A.-—3

9

prices ruling for fruit offering a temptation to the younger men to make a profit out of their neighbours' plantations. The penalties inflicted for this class of crime will, it is hoped, act as a deterrent in future. On the Civil side of the Court 34 oases were adjudicated upon, as against 40 in the previous year — a decrease of 6. The total fees and fines imposed on the criminal side amounted to £259 125., and on the Civil side to £21 17s. 6d. The total amount of fees and fines collected for the year and paid into the Treasury to the credit of the general revenue was £283 14s. Land Titles Court. —The fees imposed during the year amounted to £40, and the fees collected to £406. The outstanding fees on the 31st March la.st amounted to £493, as compared with £859 in the previous year. Public; Health. The health of the Natives in the outlying islands is fairly good, but not as good as it should be. No reports have been received from the Resident Agent at Penrhyn of recent date regarding leprosy, but there is every reason to think that the number of lepers at the leper settlement has decreased in consequence of death. The present Acting Assistant Medical Officer, being a resident of Rarotonga, is not prepared to leave his home here to visit the outlying islands. I have, therefore, in my despatch No. M 2/1911/209, of 27th April last, requested to be supplied as soon as possible with a Medical Officer having all the qualifications specified by the Chief Medical and Health Officer, so as to permit of this work being undertaken. I trust that you will make this an urgent question. On 26th January last Dr. Chesson, late Chief Medical and Health Officer, returned to New Zealand through illness, and accepted an appointment in New Zealand. Dr. Perceval was appointed on 16th March to be Chief Medical and Health Officer for the Group. lam pleased to say that the Natives have taken wonderfully to him, and his hands are full. The Acting Assistant Medical Officer now proceeds round the island to the various villages, where temporary dispensaries have been established, to attend to all Natives who may not be in a position, through infirmity, to come to the main hospital. The police have been instructed to report to the Medical Officer in each case, and attention is at once given. Owing to the various changes in the medical division, for which I was in no way responsible, 1 am sorry that it was impossible, as explained above, for a report to be rendered to you of a comprehensive nature on the health of the Natives in the outlying islands. I attach the remarks of Dr. Perceval for your information:— " Sir,— " 31st May, 1911. " On my arrival on 16th March last there was a good deal of sickness on the island ; the last fortnight a considerable improvement in the general health has taken place. There is no record of the diseases incidental to the tropicts kept by any of the previous medical men, nor of general diseases, so I am unable to compare the past two months with the corresponding months of any previous year. Syphilis is prevalent in this as in the other islands of the Pacific, and I am of opinion that immediate measures should be taken to eradicate the same, or at least to ameliorate the present condition. " I have, &c, " M. Perceval, C.H. and M.O. " Captain J. Eman Smith. Resident Commissioner. Rarotonga." Audit. The audit of the accounts for the previous year had to be undertaken by Mr. F. G. Twiss, an officer of the New Zealand Government connected with this Administration, in consequence of the fact that I could not find a suitable person to undertake the work. The Audit was previously conducted by Mr. Percy Brown, who had been transferred by Colonel Gudgeon to the Island of Aitutalri as Resident Agent. I did not consider it advisable to appoint any one connected with trade on the island, for reasons which are obvious. It was never my intention to appoint Mr. Twiss permanently. Your letter (C.I.A. 10/11 No. 70) of 4th May, 1910, was duly received by me, and correspondence has since followed on this subject. lam pleased that you engaged the services of Mr. A. G. Clarke, of the New Zealand Postal Department, to audit the accounts of the Administration. Mr. Clarke started his duties on the 17th April, and, as the work was heavier than he anticipated, he found it impossible to audit the accounts in time to return to New Zealand by the s.s. " Talune " leaving here on the 28th April. He had therefore to await the return of the " Manuka." 1 instructed Mr. Clarke, in my letter to him dated 18th April, copy of which I enclose, that I desired that he should remain here as long as necessary to thoroughly satisfy himself as to the correctness of the accounts. I advised the Under-Secretary for Justice on the 18th April (No. All/1911/170) that Mr. Clarke had been informed of my desire that the audit should be a thorough and comprehensive one. The work has now been completed to his entire satisfaction. I enclose a copy of Mr. Clarke's letter, dated 15th May, 1911, informing me of his completion of the audit, and also his report. General. Makea-Nui Ariki. It was with deep regret that 1 advised you in my despatch No. M 4/1213/11/250, of the 15th May, 1911, of the death of Makea Takau Ariki, who died on the Ist May; and I think a short history of her career would not be out of place. The deceased Ariki was the last link with the older order of Arikis, and had held the title of MakeaNui for forty yea,rs —the longest term of Arikiship known in these Islands —she having been appointed about the year 1871 by the Arikis and chiefs of the Island. 2—A. 3.