A.—3.

Aitutaki. The Resident Nurse has done a great deal of hard work in her general care of the Island, both in normal times and during epidemics. Her constant care of the school-children is to be highly commended. An epidemic of conjunctivitis occurred during April and May and of influenza in June. Radio communication has enabled advice to be given regarding serious cases—e.g., strangulated hernia, cross-birth, serious shark-bite, amputation of foot with axe, &c. A Native medical practitioner visited the Island from November to December, when he was relieved by a second one who remained throughout the hurricane season. During these periods the Resident Nurse was absent on furlough Tuberculosis.—Pulmonary, 38 ; manifestations, 367. Public-health Inspections.—Monthly inspections were conducted. Schools.—Children were examined monthly. Antenatal Clinic.—This is conducted monthly. Filariasis.—Fevers and abcesses of filarial nature were prevalent in November. 1 aws.—Twenty-two primary and secondary cases were treated in November. Chicken-pox. An outbreak of this occurred in November, necessitating restrictions in regard to attendance at school of infected children. Rheumatism. Common in November. There were three cardiac complications, all amongst the adolescent. Statistics :— Out-patients (from Ist April to 28th November) .. .. 9,494 In-patients (from Ist April to 28th November) . . .. . . .. '32 Visits .. .. • • 1,283 Confinements .. .. . . 54 N.A.B. injections .. .. 203 Bicreol injections .. . . 976 Local anaesthetics .. .. 57 Minor operations (including dental Worm treatments .. .. 27 extractions) . . .. . . 395 Asthma injections (adrenalin) . . 6 Antenatal examinations .. 21 Manihiki. The Resident Agent reports that there have been no epidemics and that the general health has been good. Radio communication has been maintained since early in March. Raeahanga. The general health has been good. The health committee established in 1926 attends to the general hygiene. The people were advised through their Resident Agent what steps should be taken to abate the fly nuisance, and at present improved privies are being erected at the back of the village and a campaign to improve the general hygiene is being carried out. One suspect leper was reported and isolated . 1 Penrhyn. The general health has been good. A leper concentration hospital is being erected on one of the local islets to receive all lepers and suspects from the Group, pending removal to Fiji. Pukapuka. The surgeon of the H.M.S. Wellington inspected the island and the Resident Agent reports that the general health has been good. VITAL STATISTICS. The following table shows the births and deaths in each island of the Lower Group for the year ended 31st March, 1937. and of the Northern Group for the year ended 30th September. 1936.

Statistical Return for Year ending 31st March, 1937 (Islands of Lower Group), and for Year ending 30th September, 1936 (Northern Group Islands).

Of the deaths recorded, 53 were under the age of one year, as compared with 61 for the previous year .

5

Births. Deaths. Marriages. Islands. j ' — .— | European. Maori. European. j Maori. Euro " I Maori I pean. I Lower Group — m. f. m. p. m . f. m . f. Rarotonga .. • .. .. 3 80 76 .. 4 38 40 2 39 Aitutaki .. .... 1 46 43 .. 1 16 17 l ]7 Mangaia .. 37 29 . . .. 12 12 . . 14 Atiu ■ • 18 24 .. 8 15 4 Mauke .. 10 23 .. .. 5 6 .. 5 Mitiaro .. .... .. 8 6 1 2 1 Northern Islands— Manihiki .. 11 4 i ] ] 10 6 Rakahanga.. .... .. 4 5 .. .. 5 5 Penrhyn .. 7 9 .. .. 4 6 4 Pukapuka .. ...... 11 16 .. . . 3 5 4 4 232 235 1 5 103 118 3 94