A.—3

Wireless. The wireless station has worked smoothly throughout the year. The following figures show the volume of work transacted during the period, excluding Press : —

Trouble was experienced for some time with the oil-engine, and was eventually located in the armature. The necessary repairs were effected locally and the engine is again in good running-order. Electric lights have been installed in both the operating and engine rooms. Public Works. Roads. —A good deal of re-forming and re-dressing of the roads round the island has been carried out by prison labour. Now that the new wharf and bond sheds are completed, attention will be directed to the work of putting all roads in good order. There are several dangerous corners that can be greatly improved, and the new deviation on the Tuapa Hill, which was commenced early last year but had to be discontinued on account of the labour being required for the wharf, will now be proceeded with. This is a very dangerous hill, and the deviation when completed will make the road comparatively straight and a much easier grade. Wharf. —The new wharf and copra-chute, which was erected during the year, have more than proved their utility, in that they greatly facilitate the handling of both inward and outward cargo. The most cordial thanks of one and all on the island are due to the New Zealand Government for the very handsome grant towards the cost of this important and very necessary work. It goes without saying that in the absence of such liberality the local administration would not have been able to venture upon even a limited wharf scheme for many years to come. Both the wharf and copra-chute are constructed in solid concrete. In order to prevent the continual wash of the sea gradually working cavities under the concrete, the outer edges of the wharf-foundations have been well keyed down into the solid coral reef. The dimensions of the wharf are : Length, 105 ft. ; breadth, 34 ft. ; height, 6 ft. ; this gives a surface area of nearly 3,600 square feet, and is eight times larger than the old wharf, which had a surface area of only 420 square feet. The chute runs from the copra-shed to the wharf. The construction required a great deal of excavating at the bottom end and building up at the top. The dimensions are : Length, 132 ft. ; height, 45 ft. ; width, 4 ft. ; and it has a grade of 1 ft. in 2 ft. So far as is known, this is the first concrete chute to be erected in any of the western or eastern Pacific islands, and is by far superior to any chutes built of timber. It has proved itself to be a great laboursaver, because, before it was built, all copra had to be carried down a steep decline. Boat-channel. —In conjunction with the new wharf the boat-channel has been widened. The progress of this work was somewhat retarded owing to the hard nature of the coral reef, the primitive method of having to use hand-drills, and the ability to work only at low tide. However, it has been widened to the extent of 17 ft., which has made an appreciable difference to the state of the channel and has made working-conditions much safer and expeditious. Much more work in this direction still remains to be done. There are several bad outcrops of coral reef on either side of the entrance to the channel which should be removed. It is impossible for the Administration with the appliances at its disposal to undertake this work, and therefore the Admiralty is being approached with a view to arranging for this work to be carried out during the visit of one of the warships this year. This would then make the approach to the boat-channel much safer. A system of electric lighting has been installed throughout the bond and cargo-sheds, and on the wharf and its approaches. This has proved a great boon, its effectiveness being displayed when working cargo from the " Hinemoa "on her last visit here. The many difficulties experienced in the working of cargo at night have now entirely disappeared. Beacon-lights.—Two new beacon-lights fitted with dioptric lenses have been erected in place of the old ones. The front beacon showing a red and the rear a green light. Both lights are permanent. The beacons have again been painted white. Occasional Light.—To assist mariners making or passing Niue at night a fixed white light, occasional, fitted with dioptric lens, has been erected on the flagstaff at Alofi, situated 120 yards southward of Alofi leading-beacons. It is 70 ft. above ground-level and 170 ft. above high water. This light can be seen at a distance of over twelve miles when approaching Niue from either northwestward or south-westward, and has proved of great assistance to vessels on this route. Masters of approaching ships desiring this light to be shown must communicate with the Resident Commissioner by wireless to that effect in ample time to allow of this being done. The times of the daily wireless listening services performed at Niue Radio Station are from 1200 to 1300 and from 1800 to 2400.

39

Inwards. Outwards. Gross Receipts. Messages. Words. Messages. Words. £ S. d. First quarter .. . . .. .. 31 246 43 479 34 12 8 Second quarter .. .. .. 42 353 58 575 39 6 6 Third quarter . . .. . . 46 325 35 380 27 14 3 Fourth quarter .. .. .. 55 386 54 518 34 13 7 Totals .. .. .. 174 1,310 190 1,952 136 7 0