A.—4

11

Remarks. —-Heavy weather experienced in January made it necessary to send s.s. " Lady Roberts " to shelter, when several lighters and one coaster went ashore, but were got off without material damage. One coastal boat was wrecked owing to engine trouble ; no lives lost. Survey of motor-vessels has been carried out as they became due.

Overseas Merchant Shipping, Port of Apia, for the Year ended 31st March, 1929.

Also, in addition to the above : Inwards —1 British warship, 7 American warships, 1 French warship, 2 New Zealand Government steamers, 1 Royal Danish research .ship, and 1 American yacht; outwards—l British warship, 6 American warships, 1 French warship, 2 New Zealand Government steamers, and 1 Royal Danish research ship. LABOUR DEPARTMENT. During the year 419 time-expired labourers were repatriated to China, and 456 new labourers arrived in the Territory. One labourer suffering from leprosy was sent to Makogai Leper Asylum, Fiji, for treatment, and two labourers previously sent there were returned to Samoa cured. Eight labourers died during the year. The total number of Chinese labourers remaining in Samoa at the end of the year was 965. In addition to the Chinese labourers there were 147 Melanesian labourers in the Territory at the 31st March, one labourer being returned cured from the Makogai Leper Asylum during the year. The labour generally continues to give satisfactory service and to fulfil the purpose for which it is introduced. POLICE AND PRISONS DEPARTMENT. The criminal statistics published below deal with all offences reported during the year ended 31st December, 1928, and show an aggregate net increase of 964 on the figures for 1927-28. The figures for this calendar year, however, include the conviction of 400 Natives (each on two charges), referred to on pages 4 and 12 of last year's report. Police. At the close of the year the strength of the Civil Police Force was thirty-two, comprising four Europeans (two locally born) and twenty-eight Natives. On the 29th April, 1928, the Samoa Military Police, comprising three officers and seventy-one noncommissioned officers and men, landed in the Territory. This force was organized in New Zealand and attested for one year's service for the purpose of assisting the Samoa Civil Police Force in maintaining peace and order. So far as possible the men of the Military Police were trained in Civil Police duties to permit of a number being absorbed into the Civil Police Force. The six European constables on loan from the New Zealand Police Force returned to New Zealand during the year. These men carried out regular police duties whilst in Samoa, and their presence considerably improved the morale of the local police.

Inwards. Outwards. iNumberl I Number of j Tons. Cargo. of Tons. ! Cargo. Vessels. ! Vessels. , . June quarter, 1928 .. .. British 17 23,853 i 4,252 17 20,212 j 1,615 Foreign 2 6,876 j 2 2 6,876 1,583 19 30,729 ! 4,254 | 19 27,088 J 3,198 September quarter, 1928 .. British ' 17 18,650 3,506 18 22,343 4,501 Foreign 4 11,111 ,i 863 3 8,682 1,784 21 29,761 4,369 21 31,025 6,285 December quarter, 1928 .. British 18 18,581 2,680 17 18,549 5,220 Foreign 2 6,735 201 3 9,164 1,114 20 25,316 2,881 20 27,713 6,334 March quarter, 1929 .. .. British 17 18,162 2,852 16 14,418 1,891 Foreign 2 6,118 685 2 6,118 1,111 19 24,280 3,537 18 20,536 3,002 Year ending 31st March, 1929 .. British 69 79,246 13,290 68 75,522 13,227 Foreign 10 30,840 1,751 10 30,840 5,592 79 110,086 15,04-1 78 106,362 18,819 I