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of the Linnean Society of London in May, 1903) will bring the knowledge of the flora of Rarotonga up to date. The scientific work carried out by both Dr. Buck and Dr. Wilder is being done without expense to the Administration or the New Zealand Government. OBITUARY. Mr. J. C. Cameron, who was Resident Agent at various islands in the Cook Group for the past twenty-seven years, died during the year at Wellington after an operation for a long-standing complaint. With his knowledge of the Natives and their language, and his natural aptitude to administer Native races, Mr. Cameron was a very successful official of the Cook Islands Administration. He was in charge at various times of the Islands of Aitutaki, Mangaia, Mauke, and Atiu. LOWER GROUP ISLANDS. AITUTAKI. Trade. —The orange crop was a fairly good one last season, and 22,271 cases were shipped to New Zealand. Although the Aitutaki bananas are of a splendid quality, there has been very little success in the past in their carriage to New Zealand. For the year 482 tons of copra were exported. Plantings. —The following is a return of plantings for the half year ended 30th September, 1929 : Arrowroot, 14,812 ; bananas, 5,216 ; yams, 24,307 ; kumaras, 7,370 ; tarotarua, 2,166 ; swamp-taro, 3,719 ; cabbages, 514 ; coconuts, 930 ; oranges, 377 ; pineapples, 981. Health. —The general health of the community was very fair, and the island nursing service is much appreciated. Vital Statistics. —There were fifty-four births, thirty-nine deaths, and fourteen marriages (all of Natives) for the year. Public Works. —The roads have been kept, in repair by the people. A mile and three-quarters of road in the Amuri district has been formed ready for metalling, and about a mile in the other districts is also ready for metal. A boat-passage two miles in length, from the wharf to the north end of Amuri, has been cleared of coral, and the coral has been blasted out of the passage in the outside reef off Amuri to facilitate cargo-handling. The main boat-passage from the wharf to the reef and to the open sea has been cleared of coral heads to allow the cargo-boats to work steamers at low tide. 450 yards of coral were removed from the passage and boated to the head of the wharf, and used to reclaim a piece of land which will help to protect the wharf, and will be available for boat-sheds. Cargo-sheds, Courthouse, Nurses' Home, and the Residency have been painted. All buildings have been kept in a good state of repair. Court and Police. —There has been an entire absence of any serious crime during the year. 256 cases were dealt with under the criminal jurisdiction, for the most part involving small offences, and twenty cases were heard on the civil side. The Native police officers have carried out their duties satisfactorily, and law and order have been well maintained. ATIU. Health.- —Health conditions have been fairly good throughout the year. Housing conditions are poor, owing to a number of the houses not having been reconstructed since the hurricane of 1914. Trade. —The copra output has been normal, but the orange crop was on the short side, only some 13,200 cases being shipped for the year. Vital Statistics.—There were thirty-six births, twenty-seven deaths, and nine marriages (all of Natives) during the year. Public Works. —Apart from a very small amount of prison labour used in maintenance of roads, public works at Atiu are carried out by voluntary community effort. A scheme to construct a road round the coast-line of the island from Taunganui to Oravaru has been put in hand, and this year over three miles of new road was completed. The new road will be an important one as it will give a much shorter access to the landing-place at Taunganui. Heavy rains in August considerably scoured the surface of the main road from Taunganui to the inland villages. This damage has been repaired and 176 tons of metal has been carted and placed on the road. Plantings. —The following shows planting returns for the half-year ended 30th September, 1929, which is ample for all domestic requirements : —Permanant plantings : Coconuts, 1,433 ; bananas, 1,488; oranges, 26 ; coffee, 85; breadfruit, 82 ; vanilla, 419. Food crops : Taro, 4,203 ; tarotarua, 1,995 ; yams, 2,150 ; kumaras, 2,316 ; arrowroot, 2,190.