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NIUE ISLAND. REPORT OF RESIDENT COMMISSIONER. No. 24. Sir, — Niue Island Administration, Niue, 27th May, 1911. I have the honour to forward herewith my report for the year ended 31st March, 1911, together with the following enclosures: Statement of Revenue; Statement of Expenditure; Statement of Liquor isocount; Return of Imports for the Year 1910; Return of Exports for the Year 1910. I have, &c, H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner, The Hon. the Minister, Cook and other Islands, Wellington.

Niue Island. —Report for the Year ended 31st March, 1911. Revenue and Expenditure. The revenue from all sources amounted to £1,443 14s. 6d., and the expenditure to £1,290 19s. 9d. The balance at the credit of this Administration, which stood at £1,629 9s. Bd. at the commencement of the } r ear, was increased to £1,782 4s. sd. at the close of the year. As compared with last year's figures the revenue shows a falling-off of £240, the decline being in the Customs duties collected in Niue. Ihis may be accounted for by the fact that a greater proportion of Niue's imports came from New Zealand than formerly, which in itself is satisfactory, but which, however,has the effect of lessening our revenue. The other items of revenue have been well maintained. The total expenditure for the year was £153 less than the revenue. It may be classified as follows :— £ b. d. Permanent charges (salaries, &c.) ... ... ... ... 482 8 7 Public works, as per statement C ... ... ... ... 733 1 4 Other charges ... ... ... ... ... ... 75 9 10 £1,290 19 9 Full details of the revenue and expenditure will be found in statements A and B respectively. Public Works. The most important work of the year lias been the erection of a residence for a Medical Officer. The house was practically completed at the end of the year, there being but a few small jobs to do when the necessary material comes to hand. The residence, which is built entirely of timber, contains four large rooms, and passage, besides store-rooms and detached kitchen. The building is constructed on the bungalow principle, with a 7 ft. verandah all round, tKe floor of the verandah being of concrete. The whole of T,he work was carried out with Native labour under my personal supervision. The total cost of the Medical Officer's residence, detached kitchen, &c, up to the 31st March, has been £575 4s. 10d., but there are further small liabilities amounting to about £20 which will fall into the accounts for 1911—12. The erection of premises to serve as consultingroom, dispensary, &0., has been left over until the Medical Officer arrives, in order that expert advice may be obtained. The only other work entailing heavy expenditure was the regrading of the Tuapa Hill. This road, which affords the only practicable means of communication with the important village of Mutalau, was so steep that it was almost useless for vehicular traffic. In re-forming the road a slight deviation was necessary, while a considerable quantity of rock had to be blasted out in some places, and filled in at others; also a graded approach of some 250 ft. in length had to be built with rock. Some further slight expenditure may be necessary until the formed work thoroughly settles down. The new road has proved very satisfactory for all classes of vehicular traffic. In addition to the foregoing, several necessary works, entailing a slight expenditure, have been carried out, as follows : A short section of formation-work on the Alofi—Liku Road, necessitating some blasting of rock, and levelling, thus removing a serious impediment to wheeled traffic : several short sections of work of a like nature on the Alofi-Hapuku Road; relaying the surface of Peta Hill Road, which had become washed out by heavy rains; laying an additional line of piping: from the Tuapa Church roof to the Tuapa Reservoir, and from the Alofi Church roof to the Alofi Reservoir, thereby doubling the catchment-areas for each of those reservoirs. ITie total sum expended on public works amounted to £733 Is. 7d., details of which will be found in statement C. With regard to future works, it will be necessary to erect a building on the south end of the Medical Officer's section to serve as a consulting-room, dispensary, &c, and connect the same with a satisfactory form of drainage. This work will be carried out under the doctor's supervision as soon as he arrives. In addition to the foregoing, a new shed to serve as a receiving and bond shed is required, the present accommodation being found totally inadequate.