is recorded the number of men employed each day by the Department, and the work upon which each man is engaged, also the time he worked while so engaged, so that the value of his work may be charged against each separate job. The following system is carried out : The property-lists are revised every six months, and the stock in hand checked with the stock and delivery books every three months. A wages-sheet is also supplied to the Treasury every week, showing the works against which wages are to be charged. A. monthly return is supplied to the Commissioner and Treasurer, showing the materials used from stock during the month, and the works upon which they were used, also all issues of benzine during the month. The above system, together with the books referred to, was explained and shown to the Government Auditor when he was in Rarotonga, and was approved by him as being sufficient. Separate stock and delivery books arc kept in connection with the shooks used by the Native companies. Owing to lack of funds no new public works have been undertaken during the year, but all that it was possible to do within the scope of the funds available in the way of repairing and bringing existing works up to a reasonable standard, has been done. A statement is attached showing the main extensions, repairs, and improvements to Government buildings and property that have been carried out by the Department during the year, but in addition there were, of course, the usual repairs to bridges, water-mains (almost of daily occurrence), telephone-lines, &c. A statement is also attached showing the furniture, for use in Government buildings, that has been manufactured in the carpenters and joiners' shop when the carpenters were not otherwise employed on general building or repair work. The Resident Commissioner has recorded his appreciation of the valuable service rendered to the Administration by Mr, E. A. Reid, who, in addition to his ordinary duties of Fruit Inspector, has organized and superintended and carried out the work of this Department. Statement showing Repairs, Extensions, and Improvements to Government Buildings carried out betiveen Ist March, 1921, and 31st March, 1922. Ngatipa. —General repairs to building ; extending back veranda and constructing open-air diningroom ; constructing concrete floor to lavatory ; painting inside and outside and roof ; laying out. grounds, making flower-borders, paths, &c. Government Buildings. —Removing old printing-office store from back veranda ; building private office for Treasurer ; fitting Commissioner's Office with gauze windows ; fitting Post Office with netted doors ; making and fitting counter and grill, Registrar's Office ; making and fitting grill for Post Office counter; making and fitting shelves in Bond Store and Customs Parcels Department; building septic tank ; erecting urinals and patent lavatory in connection with Government offices, including necessary water connections ; painting roof of Government buildings ; laying out and improving grounds. Whare Manuhiri. —Repairing doors and windows ; building new bathroom and lavatory ; concreting right-of-ways ; constructing concrete floors to ladies' bathroom and lavatory ; building septic tank ; painting part of interior and roof ; constructing footpaths ami improving grounds.

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Island. Rarotonga Aitutaki Mangaia Atiu Mauke Penrhyn Manihiki Rakahanga Mitiaro firths. Maori. European. M. F. M. F. 63 59 2 3 21 16 36 24 20 14 13 18 2 1 5 5 2 4 .. .. 162 141 2 3 Deaths. Maori. European. M. F. M. F. 26* 23 .. 1 7 9 I 20 22 .... 20 12 12 6 3 1 88 73 1 1 M. 39 21 8 Me F. 39 22t 9f 5 3 7 Ma: ,ori. riages. European. M. F. i 'it :: it .. 5 3 7 1 2 1 2 .. i 86 88 2 * Includes oni China: .an. Carried Native w< unan.

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Hospital. —Removing old native-built sides from out-patients' quarters and rebuilding with timber and netting; constructing hoods to protect from weather; extending veranda east end nurses' quarters to form outside sleeping-quarters ; necessary painting consequent on alteration, also painting all roofs. Titikaveka School. —Constructing ceiling ; making and fitting eight door-gates. Secretary's House. —Removing old kitchen and bathroom ; building new kitchen ; fitting bath and water-supply ; painting and renovating house and roof ; building septic tank. Customs Residence. —Building motor-shed ; concreting floor of lavatory ; painting roof. Fruit Inspectors House. —Repairing veranda and making new veranda-railing ; necessary painting consequent on alteration ; painting throughout. Public Works Department. —Building Public Works shed, containing timber-store, carpenters' shop, plumbers' workshop, shook-store ; building shed for Public Works trucks ; building oil-shed for freezer ; building urinal and lavatory for Public Works employees ; making and fitting five barred windows in prison ; painting all roofs and necessary wood and iron work. Teacher's House, Ngatangiia.—Coßcietmg floor of lavatory; repairing veranda, bathroom floor, and house steps, and consequent painting. Teacher's House, Arorangi. —Building ceiling in kitchen, store, and bathroom, and generally repairing, repainting, and renovating house. Foreshore. Repairing all seats an"d concrete post-and-chain fence, and improving and planting grounds along waterfront. Experimental Nursery. —Erecting small house for caretaker. Ta'kiturnu School. —Constructing partition dividing school into two parts and painting throughout, including roofs. Residence of Chief of Police. —Painting roof. Medical Officer's Residence. —Painting roof. General. —Making furniture (see separate statement herein) and repairing furniture, and making and fixing fittings in various officers' residences and Government buildings. Printing Department. — Erecting cottage for Printer; erecting extension to printing-office to accommodate stationery and stores. The following articles of furniture, &c, to the number of 183, and valued at £448 10s. 4d., were made by the Government Furniture Department between the Ist March, 1921, and the 31st March, 1922 : Single and double bedsteads, Morris chairs, wardrobes, blackboards, easels, dressing-tables, desks, card-tables, other tables, mosquito-frames, dining-chairs., wire-netting doors, wash-tubs, cupboards, cupboard-safe, meat-safe, platforms for safes, wash-tub stand, wash-basin stands, ice-chest stand, boiler-stand, curtain-rod, clothes-hangers, letter-boards, mixing-board, shelf, seat, carpenters' benches, linen-press, kitchen-dresser, typewriting-tables, stationery-cabinets, wardrobe-shelf, legs for file-shelves, gauze doors, office-stools, cinnet rocking-chair, doors, sofa, chest of drawers, chair, sideboard, etc., book-case, school-gates, notice-board, counter, stretcher-bed, stretcher-bed and mosquito-frame. Apprentices. Considerable extensions having been made to the old Public Works store-shed, suitably equipped carpenters and joiners', plumbers', and painters' shops have been established therein. At the present time there are five apprentices to carpentry and joinery, two to plumbing, and two to painting, and it is hoped that from these apprentices the Administration will in future be able to draw its skilled labour. It may be advisable later on to send the best of the lads to New Zealand to finish, but that can be decided when occasion arises. It is thought, for a number of reasons, that it will prove much better to teach the lads here than to send them to New Zealand. - The conditions on which these apprentices are taken on are as follows : Term, two years certain. Wages, 10s. a week for the first three months, 12s. 6d. a week for the second three months, 15s. for the next six months, 17s. 6d. a week for the next six months, and £1 a week for the last six months. After this each apprentice is to be paid according to his worth. New Public Works. The following new public works arc urgently required, but to carry out any one of them is beyond, the present resources of the Administration unless provision is made for raising the necessary funds either by way of loan from New Zealand or by Government grant : — (1.) A new water-supply system for Rarotonga. including necessary filter-beds, settlingtanks, &c. (Note : The present water-supply system for Avarua was laid down in the year 1906. The pipes were guaranteed by the makers as being good for ten years. They are now almost done. Breaks are of daily occurrence, and the whole system may give out at any time.) (2.) A mooring-buoy for the Rarotonga roadstead. (3.) Wireless telephones throughout the Group islands. (4.) Improved water-supplies for Aitutaki. Mangaia, and other islands. (5.) Facilities for landing cargo and loading fruit on the outer islands. Before attempting to carry out some of these works it will be advisable to send a qualified Engineer to Rarotonga to inspect and report. Roads. Up to the last few months of last year the main road round the island was in a very poor state of repair. In bad weather in places it was almost impassable. The side roads were often quite impassable. As no funds were available in the Treasury for this purpose, the only course open was to appeal to the Natives to assist in putting the roads in order. The Natives pay no taxes, the Europeans do ; and the Natives, of course, are the principal users of the roads.

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The portion of the main road between the Hospital and Messrs. A. B. Donald's store —about two miles —has always been regarded as the particular care of the Administration, and in order to show the Natives that the Administration was willing to put its own house in order before asking them to do anything for themselves, and to give them an idea of what the roads should be like, the Resident Commissioner set out to repair and crown this portion. When this work was completed he opened a campaign, taking " self-help " as his text. It is not necessary to go through an account of this campaign step by step, but after considerable opposition large numbers of Natives in every district turned out to work on the roads —the Natives doing the work and the Administration providing trucks and benzine and food for the workers. On one day alone in one district 274 men turned out to work. This continued until the whole road was put into first-class order, which was accomplished by the end of January. Some of the side roads, too, have been repaired, and new roads formed on the same basis —viz., the Natives doing the work and the Administration providing food for the men and benzine for the trucTcs. Though much remains to be done, there is now no need to feel ashamed of the state of the roads in Rarotonga. In this connection also the Resident Commissioner records his appreciation of the indefatigable efforts of Mr. E. A. Reid, the Acting Superintendent of Public Works, who organized the labour gangs and carried out the superintendence of the work. Native Fruitgrowers. In January last a number of Natives who had assisted the Administration with repair work on the roads asked in return to be assisted with their fruit export. This was agreed to, and a company was formed under the control and general superintendence of Mr. E. A. Reid, with books and accounts kept in the Treasury. The operations to the present, though merely experimental in their nature, have proved entirely satisfactory. There are now.five branches in the different villages, and applications to join one or other of these branches are of almost daily occurrence. Owing to lack of space in steamers, however, it is not at present possible to admit any more members. The Resident Commissioner is convinced that, managed on present lines and given sufficient space on steamers, these companies could take over a very large proportion of the fruit-export trade, and that without any chance of loss to the Administration. The companies, too, are not in conflict with the traders, since all fruit intended for export is first offered to the traders and fruit-buyers, and is shipped on consignment only if no satisfactory price can be obtained for it locally. The following account shows operations to date, and speaks for itself : — Total shipment from March to July, 1922: Oranges, 2,595 cases; bananas, 1,452 cases: total, 4,047 cases. £ s. d. Gross proceeds of total shipments .. .. .. .. 1,416 14 8 Less expenses — £ s. d. Shooks .. .. .. .. .. 433 I 10 Nails .. .. .. .. .. 28 0 0 Nailing and cartage . . . . . . 57 19 5 5.1.9 1 3 897 13 5 Less withdrawals by Natives on. account .. . . .. 136 5 5 Balance in Treasury .. . . . . .. £761 8 0 When in Aitutaki and Mangaia the Resident Commissioner was asked to extend the benefit of the new companies to these places, and promised that the matter would be taken into consideration in time, if possible, to do so next year. Telephone System. For the past two years there has been trouble with the telephone-line. The wire in use was too fine, and was constantly being broken by falling coconut-leaves. The posts, too —sapling ironwoods — were found to be rotting at the ground-level, and were, constantly falling. In spite of continual repairs the line was almost always down in one place or another, and indications pointed to increasing troubles. With a view to ascertaining whether it was possible! to do anything short of taking in and reconstructing the greater part of the line, a member of the wireless staff went over the route and reported, and as a consequence the wire was taken in from Muri to the Titikaveka end on the one hand, and from the wireless station to the Arorangi end on the other hand. The lines in the township of Avarua, and from the post-office to the wireless station, are still being kept up, but one of the first works to be undertaken by the Administration should be the reconstruction of these lines with proper and suitable wire and posts. Experimental Nursery. Owing to the. duties that have devolved upon him by reason of his taking over the Public Works Department, Mr. E. A. Reid has not been able to give the time he would have liked to this important branch of the Administration's activities. Under Mr. Reid's supervision, however, the general work of the nursery has been carried on by a Native foreman.

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Furnishings for Officers' Quarters. During the year a considerable amount has been expended in providing furniture for officers' quarters. In addition to the articles made in the Administration's furniture-shop, the sum of £537 Os. 6d. has been expended in purchasing furniture from, outgoing officers who at the time of their appointment provided their own furniture. Further expenditure in this direction will have to be faced before the furnishings of all officers' quarters —especially in the outer islands- are up to a reasonable standard. Education. Mr. J. C. M. Evison has recently been appointed Supervisor of Education in. addition to his duties as headmaster at Avarua, and he is now engaged upon inquiries with a view to reporting on the whole system both in Rarotonga and the outer islands. Mr. Evison's instructions are to report upon present conditions and to make recommendations for their improvement. His report should be available in a few months' time. Arrangements have been made under which the Chief Medical Officer makes periodical inspections of the schools in the Island of Rarotonga. Headmasters have also been supplied with first-aid requisites to deal with minor accidents, AVc. Maori Class. Early in March arrangements were made with the Rev. Father Bernardino to conduct a class for the instruction of officers of the Administration in Maori, and a number of officers are availing themselves of the opportunity thus afforded them of acquiring the language. It will be of incalculable benefit to the Administration if the principal officers, at any rate, are able to acquire, sufficient facility with the language to converse with the Natives on everyday subjects in their own language, since it will remove much misunderstanding that at present exists. As an inducement to officers to acquire the language, arrangements have been made for special increases to those passing the examinations with credit. Visits to Outer Islands. In May, 1921, in company with the Chief Medical Officer, the Resident Commissioner visited the islands of the Lower Group, calling at Atiu, Mauke, Mitiaro, Aitutaki, and Mangaia, and staying a day or two at each island ; and he was everywhere accorded a hearty welcome by the people. Again in October the Commissioner visited Aitutaki, Mauke, and Atiu, once more meeting the chiefs and members of Council. The main questions of interest to the Natives of these islands are the medical service, Land Court, and fruit export. Arrangements were made for the Assistant Medical Officer to pay extended visits to Mangaia, Atiu, Mauke, and Aitutaki, for which the people were very grateful. A Native Land Court sitting, too, was held at Aitutaki between the months of June and "October. No one, unless he has bad an opportunity of seeing for himself, can appreciate the difficulties of loading fruit and unloading cargo in these Group islands. Something can be done to lessen these difficulties and to make the operation easier, but the cost of works of this kind are quite,-beyond the present resources of the Administration. Visiting Men-of-war. During the year the island was visited twice by men-of-war —in June by H.M.S. " Veronica " (Captain Lewin, R.N.), and in August by H.M.S. " Chatham " (Commodore Hotham, R.N.). These visits were very much appreciated by the Europeans and Natives alike, and were productive of much good, particularly with the Natives, since they brought to their minds the fact that there was some real connection between Rarotonga and the Empire at large. All that, it was possible to do was done by tin 1 people of the island to entertain the officers and men. Shipping-space. Always a burning question in Rarotonga, there was at the beginning of the season much dissatisfaction with the way space was being allotted. Some individuals, with a view to cornering the space for themselves, devised a scheme by which they were able for one shipment, at any rate, to obtain more space than they were entitled to. The scheme, however, defeated itself, and resulted in the setting-up of a new method of allocation that is giving more satisfaction. Undesirables. As in every community, so in the Cook Islands, there is a percentage of undesirable persons whose removal would be a public benefit. In New Zealand and elsewhere throughout the European portion of the British dominions the removal of undesirables is temporarily effected by means of Vagrancy /Vets. Wider powers than is given by these Acts, however, are required in communities composed of Native peoples. Natives lean very strongly towards the sensational, and are often more prone to accept lying suggestion from people of this class than advice from those who really have their interests at heart. Ultimately, perhaps, though not always, people of the class referred to are found out and discredited, but in the meantime they may have done incalculable harm. Provision should be made by which a Resident Commissioner could deport any person who in his opinion was exercising a bad. influence over the Natives. Many Natives, too, come from the qjjter islands to Rarotonga, where they loaf upon the Rarotongans and generally make themselves a nuisance, without committing any particular offence for which they could be punished by imprisonment. Provision should also be made by which this class of undesirable could be sent back to his own people, also under which a Resident Agent could refuse to allow Natives having no sufficient reason for doing so to leave their own island.

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High Court. The underwritten statement shows the business transacted and fines and fees received in connection with this Court during the year : —

Native Land Court. The undermentioned statement shows fees outstanding, less fees received during the year, in connection with the operations of this Court, so far as the Administration lias been able to ascertain them :— £ s. d. Amount of fees outstanding, 1903 to 31st March, 1922 .. .. 762 0 7 Work done, 1921, Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. 61 12 0 Work done, 1921, Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. 316 6 1 Adoption fees .. . . . . . . . . .. 7 2 0 1.147 0 8 Less receipts for 1921-22 .. .. .. .. 227 4 5 £919 16 3 Medical and Public Health Department. During the year 607 attendances and visits were made upon Europeans and 5,106 upon Maoris in Rarotonga. The heaviest months amongst Europeans were July and September, each with seventythree visits and attendances, and the lowest December, with twenty-four, and January, with twentyfive. Amongst Maoris the heaviest months were July, with 631 visits and attendances, and September, with 623 ; whilst the lowest were December, with 235, and February, with 238. Hospital. —Five Europeans and 100 Maori patients were treated in the institution dining the year ; the average stay was 15$ days. A considerable number of operations were performed, mostly of a minor nature, and a large number of dressings were done. The educative value of the Hospital is considerable. Prevalent Diseases. —The most prevalent complaints were- Diseases of the respiratory and alimentary systems, rheumatism, skin-diseases, menstrual and nervous disorders, and filariasis, in order of sequence. In all cases the sickness-rate was less than in the previous years. The respiratory rate, as a rule, ran fairly constant in accordance with the prevailing weather —viz.. in rainy weather it was low, and. in dry dusty weather high. Alimentary troubles are largely associated with indiscretions in eating— e.g., at times of feasts they are relatively common. In children especially they are often due to worms, particularly round worms, a reminder of the presence of dogs on the island. Rheumatism seems to be intimately connected with, the large amount of saccharine food consumed by the people. Skin-diseases are mostly due to carelessness in regard to clothing and contact, itch and ringworm of various kinds, and a pustular sore local!)' known as une, being the most common. Eczema and impetigo are relatively rare. Menstrual troubles are chiefly caused by the inveterate carelessness of the women at these times in regard to sitting for long periods in cold water. Nervous disorders are mostly of a neuralgic character, although there are occasional cases of a cerebral and spinal nature. Filariasis seems mostly to come through the mosquito and the dog. Filarial abscess was very common during the year. The abolition of in these islands would be of distinct benefit to the public health. Outer Islands. —All the islands in the Group with the exception of Takutea (uninhabited) have been visited by the Medical Officers during the year. The Chief Medical Officer made a round, with the Resident Commissioner in the early part of the year with a view to seeing what islands in the Group most required medical attention. As one result of that visit the Assistant Medical Officer was sent on tour and asked to devote special attention to Aitutaki, Mangaia, and Mauke. At the two former he would have the help of the district nurses. One month was spent by him in Mauke, one in Mangaia, and four in Aitutaki, and shorter periods in Atiu, Mitiaro, and Manuae. From the Assistant Medical Officers' reports and from those of the district nurses there appears to have been an excessive sickness-rate in Aitutaki, and a little more sickness than usual in Mangaia. For the whole year under review in Aitutaki there seems to have been more sickness in proportion to population than in any other island of the Group, and a great

Court. Number i rr. . i , . r , , » total l*ees and of (uses boloro ™ , Court. Flnes lm P° sed ' Fees and Fines Fines worked received. out in Gaol. Fees and Fines outstanding at 31st March, 1922. Jriminal Civil .. I £ s. d. 628 952 17 6 158 46 1 0 £ s. d. 645 14 0 41 15 0 £ s. d. 153 19 0 £ s. d. 1.97 6 0 Totals . . 786 998 18 6 687 9 0 153 19 0 197 6 0

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deal more than in any former year, notwithstanding the fact that no sickness of an epidemic nature has been reported as having occurred on the island. This is very difficult to understand, as there has been nothing exceptional in climatic conditions, or in anything else so far as is known, to account for it, unless it be that, having had both a doctor and a nurse on the island, people have been more prone to have their ailments attended to. Aitutaki has had a better chance of being cleared up from a medical point of view than at any previous period in the history of the Administration, but recent reports from the Assistant Medical Officer and district nurse do not seem to indicate any great improvement. Northern Islands. —These islands were all seen during the latter part of the previous year, and were then in a good condition. It has not been possible during this year to revisit them. Reports, however, from the Resident Agents indicate that the health of the islanders is good, and that there has been no epidemic sickness. Palmerston Island was visited, by H.M.S. " Veronica," and she reported that the island is free from any serious sickness. Lepers. —There has been no change in the condition of affairs except that the two on Aitutaki were receiving special treatment during the stay of the Assistant Medical Officer there, and he reports that their condition has somewhat improved. Efforts will be made during the coming year to give all the others special treatment by medicine brought by the Chief Medical Officer from England. Inspection of Vessels. —Seventy-seven were inspected during the year. Water-supplies, &c. —The remarks made in former reports cover this question. General. —With the exception of Aitutaki, the general health in the islands has been good throughout the year.

REPORT OF NIUE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. Niue, 24th April, 1922. Financial. The total revenue was £4,292, as compared with £5,563 for the previous year. The expenditure was £8,894, which easily constitutes a record. The balance at the end of the year was £1,357. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1922. Revenue. . £ s. d. i Expenditure. £ s. d. Ist April, 1921'—Balance forward .. 5,958 811 Compensation for land acquired .. 37 10 0 Aid to revenue .. .. .. 499 0 0 Education .. .. .. .. 033 2 2 Contributions to Medical Fund .. 250 0 0 Furniture for officers'quarters. . .. 82 7 2 Customs duties .. .. f. 1,275 12 2 Government buildings, maintenance, &c. 2,282 19 2 Copra export duty .. .. .. 553 3 3 Interpreting.. .. .. .. 102 0 6 Dog-tax .. ..' .. .. 31 10 0 Jetty, maintenance, &c. .. .. 48 14 9 Emigration fees .. .. .. 22 0 0 Liquor purchased .. .. .. 173 1 0 High Court fees and fines .. .. 211 10 9 Medical Officer —Local travelling-expenses 410 7 0 Licenses .. .. .. .. 175 0 0 Medical supplies and assistance .. 2,2.53 12 10 Liquor-sales . . .. .. 203 10 9 Miscellaneous services . . .. 130 12 3 Native Land Court fees .. .. 317 0 Office fittings and requisites .. .. 27 10 11 Registration fees .. .. .. 18 11 0 Police .. .. .. .. 1,892 5 0 School fees .. .. .. .. 30 13 0 Printing and stationery .. .. 110 10 2 Stamp-sales.. .. .. .. 1,011 11 0 Prisoners, supervision, &o. .. .. 253 7 7 Public Library .. .. .. 215 0 Rent, officers' quarters .. .. 33 0 0 Reservoirs, maintenance, &c. .. .. 817 5 Resident Commissioner—Local travelling oxponscs .. .. .. .. 252 15 4 Roads, maintenance, &c. .. .. 157 15 0 Balance, 31st March, 1922— £ s. d. Cash in hand .. .. 998 10 4 Bank of New Zealand, Auckland .. .. 358 14 3 1,357 10 7 £10,250 19 10 £10,250 19 10 Postal. The following are the principal items : Money-orders —Issued, £4,308 9s. 7d. (a record) ; paid, £291 10s. Savings-bank—Deposits, £4,152 17s. 9d. ; withdrawals, £1,101 12s. 3d. Postal notes, &c. — Issued, £71. 6s. lid. (a record) ; paid, £9 os. OJd. Stamp-sales, £184 2s. War pensions, &c, £622 2s. lOd. The most pleasing feature about these figures is the gradual annual increase in savingsbank deposits. Trade. Though no vessel arrived until the 12th July, 1921, to carry off the accumulating copra, still the " Ysabel's " four trips fairly cleaned out the sheds ; 553 tons of copra were exported, and this is said to be a good average year.

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The imports were valued at £26,339, which created a record for the island. The exports reached £16,721, thus making a total trade value of £43,060. Port of Alofi. Return of Imports for the Year ended 31st December, 1921. £ £ New Zealand .. .. .. 22,780 Tonga .. .. 5 United Kingdom .. .. .. 504 United States of America, West Coast .. 27 Canada .. .. . . . . 11 American Samoa .. .. .. 50 Australia .. .. .. .. 2,676 Western Samoa .. .. .. 286 £26,339 Return of Exports for the Year ended 31st December, 1921. £ £ New Zealand .. .. .. 14,891 American Samoa .. .. .. 113 Rarotonga .. .. .. .. 85 Western Samoa .. .. .. 1,632 £16,721 Shipping. The following vessels visited the island during the period under review : " Ysabel " (four trips), H.M.S. " Veronica " (three times), " Wairuna," H.M.S. " Chatham," " Tutanekai," " John Williams," " Ajax," and the French sloop " Aldebaran," once each. Education. Owing to various circumstances, education has, on the whole, suffered a set-back— both Government schools'being affected. Tufukia attendances :— Boys. Girls. Total. Roll at beginning of first quarter .. .. .. 127 101 228 Roll at end of last quarter .. .. 125 92 217 Average attendances during year . . . . .. 98-68 81-94 180-80 On account of the appointment of Mr. Evison as Resident Commissioner the Hakupu School remained closed from the beginning of the year until the arrival of Mr. Bolton in June. Unfortunately he took ill a fortnight after commencement, and school was accordingly closed for a further period of two weeks. Since then, however, things have been satisfactory, and the work in the school has been making steady but undeniable progress. The school for adults was also continued. Hakupu attendances : — Boys. Girls. TotalRoll at beginning of first quarter .. ~...■ ~ 58 47 105 , Roll at end of last quarter .. .. .. 54 41 95 Average attendances during year .. . . .. 50-64 37-74 88-38 Hospital. This building is nearing completion, and should be finished in two weeks' time. The delay has been caused partly by want of material and partly through time spent in repair to other buildings. In another three weeks' time it should be ready to receive patients. Medical and Health. Extracts from Report of Resident Medical Officer. The visits to the dispensary for consultations and. for drugs numbered 8,388, while the surgical out-patients department has been well patronized. Where possible — i.e., where there were capable and reliable men —I have continued the practice of leaving such drugs and mixtures as the season, appeared to demand, and this has been a great help. Thus Hakupu, Mutalau, and Hikutavake have been treated. In a few other villages the police were entrusted with a little aspirin and purgatives. I have myself made visits to the outlying villages to 1,300 cases. During the year there were no epidemics worthy of mention, and yet the death-rate was high. Represented graphically, however, we see a steady fall. The birth-rate is fair, and for 1921 births exceed the deaths by six. I hope the tide has turned. There was a surprisingly high death-rate among the aged —over one-third. They are still very callous with their old folk, and the deaths are in many cases due to the want of the ordinary necessities of life. The infantile-death rate, too, is still very high—more than three times that of New Zealand. Ido not yet see the progress anticipated in this direction. Old customs die hard. At present the infants mainly fail in the weaning process. , •

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Tuberculosis has been the cause of many deaths, and the disease is on the increase. Filariasis is common and increasing, the northern part of the island being most affected. It has increased the Medical Officer's work fourfold, and will continue to do so until the cases can be concentrated. To treat them in their own homes has entailed much travelling. Skin-diseases mentioned in previous reports are not now so noticeable. Gonorrheal disease, we have good reason for thinking, is slowly being got under. Certain villages are now clean. Ignorance has no doubt played an important part in its dissemination and continuance, and I look forward with hope that our lecturing campaign, illustrated with lantern-slides, now nearing completion, will early bear fruit. This method of presenting these diseases has had a wonderful effect. The Ordinance compelling the notification of venereal disease, &c, has greatly reduced the illegitimatebirth rate, and has enabled us to get gonorrheal disease under control. As regards the ravages of specific disease, we hope that time and treatment will gradually have the desired effect, especially in the third generation. Already a healthier type of individual predominates, and no doubt, provided no fresh infection is reintroduced from without, the ill repute this island might or might not have gained should be a thing of the past. It is a pleasure to us all to see our elaborate hospital completed, but for the equipment. When acute cases can be treated under one roof and operative cases centralized the burden of all concerned will be greatly minimized. I desire to thank the Resident Commissioner for so magnificently assisting in the creation of that competitive spirit so necessary in the villages in regard, to hygiene, ventilation improvements, &c. It will have a far-reaching and highly beneficial effect, and, judging from the efforts now being exerted, will accomplish in a single year what would otherwise have taken twenty years or more. It is pleasing to note the way people are taking up the systematic playing of cricket under Marylebone rules, and the support they arc giving to the newly formed Island Cricket Association. The regular playing of weekly matches all round the island is already drawing both young and old out into the fresh air, and having a wonderful psychological effect on their minds, and from my point of view causing them to forget their real or imaginary illnesses. To avoid being placed in the predicament of the previous year, when we were obliged to combat pneumonic influenza with no suitable drugs, I felt it our bounden duty to order an oversupply, considering our poor communication with the outside world. It happened that there was no epidemic to contend with, so these drugs remain as an asset in the dispensary. Nurse Copland has done good work amongst the Natives when fit and when available. I think she has stood the strain under tropical conditions very well indeed. At times it was necessary to spare her to the Europeans. A great deal still remains to be done along the following lines : Public health, tuberculosis, infantile welfare, venereal disease, flics, mosquitoes, care of aged, skin-disease, dietetics, and witchcraft. Roads. Nothing beyond minor repairs has been effected in the roads. This work has been carried out mostly by prison labour. The repair of the roads is a matter which needs urgent attention, for most of the roads at the present time are in a shocking condition, owing to the abnormal rainfall during the past few months. Until a permanent road gang is appointed, and a vehicle for supplying material is purchased, Niue will not be able to boast that it has even fair highways for vehicular traffic. Water-supply. This has been a source of much expense and inconvenience at the residences of the officers, owing to the short life of the corrugated-iron tanks. To overcome this difficulty reinforced-concrete tanks are being erected, and it is pleasing to note that they are more durable and cheaper than the iron tanks. A new reinforced-concrete reservoir has just been completed at the hospital. A new departure has been taken in that the the roof of this one is also of reinforced concrete, instead of corrugated iron, with which all previous ones have been roofed. Tt is the largest on the island, and has a holdingcapacity of 15,000 gallons. Other Works. General repairs have been effected in all residences. Meteorological. Barometer : Mean for the year, 30-04. Thermometer : Mean maximum, 84-36 ; mean minimum, 71-01 ; maximum for year, 98 (in March). Rainfall: Total amount for year, 79-38 in.; total days on which rain fell, 160. Justice. During the past year 416 criminal cases were dealt with, being a decrease of twenty-seven on the returns for the previous year. In the Civil Court five cases for the recovery of debt, two cases for probate, and twenty-two cases of divorce were dealt with. In the Native Land Court seven applications for adoption were dealt with.

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Return of Criminal Cases for the Year 1921.

Return of Civil Cases for the Year 1921.

Vital Statistics for the Year ended 31st December, 1921.

Migration Return for Year 1921.

Approximate Cost of Paper.- —Preparation, not given; printing (475 copies), £20.

By Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 922.

Price 6d ]

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