A.—3.

Immigration and E.migbation. During the nine months of the year ended 31st December, 1917, thirty-one persons, including seven Europeans, arrived in Niue from. New Zealand, Australia, Rarotonga, and Papua. There left Niue during the, same period for New Zealand and Samoa lliirty-nine persons, including thirteen Europeans. It is only the restricted service that prevents a greater outgoing, for these people, especially the young men, are very anxious to travel to other islands—not, unfortunately, with the intention of returning to Niue. Restrictions will need to be placed upon them, for the work of this island would be greatly hampered were all the young men allowed to go. Vital Statistics. The following is the number of births, deaths, and marriages registered during the nine months of the year ended. 31st December, 1917, as.well as for the five preceding years :- - Year. Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1912-13 .. .. .. .. .. 106 99 45 1913 14 .. .. .. .; ..94 80 48 1914-15 ... .. .. .. ... 93 73 70 1915-16 .. .. .. .. .. 94 KM) II 1916 17 .. .. .. .. ..82 128 63 1917 .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 137 37 Meteorological, The following is a summary of the meteorological readings taken during the year 1917 : — Temperature (in shade) : Highest, 96° P., in January; lowest, 59° P., in July. Mean maximum for the year, 84-46° P. ; moan minimum for the year, 68-24° F. Rainfall: Number of days on which, rain fell, 202 ; fall for the year, 85-17 in. Education. Tufukia School was the only Government school on the island during the year 1917. Taking everything into consideration, very fair progress was evidenced. At the beginning of the year there were 246 pupils, comprising 154 boys and 92 girls. During this year 3 girls and 5 boys were admitted. Before the end of the year 44 of these—22 girls and 22 boys—were withdrawn, leaving 210 pupils on the rolls on the 31st December. When school re-opened on the 21st January of this year 20 boys and 3 girls were admitted, so that on the 31st March, 1918, there were 233 pupils belonging to the school. During the year the average, attendance was 126-5 boys and 72-25 girls, totalling 202-75, which in the face of an epidemic of whooping-cough and subsequent period of general acute illness, during both of which the school remained open, may be considered satisfactory. On the whole the staff has done, very good work. Miss Kerisome and Mr. Cowan especially are to be highly commended for their efforts and their loyalty to the school and Administration. The time has come, though, when village schools should be opened. A European teacher with, , his wife as mistress could do splendid work in this connection, training the small children from the age of six and keeping them about them till they reach the age of fourteen years. Some means of commencing on a small scale in this direction should be adopted as soon as possible. Local Ordinances. During the year three Ordinances have, been passed by the Island Council, namely— 7. An Ordinance to amend the Niue Aid to Revenue Ordinance, 1916. 8. An Ordinance to provide for the Regular Cleaning and Weeding of the Public Roads. 9. An Ordinance to provide for the Regular Cleaning-up of all Coconut Plantations. - High Court and Native Land Court. During the nine months, 1917, 142 criminal cases were dealt with in the High Court: Adultery, 49; offences against the person, 37,; theft and offences against property, 16; libel, 8; drunkenness, 1 ; miscellaneous, 31. The civil cases comprised—Divorce, 8 ; recovery of debt, 2. The fees and fines paid amounted to £55 Bs. The work of the Native Land Court was mainly in the direction of ordering adoptions, there being only one other case-—the determining of the ownership of a piece of land at Utuko taken over by the Administration. The fees collected amounted to £4 2s. Contributions to War Funds. Although cut off from regular communication with the outside world, still the good people of this island do not forget their more unfortunate brethren fighting and struggling for them in the great world war. During the year several contributions of money and goods were, sent from Niue to patriotic funds in New Zealand. A sum of £40 was remitted as the result of a function held by a number of ladies in August.

3—A. 3.

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