A.- -3

5

Postal. —The business in this Department has been well up to the, average. Money-orders to the number of 869, value £12,964, were issued in Rarotonga, and 618, value £7,107, paid, the commission earned being £67 7s. 6d. Postal notes, value £279 4s. 4d., were issued. Allotment warrants in favour of soldiers' dependants to the value of £5,681 were cashed. The deposits in the Savingsbank amounted to £2,378 10s., and withdrawals to £1,289 10s. Trade. Imports, £80,061, show an increase of £21,500 over the previous year. Of this increase, £18,000 was with New Zealand. Exports at £60,190 show a decrease, of £7,956 compared with the preceding year. The increase in the value of the imports is due to the rise in the cost of goods more than expansion of trade. The, decline in the value of the exports is due solely to the, shortage of shipping. The, copra crop for the year—l,sso tons—is the second highest on record, being beaten only by the output of 1911, when 1,695 tons were exported. This year, owing to the want of shipping-space, 850 tons were in store at the close of the season. Owing to the war, America is the only available market for this commodity. In regard to fruit, the banana output doubled itself in comparison with the year 1916. During the period under review 75,000 cases and 5,000 kits were exported, as against 41,000 cases the, previous year. The orange crop dropped from 93,000 cases to 63,000 eases. The tomato industry, which promised so well three years ago, is rapidly on the decline, due largely to want of shipping facilities. Slow irregular steamers with which the trade must be content for the present are out of the, question for the marketing of tomatoes. The crops for the coming season promise, to be very heavy. Reports from all the islands indicate a large copra yield, and the, banana and orange output will be good. The installation of "wireless" will be of great assistance to the fruit trade, in advising arrival of steamers. W. J. Stevenson, Collector of Customs and Treasurer. The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga.

Cook Islands Administration. Revenue for the. Year ended 31st March, 1918. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance, Ist April, 1917 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,808 15 0 Customs duties, Rarotonga .. .. .. .. ... 4.129 15 0 New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 1.360 1 5 Traders' license fees .. . . .. . . . . . . 629 5 0 Stamps .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,015 7 2 Fees and fines, High Court, Rarotonga . . . . . . . . 757 3 4 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. 67 11 0 Mangaia .. .. .. .. 16 16 0 Mauke .. .. ... .. 74 0 0 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. 740 Mitiaro .. .. . . .. 5 8 0 Penrhvn .. .. .. .. 34 10 0 Manihiki and Rakahanga .. .. 175 3 0 Fees, Land Court .. .. .. .. .. .. 524 16 10 Water rates, Avarua .. .. .. .. .. .. 183 13 6 ~ Arorangi .. .. .. .. .. .. 67 1 6 ~ Ngatangiia .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 2 0 Matavora .. .. .. .. .. .. 41 19 0 Titikaveka .. .. .. .. .. .. 48 12 0 Muri .-. .. .. .. .. .. 3. 2 0 Shipping fees .. . . . . . . . . .. . . 1 I 9I I Hall licenses . . . . . . .. .. .. .. 5 0 0 Interest on fixed deposit .. . . .. .. .. .35 0 0 Rents 137 10 0 Motor fees .. .. .. ' .. .. .. ... II 0 0 Road rates . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 5 16 0 Fines, Customs Act .. .. .. .. .. .. 13 0 0 Sale of uncustomed goods. .. . . .. . . . . 3 7 6 Liquor account, cash balance . . . . . . . . . . 297 8 9 Ammunition Account, balance .. .. .. .. .. .'lO 1 1 fruit Fumigation and inspection Account, cash balance .. .. 1,245 5 2 Fees for registration of births, marriages, and deaths . . . . 35 6 0 Miscellaneous .. .. .. . . .. .. •. 12 0 11,068' 0 2 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £1.3,876 15 2