RAROTONGA AND NIUE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16619, 16 August 1917, Page 5

RAROTONGA AND NIUE.

CONDITIONS MOEE FAVOURABLE. [BY TELEGRAPH.— SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. I

. WELLINGTON. Wednesday. According to the . annual reports of the Resident Commissioners of Rarotonga and Niue, conditions in the islands were much more favourable last year than for the two previous years. Trade and revenue have been fairly well maintained in spite of the drawbacks due to the lack of adequate shipping facilities. The Commissioner of the Cook. Islands states that the public health has improved, and the census shows that the population is no longer diminishing. There were 197 whites and halfcastes living as whites, and 8567 natives and half-castes living as natives. The registrar of the High Court reports that the number of criminal cases has greatly increased, being 911, as against r 559 in the previous year. The principal increases are in the convictions for bush drinking and for wandering animals.. The increase in the former is stated to be due no doubt to the appointment of permanent native police and to the strict supervision and diligence of the European sergeant. The total value of the imports for Nine Island for the year 1916 was £9512 and the exports £3379. These figures are the smallest recorded since the Government was instituted. The island has not yet recovered from the effects of the disastrous hurricane of January, 1915, s and the subsequent drought. *5j "3