A.—3

8

Meteorological. The total rainfall at Avarua for the year ended 31st December Inst year was 87-92 in., the highest recorded for twenty-four hours being 4-04 in., on the 21st July, 1922. The highest reading df the Fahrenheit thermometer in the shade for the year 1922 was 91-s°. on the Bth February, and the lowest was 57°, on the 23rd August. The mean of the maximum was 80-3°, and the mean of the minimum was 70-6 0 .

REPORT OF NITTE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. Niue, 4th April, 1923. Finance. Revenue for the year amounted to £6,068 His. Id., the main items being—Customs duties, £2,886 2s. lOd.; copra export duty, £732 18s. lid.; and stamp sales, £726 14s. The expenditure amounted to £6,453 7s. lid., the balance in hand on 31st March being £972 18s. 9d. The Commissioner estimates the revenue for the coming year at £4,800, and the expenditure to equal this amount. Should the revenue exceed his expectations additional amounts will be spent, particularly on tinMedical Service and on education. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1923. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance brought forward, Ist January, 1923 1,357 JO 7 Education .. .. .. .. 852 111 Aid to revenue .. .. .. 491 10 0 Firearms and Ammunition Account .. 318 18 10 Copra export duty .. .. .. 732 18 11 Furniture, officers' quarters .. .. 29 18 8 Customs duties .. .. .. 2,886 210 Government buildings .. .. 1,503 19 7 Dog-tax .. .. .. .. 33 15 0 Interpreting .. .. .. .. 114 4 0 Emigration fees .. .. .. 30 0 0 Jetty, &c. .. .. .. .. 37 15 11 Eigh Court fees and fines .. .. 137 3 0 Library, Public .. .. .. 8 12 Licenses .. .. .. .. 151 5 0 Liquor purchased .. .. .. 187 10 2 Liquor sales .. .. .. .. 261 ir •(i MedioaJ supplies and assistance .. 1,24il 1 2 Medioal aid and assistance .. .. 918 0 Medioal Officer —Local travelling .. 294 4 1 Native Land Court fees, &c. .. .. 5 5 0 Niue Island Council .. .. .. 28 15 0 Registration Fees .. .. .. 12 19 0 Office fittings and requisites .. .. 23 1 (i School fees .. .. .. .. 57 3 0 Police .. .. .. .. 417 0 (i Stamp sales .. .. .. .. 726 14 0 Printing and stationery .. .. til 7 (i Contribution to Medical Fund .. .. 250 0 0 Prisoners—Food and supervision .. 181 17 0 Arms and Ammunition Account .. 283 110 Rent, officers'quarters .. .. 28 io o Reservoirs, tanks, to. .. .. .. 254 9 5 Resident Commissioner— Local travelling.. Bfi 0 10 Roads .. .. .. .. 050 2 9 Miscellaneous sorvir-os .. .. .. 157 1 11 Balance carried forward— £ s. d. Cash in hand . . 055 17 ri Current account, Bank of New Zealand .. 317 I 3 972 is 9 £7,426 6 8 £7,420 6 8 Trade. Imports for 1922 totalled £15,418, and exports £15,122. 733 tons of copra and 4,436 dozen hats were exported. The copra crop was very satisfactory, 130 tons remaining on hand at the end of the year. Should the vessel secured for the Niue service for the coming year prove suitable, it is hoped to commence the exportation of bananas at once. The Niue banana compares favourably with any sold in New Zealand at present, and provided they can be landed in Auckland in good condition there oan be no doubt as to the future of this venture. Copra has been low in price and is likely to remain so, and fruit is the only remaining resource of this island. The Fruit Regulations in force at Rarotonga do not as yet apply to Niue, but it is proposed to take immediate steps to put them in force here. Great care is needed in commencing this trade. If poor quality is shipped by the earlier vessels Nine fruit will be under suspicion from the start. The regulations are accessary to prevent such a contingency. Shipping. Eleven vessels called at Niue during the year. The contract ship " Ysabel " made five trips, the " Maota," " Kaeo," and the mission steamer " John Williams " called once each, and in addition 11.M.5. "Chatham," H.M.S. "Veronica," and H.M.S. "Laburnum" each visited Niue oner-. The " Ysabel " was tho last, ship to call, arriving on the 20th November and leaving on the 24th, so that the hurricane season has been a very long one —probably five months by the time the first vessel of the new year arrives. Fortunately, there has been no shortage of food-supplies, but there has been a scarcity of building-material, paint, &c. Population. The following table shows the births, deaths, and marriages for the past five years : — Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1918 95 178 43 1919 110 126 71 1920 .. .. .. .. .. ..92 104 45 1921 .. .. .. .. • ..103 97 46 1922 .. .. .. .. .. ..99 82 47