A.—3

12

ending 30th June, 1895, and we consider that any fees received by officers during that period should be paid by them to the Federal Government, as they did not do the work for which the fees were given. These returns show that the total number of births during the three years was 615, and the number of deaths 490. The population has thus increased during the three years by 125, and, if these returns be correct, the Maoris are not dying out, as previous figures seemed to show, but are increasing in number. With a hospital and proper treatment it is to be hoped that in future years the deaths will be less, and the increase still more marked. We hope you will impress upon the officers the necessity of sending in their returns every month regularly, and of seeing that they are correct, so that we may all know how the Maori people stand in these islands. We hope the time will soon come when we shall be able to have a census taken in all the islands, like that which was taken last year in Rarotonga, and so know how many people each island contains.

Return of Births and Deaths during the Years ending 30th June, 1893, 1894, and 1896.

Makea, Ariki, Chief of the Government.

Enclosure No. 9. Hospital Repoet to. the 30th June, 1896.—Repoet op Wobk done in Cook Islands Hospital fob Two Months of Quaeteb ending the 30th June, 1896. By Dr. Caldwell, M.D. Beport for May. Number of house-patients during month ... ... ... ... 17 Number of out-patients during month ... ... ... ... 35 Total for month ... ... ... ... ... 52 Number of treatments given house-patients ... ... ... ... 535 Number of treatments given out-patients ... ... ... ... 212 Total treatments given... ... ... ... ... 747 Number of hours per day spent by nurse ... ... ... 15 or 16 Physician's visits to hospital ... ... ... ... ... 78 Physician's hours at hospital ... ... ... ... ... 79 Largest number of patients in hospital at one time ... ... ... 10 Number in hospital at end of the month ... ... ... ... 10 Beport for June. Number of house-patients treated ... ... '... ... ... 21 Largest number at one time ... ... ... ... ... 12 Month closed with ... ... ... ... ... ... 11 Treatments given to house-patients ... ... ... ... ... 596 Namber of out-patients treated ... ... ... ... ... 58 Treatments given out-patients ... ... ... ... ... 375 Whole number patients treated ... ... ... ... ... 79 Total treatments given during month ... ... ... ... 971 Number of prescriptions of medicines during month ... ... ... 115 An average of nearly four hours each day was given by the physician to the care of the sick in the hospital. The time of the nurse given during the two months was more than " full time " — i.e., she put in extra time, counting twelve hours to the day.

* No leturns received.

Year. Rarotonga. Births. Deaths. Mangaia. Aitutaki. Atiu, Mitiaro, and Mauke. Total. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. Births. Deaths. 1892-93 1893-94 1894-95* 1895-96 45 65 42 48 49 70 48 34 39 39 24 26 24 42 23 43 157 216 137 151 59 46 65 74 42 31 76 si 242 202 Totals 169 184 156 136 120 81 142 117 615 490