A.—4

Storm Warnings. Daily reports of weather were prepared as in former years for inclusion in the broadcast from Apia Radio Station. During the hurricane season, November to April, these reports go out twice a day, and they include reports of weather from the various groups of Southern Pacific islands. Time Service. The standard clock (by Strasser and Rohde) continued to give satisfactory service. It was checked at intervals by means of wireless time-signals from Annapolis, United States of America, and by transit observations of the sun. Atmospheric Electricity. The potential of the air has been registered by Benndorf self-recording electrometers at two stations as in previous years, one in the lagoon and one in the grounds of the Observatory. The necessary financial support for this work was given by the Carnegie Institution of Washington. The Public Works Department erected a platform in the lagoon for the purpose of making absolute observations using a raft carrying a stretched wire. A new hut was erected to house the spectro-helioscope which the Observatory has received on loan from Mount Wilson Observatory. The Director visited the observatories and headquarters of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in New Zealand in August and also the meteorological stations in Fiji and Tonga. FINANCE. It will be noted from the statement of revenue and expenditure that the expenditure for the year exceeded the revenue by £19,896. This deficiency occurred during the first half of the year, considerable economy being effected during the year which did not become operative until the latter part of the financial year. The deficiency, however, was covered by £20,042 available balance held at the commencement of the year. An endeavour is now being made to keep expenditure within the revenue, and, in the absence of any unforeseen contingency, it is anticipated that this should be possible for the future. The statement hereunder shows the amount of revenue and expenditure for the financial year ended 31st March, 1932, together with the corresponding figures for the previous year : —

Revenue.

(а) The decrease under Native taxes is due to the reduction in amount of personal taxes collected. (б) The decrease under Customs, &c., is due partly to a falling-off in trade and partly to traders' policy during the year of non-importation in order to reduce stocks in view of the falling tendency of prices. (c) The decrease under fees and charges is due to reduction in hospital fees received. (d) The decrease under Post Office and Savings-bank is due to a general shrinkage in business transacted and particularly to loss of interest on Savings-bank investments owing to depositors withdrawing their savings during the year. (e) The increase in radio revenue is apparent only, as the adjustment payments to other stations is included under expenditure for 1931-32, whereas the amount was deducted from revenue for 1930-31. The amount paid for 1931-32 is £2,306, leaving a net revenue of £2,486 for 1931-32 as against £3,524- for 1930-31.

3—A. 4,

17

Head of Revenue. 1930-31. 1931-32. £ £ 1. Native taxes .. .. .. ■■ •• •• 1,837 1,429 2. Customs, harbour, and taxes .. .. .. .. . 82,968 68,419 3. Fees and charges (hospital, Court, traffic, &c.) .. .. 12,184 11,338 4. Post Office and Savings-bank .. .. .. .. 4,760 4,409 5. Radio-station .. .. .. ■■ •• •• 3,524 4,792 6. Miscellaneous (rents, interest, &c.) .. .. .. .. 12,308 13,464 7. Engineering and transport .. .. .. .. .. 12,804 8. Public-works hydro-electric .. .. .. .. 5,189 130,385 109,040 Subsidy from New Zealand Government .. .. .. 21,000 Total receipts .. .. .. .. 151,385 109,040