11

A.—3

Mr. Reeves, headmaster at Tufukia, left Niue in November last for dental treatment, and at the same time Mrs. Reeves, who had been on the staff of that School, resigned her position. Since then Mr. Bolton, while continuing his duties at Hakupu, has given some supervision to the work at the larger school. Thirty-six of the older pupils were dismissed in the meantime, but otherwise the staff has managed to cope with this emergency, and the Resident Commissioner thanks them all for their willing assistance. At the 31st March the Tufukia School roll stood at 155, anel Hakupu at eighty-five ; but on the return of Mr. Roeve;s no doubt many of the thirty-six pupils above referred to will come back to school. An exhibit of handwork, writing, drawing, efec, from both schools was added to the island exhibit for the British Empire Exhibition, and forwarded during the year. Educational work has been entirely satisfactory. Special attention has been give;n to classes in Native arts and crafts ; the Technical School continues to turn out useful articles of furniture;; and another innovation is that all children arc now taught to read alse> in their own tongue. On last year's estimates appeared an item e>f £200 towards the erection of a school at Mutulau, anel this sum again appears on this year's estimates of expenditure. The balance of the cost of erection woulel fall on the Natives concerned, in the form of Native building-material and labour. As mentioned under the heading of " Finance," this is a matter with which the Resident Commissioner is not prepareel to go ahead unless there are prospects of revenue to justify further extension. Equipment for the school will cost about £250, a teacher's residence about £700, furniture for same (say) £100, and there is also a reservoir to be provided, it would, of course, be folly to build the school unless this further expenditure could bo met in the; ne;ar future. As soem as a steamer service is assured the matter will be further considered. Public Works. A good deal of now roadwork has been qompleted during the year. The: coast road to Tamakautoga was finished in June, and has proved quite satisfactory. There was very little rain for some months after it was finished, and in consequence the grass diel not grow on it very well, necessitating repairs ; but the whole length of the road is now well grassed, anel will give little further trouble. Two wayside tanks have been provided on this road. During February and March Hikutavake Village has been employed on a road to link the; village up with the main road arounel the island. Hitherto the only connection was a branch road. This work is within a reasonable distance of completion, and includes a hill on which the village has done excellent work. The grading and crowning leave; nothing to be elesired, and the e;onstant repairs necessary on other hill roads in Niue should not be; necessary here. Liku effected repairs on three miles erf their road to Alofi, and the prisoners have done a considerable amount of work in the vicinity of Alofi, notably on Peta Hill. As to Government buildings, tile; teacher's residence; at Hakupu is the prinoipal work completed. It consists of four rooms, with kitchen, storeroom, anel bathroom in addition, the whole surroundeel by al2 ft. veranda. A concrete tank remains to be built, anel there are a few other details to be attended to, but the house will be ready for occupation during April. The bond-shed has been enlarged from a floor-space of 27 ft. by 34 ft. to 27 ft. by 60 ft., and concrete has been substituted for wooden flooring. This was done in anticipation of the steamer service. The prison-cell building has been re-erected in reinforced concrete. Painting has been carried out at several buildings, and all have now been attended to eluring the past eighteen months. Minor repairs and improvements have been effected whore necessary. Two concrete tanks have been erected at the Residency, one at the house and one at the new office building. All residences have now either a reservoir or a concrete tank to draw on. As to work for the coming year, repairs are required on several short stretches of road. The rainfall during the hurricane season has been abnormal, and some of the roads have suffered in consequence. The reservoir at Mutalau is to be duplicated, and, if funds permit, that at Liku also. A force-pump is to be tried at a deep watcrholc in Hikutavake, and if this proves successful other waterholcs will be; similarly fitted. An experiment of fencing in cement, with a pipe railing, has been tried on part of the Residency grounds. Fencing in wood has meant continual repairs, and it is proposed to provide these; permanent walls for all Government grounds as occasion arises. Should a steamer service still eventuate, an enlargement of the jetty, erection of fruit-sheds, and shutes to carry the cases to the wharf will have to be considered. Population. The following table shows the births, deaths, and marriages for the; past five years : — Births. Deaths. Marriages, 1919 .. .. .. ..110 126 71 1920 ~ .. .. ..92 104 45 1921 .. .. .. .. 103 97 46 1922 .. .. .. ..99 82 47 1923 .. .. ' .. .. 106 103 42 As to migration, 30 persons, including 13 Europeans, arrived, and 32 persons, including 17 Europeans, departed.