47

A.—3

Statistician, Wellington, but 1 give hereunder a few comparisons with the countings made in Niue in the years 1902 and 1906, which may be found interesting : —

The latest figures disclose an increase of 142 in the population of the island since 1906. Of this increase the gain from natural causes amounts to 32 only, while the excess of arrivals over departures accounts for 110. That the excess of births over deaths should be so small is not surprising when it is remembered that tuberculosis and syphilis were introduced to Niue some thirty-five years ago, and until the past year the people have not had the advantage of a qualified medical man. It is surprising, in the circumstances, that there has been a natural increase at all. A census of the live-stock and coconuts was taken on the same day. The figures for the firstnamed item, which are regarded as fairly accurate, are —295 horses, 1,949 pigs, 149 dogs, and 12,517 head of poultry. The count of the coconut-trees is referred to under the heading " Trade Prospects." Meteorological. The following is a summary of the meteorological readings for the year 1911 : —

The rainfall during the months of October, November, and December was the lowest recorded in those months for many years, the fall in that period being only 7-08 in., or about 15 in. below the average. The total rainfall for the year was also considerably below the average. As a consequence, of the very light rainfall in the latter part of the year the taro crop failed, and for the past few months the Natives have been rather short of food. However, good rains fell during the early part of this year, and there will be plenty of food coming in shortly. A phenomenally heavy sea was experienced at Niue on the 27th, 28th, 29th, and 30th January. The waves were of great height, it being estimated that many of them rose well over 30 ft. before they broke on the reef. The most noteworthy feature of the disturbance was the almost total absence of heavy winds, as at no period of the storm did the wind exceed in strength what is usually termed a fresh breeze. This was undoubtedly the same disturbance that wrought such destruction in the Haapai, Fiji, and other islands in the Pacific. Very little damage was caused in Niue. The lowest barometerreading recorded during the disturbance was 29-63. Subsidized Service. The three-years contract for a service by sailing-ship of not less than 80 tons, which was commenced in the year 1909, expired with" the last voyage of the " Kereru "in December. For some time past, owing to the growth of the trade of Niue, it has been found that the " Kereru " was much too small to carry away all the produce offering. Latterly nearly every voyage cargo was shut out, and with the high prices ruling for copra during the past year there has been much dissatisfaction among the trading community at not being able to get their produce to the markets within a reasonable time.

Census, 1911. Census, 1906. Census, 1902. Under five yea.rs— Males Females Five years and under fifteen years — Males Females Fifteen years and over — Males Females 201 191 439 358 252 240 528 430 352 312 502 424 1,215 1,539 978 1,373 1,039 1,422 Total males Total females 1,855 2,088 1,758 2,043 1,893 2,158 Total population 3,943 3,801 4,051 Europeans (including half-castes living as Europeans) included in the above totals— Males Females 22 15 18 4 15 8 Total .. .. 22 23 37

Highest. Month. Temperature in Shade. Ra Mean Mean Mean * j. Lowest. Month. Maximum i Minimum ; Range " ° f^\ i for Year. for Year, j for Year. ! £".*,, I ; Ram fell. infall. Fall for the Year. Deg. Fahr. Deg. Fahr. T , , Deg. Fahr. Deg. Fahr. Deg. Fahr. 96 February. I 57 J , ul ? , j 85 68-7 16-2 J j August. 144 Inches. 77-55