A.—3

12

Public Works. I think it will not be out of place for me to give here a list of some of the undertakings and public works which have been carried out in the Cook Islands during my three years' administration, as follows : Water-supply for the Arorangi District, Rarotonga ; water-supply for the Ngatangiia District, Rarotonga ; erected ferro-concrete tanks for the storage of fresh water for drinking purposes Islands of Penrhyn, Manihiki, and Rakahanga (these tanks each hold 5,000 gallons of water, and I have no doubt that their erection will materially benefit the health of the Natives on the islands mentioned, where hitherto the people have had no store of perfectly fresh water, there being no streams to draw upon) ; erection and equipment of an up-to-date Hospital and laying-out of grounds ; erection of a residence for the Chief Medical Officer in the Hospital grounds ; erection and furnishing of a Nurses' Home in the Hospital grounds ; general improvement and widening-out of main road about the wharves and from the main village of Avarua to the settlement of Avatiu ; formation of an esplanade and the erection of seats thereon ; erection of a public-works store ; reconstruction of the whole formation of the road round Rarotonga, and renewal of all old bridges ; erection at Aitutaki Island of a cargo-shed with wharf and rails ; construction of a channel between the shore and the reef at Mangaia to facilitate shipping by permitting cargo to be boated from the shore to the ship and vice versa ; establishment of a Resident Agency on the Island of Atiu, and the erection of a residence therefor ; establishment of a Resident Agency at the Island of Mauke, and the erection of a residence therefor, which is now being completed ; bringing into force fruit regulations which have so materially improved the fruit industry ; establishment of a post-office savings-bank at Rarotonga ; land taken by Order in Council for a wireless telegraph station ; importation of the thoroughbred stallion Malachi for the purpose of improving the breed of horses ; importation of prize pigs to improve the breed of pigs. Other works of minor importance were, of course, carried out. Federal Ordinances. The following Federal Ordinances were passed during the time of my administration and received the assent of His Excellency the Governor : Published in my annual report for year ended 31st March, 1910 —The Trading License Ordinance, 1909; the Desecration of Graves Ordinance, 1910. Published in my annual report for year ended 31st March, 1911—the Public Health Ordinance, 1910. Published in this report —The Public Health (Insanitary Buildings) Ordinance, 1911 ; the Shipmasters' Certificate Ordinance, 1911 ; the Cook Islands Hospital Ordinance, 1911 ; the Importation and Sale of Firearms Ordinance, 1912 ; the Public Buildings Inspection and Licensing Ordinance, 1912. Live-stock. I am pleased to be able to report that full advantage of the services of the thoroughbred stallion Malachi has been taken by both Europeans and Natives. It was not at first intended to give the services of the horse free, but it was afterwards found expedient to do so. Many of the residents, encouraged by the action of the Government in providing such a first-class stallion, have imported mares of a very good stamp from New Zealand, and we are now well on the way to possess a first-class stamp of horses for our requirements, in place of the undersized and weedy animals of Chilian breed which have for so many years been used. The pigs imported have also been much appreciated, and evidence of the improvement brought about by the introduction of first-class Berkshire stock is apparent everywhere. The results anticipated by the importation of first-class stock—both the horse and the pigs— have been more than realized, and the thanks of the Administration are again due to the Government of New Zealand for its presentation of the horse Malachi, and also to Dr. C. J. Reakes, Director of the Division of Live-stock for the Agricultural Department, for the trouble he took in the selection of suitable pigs. Firearms. I stated in my last annual report that the time had arrived when the importation and use of firearms and ammunition should be governed by legislation. An Ordinance dealing with this subject has been passed by the Federal Council, and has received the assent of His Excellency the Governor. A copy is appended on page 41. Rarotonga. The Island of Rarotonga has experienced a good year, and various works have been undertaken for the general improvement of the island. The roads are in good order, and bridges have been repaired and renewed where required. As reported elsewhere, a comfortable cottage has been erected for the purposes of a Nurses' Home, which also provides a kitchen for the Hospital. The prosperity of the Natives has enabled them to build much-improved houses, and many permits for this purpose have been issued under the building regulations during the year. Moving-picture entertainments are much in favour, and several firms are operating in the island. Two fairly large halls have been built for this purpose, and I may say that every care was taken that sufficient exits and other provisions for the safety of the public were provided. Mangaia. During the year the cutting of the reef passage was practically completed, and there only remains to be done the work of final clearing out of the coral deposited in the channel, which work is to be undertaken by the Natives. Owing to the continued rough weather at steamer times the total exports from Mangaia during the year were slightly less than in the previous year.