17

A—3

Rakahanga

The health of the people has been good; the Native medical practitioner made an emergency trip from Manihiki to attend a surgical case with septic complications. The Health Committee has inspected the houses at regular intervals. In addition to the copra exported, there were some 157 tons awaiting shipment at the end of the year. Native hats and belts have been exported, and more are awaiting the schooner. The villages and roads have been kept clean.

Pukapuka

Radio telegraphic communication with Pukapuka failed in January, 1946. Upon the reopening of schooner communication after the hurricane season, arrangements were made to send a schooner from Rarotonga to take supplies and equipment to the island. The health of the people found to have been good and life was proceeding normally at Pukapuka. Palmerston The health of the small population has been good; medical advice has been given by radio, but it has not been possible for a medical officer to visit the island for some years. It is anticipated that there will be a schooner call shortly, and a Native medical practitioner will take the opportunity to make a visit. There have been two shipping calls during the year, and 10£ tons of copra, some local timber, and Native handicrafts have been exported to Rarotonga. NIUE Niue Island is situated apart from the other islands of the Cook Group, being somewhat west of the centre of the irregular triangle formed by Samoa, Tonga, and the lower Cook Islands. Niue became a part of New Zealand at the time when, under the provisions of the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895, the boundaries of New Zealand were extended in June, 1901, to include the Cook Islands. Niue has a separate Administration in charge of a Resident Commissioner, who is responsible directly to the Minister of Island Territories. Niue has an area of 100 square miles, nowhere exceeding an elevation of 200 ft., and is without natural fresh water. A road thirty-seven miles long encircles the island, and other roads total approximately thirty miles. The island consists of upheaved coral rock, and is not very fertile owing to lack of soil. The climate is mild and equable ; the mean annual temperature during the last thirty-four years was 76-79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average annual rainfall for the same period 79-13 in. The Native population on 31st March, 1946, was 4,271.

2—A 3

— 1941-42. 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. 1945-40. Shipping calls during year 4 8 5 4 4 Tons of copra exported 108 36 164|86| 39 74 High Court cases dealt with .. 39 147 57

—.. 1941-42. 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. . 1945-46. Shipping calls during year Tons of copra exported High Court cases dealt with .. 1 80 94 2 3 27 4 3 1 70 33 1 60