H.—3l

78

Drunkenness. —Our Counciller district has been brought under section 46 of " The Licensing Act, 1904." The district was brought under this Act not for the reason that all were drunkards, but it was done for the persistent few. Much good has resulted from this action, only £14 being collected in fines since 1901 ; thus you see the law has been the cause of making those who drank much drink a little less, and those who drank a little not to drink at all. Health of the People. —ln regard to vaccination, I am pleased to state that the children and adults ot Te Puke, Makatu, and Matata have been done—there are very few of the children unvaccinated; but lam sorry to add that very few have been vaccinated at Rotorua and Rotoiti. There are two causes for this : (1) the Natives in these parts are sceptical, and (2) the Vaccinator does not care to go ont of his way to vaccinate them. He wishes that they should all go in to him at Rotorua. The best plan would be for the doctor to go to all the villages, and that a notice be sent to the Natives to gather together at one place prior to his arrival, and that he should explain to them the benefits resulting from vaccination. I am glad to report that the general health of this district has been excellent during the past year. No outbreaks of infectious diseases have occurred ; only a few children at Tapuaeharuru suffered, but none were taken. This was not a disease to be alarmed over, it was only due to cold. The following iable will give you an idea of the excess of births over deaths during the past year : — District. Tribe. Births. Deaths. Te Ngae .. .. .. Ngatiuemikukopako .... 1 Rotorua .. .. .. Ngatiwhakaue .. .. 6 11 Maketu .. .. .. „ .. .. 2 2 Matata .. .. .. Ngatirangitihi .. .. 4 2 Maketu .. .. .. Ngatipikiao .. . . 2 8 Rotoiti .. .. .. „ .. .. 5 4 Otamarakau .. .. ~ .. .. 1 4 Matata .. .. .. Te Tawera .. . . .. 3 5 Whakarewarewa .. ■ .. Tuhourangi.. .. ..13 5 Te Puke .. .. .. Tapuika .. .. .. 1 2 „ .. .. .. Tuhourangi .. .. 2 1 „ .. . . .. Ngatimoko . . .. 1 Waitete .. .. .. Ngatitamahika .. 1 1 Waiotapu .. .. .. Ngatiwhao Ngatitu . . . . 5 . • Horohoro .. .. .. Ngatituara .. .. 2 Te Awahou .. .. .. Ngatirangiwewehi .. 9 Totals .. .. .. .. . . 51 41 Increase, 10. I know that many more births than those .recorded occurred, but owing to severe sickness in the Registrar's family he was unable to go around and attend to his duties. The Government should subsidise these Registrars so that they be enabled to carry out their duties properly. The number of deaths is sad : there were many whose days were drawing to a olose through age, but the majority were young children. Some died at birth, some through colds and ignorance in nursing, and some were taken through laok of suitable food. It is deplorable. You know the ignorance prevailing. It would be well if the Government could supply all the Native-school teachers with proper food for infants and patients, as you know the extreme poverty of some prevents them from obtaining suitable food. The drainage of Ohinemutu and Whakarewarewa, which I reported last year, has not yet been supplied. This should be done, because the houses are crowded together, and many visitors frequent these parts. Do not let the unpicturesqueness of drains and water-pipes in the Maori kainga deter the Government from spending a little money on these great adjuncts to health.

District. New Weatherboard Houses. New Rush Houses. W.C.s. Renewed. Destroyed. Rotiiti Matata Te Puke Taheke Ohinemutu Owhata 2 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 5 5 2 4 1 Tarewa Whakarewarewa Maketu Motiti Otamarakau .. Waiteti Waiotapu 5 1 1 12 3 1 Totals 39 6 1 4