TOKELAU (UNION) ISLANDS (REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF SAMOA TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE).

Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives, 1926 Session I, A-04d

A.—4D

1926. NEW ZEALAND.

TOKELAU (UNION) ISLANDS (REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATOR OF SAMOA TO THE GOVERNMENT OF NEW ZEALAND ON THE).

Presented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

Administrator's Office, Apia, Samoa, 20th July, 1926. At the request of the Native inhabitants these islands were ceded to Great Britain in the year 1916. From this time up to the Ist October, 1925, they were governed by the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, and administered by the District Officer at Funafuti (Elliee Group) as part of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony. By request of His Majesty's Government the New Zealand Government agreed to govern these islands, which were disannexed from the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony as from the 11th February, 1926, and arrangements made to govern and administer them under the following conditions :— The Governor-General in. Council, of the Dominion of New Zealand is empowered to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the Group, with authority to delegate so much of this power as may be considered desirable from time to time to the Administrator of Western Samoa, subject to the right of the Governor-General in Council to disallow any laws so passed, and to any other restriction which the Governor-General in Council may deem proper. The necessary Orders in Council to effect the change were published in the New Zealand Gazette on the Bth February and 18th March, 1926. In conformity with the above decision these islands were formally taken over by the Administrator of Western Samoa as from the Ist October, 1925. 1. Geographical. The Group consists of four atoll islands, one of which (Swain's Island or Gonte Hermosa) belongs to the United States. The three islands governed by New Zealand are situated between latitude 8° and 10° south and longitude 171° to 173° west, as shown on pages 2, 3, 4, and 5. The distance from Apia to Fakaofo is 270 miles. 2. Topographical. Each atoll consists of a number of small coral islets around the lagoon, varying in length from 100 yards to three miles, but all are fairly uniform as to width —viz., 100 to 400 yards—and with one or two exceptions all are approximately from 8 ft. to 10 ft. high. Trees ; As regards timber-trees, there is only one of any importance, and that is tauanave or tausunu, which is used for canoes, houses, and in some instances vessels for domestic use. It is a goodlasting wood, and many of the canoes made of this timber and which are now in use are from thirty

I—A. 4D.

3

A.—4d

FAKAOFO.

A.—4d

4

ATAFU.

5

A.—4r>

NUKUNONO.

A.—4d

6

to forty years old, and appear to be in perfectly good condition, the only repairs necessary being the replacement of the cord (sinnet) with which the various sections of the hull are secured by lacing together. These canoes are built up in sections, as many as twenty pieces of wood being used to make the complete hull. There are no tauanave trees with trunks of sufficient length to make the hull from one complete piece of timber. The tauanave is a short, stubby tree, and the specimens seen did not exceed 1 ft. in diameter. There are a few soft woods of very little value, excepting the pukakaekae, which is used for the inner structure of Native houses where it is not affected by the rain. One islet in each atoll, is usually set aside for the growing of timber. Three types of fala were observed, the fala-ai (edible), and two others the leaves of which are used for the making of thatches and mats, but which differ in that one bears a fruit like the fala-ai of Samoa but is not edible. The reef at each island extends only a short distance from the shore and then descends steeply into very deep water, so that there are no anchorages, with the exception of an indifferent one off the north-west shore of Atafu, and vessels have to drift off the leeward side of the island and land or ship their stores and personnel in the local Native canoes or small boats. If remaining at night a lamp is placed on the shore to assist the officer on watch to maintain his ship in position. The so-called entrances through the reef on each island are bad, and great skill is required on the part of the Natives to successfully shoot their canoes through the reef, except when the sea is very calm. All the Natives in each atoll reside on one of the small coral islets on which the village is located, and which in each case is on the leeward side of the atoll—i.e., on the west or south-west. This is an advantage to vessels visiting these islands, as the prevalent trade winds from the north-east as well as the drift of the current from the east both tend to cause any vessel lying off the western shore to drift away from the reef. The size of each atoll is approximately as under : —

The largest islet is on the east coast of Nukunono —four miles long and 300 yards wide. 3. Estimated Resources. The only exportable product grown on these islands is copra. The food of the Natives consists of fish, fowl, pork, bananas, ta'amu, pandanus. Pish is fairly plentiful. Fowls, although plentiful, are used sparingly for food. About fifty pigs are kept in each village, and are therefore not sufficiently plentiful to provide meat even once a week; in fact, they are reserved for special feast days. Only two kinds of bananas are grown, and very few of these, owing to the absence of humus. In planting bananas, humus is provided as far as possible from leaves, coconut-husks, and ashes. Bananas are therefore a luxury in these islands. Taro will not grow on any of the atolls, but ta'amu (a coarser plant of the taro family) is grown in Atafu, and smaller quantities in each of the other two islands. The edible pandanus-tree fruit twice a year (May and November) : this is therefore also a luxury. The Natives have no regular meals, and families sit down together to partake of a meal only on those occasions when a plentiful supply of fish has been caught and cooked, which is very seldom. On all other occasions individuals appease their hunger by eating coconut. This food is apparently very nutritious, for the people are generally strong and healthy, and the children well nourished. The infant-death rate is very low. Babies when weaned are fed upon the juice from the apples of germinated coconuts, and the " meat " or white-jelly substance of young and immature nuts. The total amount of copra which can normally be produced for export is estimated as under :• —

During the year 1924-25 the export of copra is given as 437 tons. Export returns, however, do not necessarily correspond with production, as, owing to paucity of shipping facilities in any one year, the exports of the following year include a portion of the previous year's products. It is estimated that if more cement cisterns are installed, and the drinking-water thereby increased, the exports of copra will correspondingly increase, owing to the fact that such a large number of nuts are now used for drinking.

Mand " North'toSouth. Easfto West. Circumference. Number of Islets. Miles. Miles. Miles. Atafu .. .. .. .. 3 2| 8 19 Nukunono ...... 7 6| 24 22 Fakaofo ...... 6J 5 16 61

, 1TJ „ „ Estimated con- Available for Island. Area of Land. Estimated Crop. sumed for Food . Export . Acres. Tons. Tons. Tons. Atafu .. .. .. .. 550 90 25 65 Nukunono .. .. .. 1,350 225 15 210 Fakaofo .. .. .. 650 120 30 90 Total .. .. .. .. .. ■ • 365

7

A.—4D

4. Revenue. (a.) From Exports. If the exports of copra from the Tokelaus is as estimated, 365 tons per annum, the revenue will be—

(b.) From Imports. Value of imports estimated at half the value of exports (340 tons copra at £10 per ton = £3,400), based upon copra being sold to merchants at £10 per ton. £ Imports .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • • 1,700 Duty (15 per cent.) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 255 Total revenue— Tax copra .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 500 Export duty .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 340 Import duty .. .. .. .. . . . . .. 255 Trade licenses .. . . .. .. . . .. . . 15 Trading-vessel licenses (two at £25) .. .. .. .. 50 £1,160 5. Expenditure. The present annual expenditure on these islands, not including extraordinary expenditure such as new cement water-cisterns, is estimated as under :— £ Administrative and police staff .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 Medical staff .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 120 Medicines .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 Sundries .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 Costs of administration, including visits of Administrator, doctors, and other officials, presents to Natives, &c. .. . . .. .. .. 270 Faipules to attend Fono at Mulinu'u .. .. .. .. 30 Education .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 30 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £710 It is estimated that there will be a balance of revenue over expenditure of approximately £450, which will amply provide for increased expenditure on water-supplies, hospitals, and education. 6. Meteorological. The Natives state that the seasons are very irregular as regards rainfall. A rain-gauge has now been installed at Atafu, with instructions to the Clerk to furnish readings to the Apia Observatory. The only records to date are from the Ist October, 1925, to the 30th June, 1926, during which period the rainfall was 134-73 in. Owing to the absence of humus in the soil the coconut-trees growing in coral are fertilized almost entirely by rain, so that during periods of drought the coconut crop diminishes considerably. Yerv rarely have these islands been swept by a hurricane. The last occurred at Atafu in 1914. Heavy gales were experienced in December, 1925, when the copra crop was badly damaged. 7. Copra and Coconut Plantations. The trees are of varying ages, but are mostly young trees of about twenty to thirty years' growth. From observation of the outlying islets in October, 1925, all the nuts were harvested and trees were bearing very few nuts. Here and there were evidences of replanting, but there was very little uncultivated area available. In comparison with Samoa it is estimated that, for a given area, only 50 per cent, of copra is obtained in the Tokelaus as compared to Samoa, apart from which a larger percentage is used for food for the Natives and food for pigs and fowls.

realized Island. Tax Copra. after deducting j Other Copra. i-'Xptirt Duty Charges. j (il per ion '' Tons. £ | Tons. £ Atafu .. .. .. .. 9 180 56 56 Nukunono .. .. .. 7 140 203 203 Fakaofo .. .. .. 9 180 81 81 Totals .. .. .. 25 500 340 340

A.—4d

8

The Natives bring the nuts in their small canoes from the outlying islets of the atoll to their village, and there make the copra by one or both of the methods peculiar to these islands : (1) By husking the nuts and leaving them in their houses for five to six months, when the shells are broken and the nuts come out whole. The copra made in this manner is perfectly white and dry, and very superior in quality—probably the best that is made ; (2) by splitting the nut in half and exposing it to the sun until it shrinks and falls out of the shell. This is also very gccd copia if Ihe weather is favourable for drying during its exposure. Anangements are being made to consign a fairly large sample of this copra to London for a special report as to its quality and value. 8. Population. Atafu, 360 (six more women than men); Nukunono, 229 (sexes fairly equal in number); Fakaofo 444 (twenty more men than women): total, 1,023. These figures are taken from the census just completed. The Clerk on each island keeps a roll in which are included those absent on other islands. There are thirty men from Atafu working as labourers on Swain's Island, and sixteen Fakaofo men at Sydney Island, Phcenix Group, and smaller numbers who have from time to time left for other islands, in addition to about twenty-five girls at London Missionary Society schools in Tutuila and Upolu. The people are healthy and increasing in numbers, but the resources of the islands are limited, and, as the needs of the Natives increase, the land will support fewer people than it would do if they temained in a primitive condition. For these reasons the migration of the Tokelau-Islanders must be strictly controlled by the Government, otherwise inequality of sexes will lead to undesirable results, while land troubles are likely to arise as the population increases. According to information left by the early missionaries, the population of the Tokelau Group was much reduced about seventy or eighty years ago as a consequence of many of the inhabitants being taken from these islands by South American pirates. The methods adopted by these pirates were explained to the writer by one of the oldest inhabitants, who stated that foreign ships were considered to be something unearthly, with their white crews of sailing gods from some region of spirits, and that the Natives were therefore very nervous about approaching them. The pirates, however, by means of a display of beads, trinkets, looking-glasses, and other things, would induce a few of the Natives to go on board, where they would be adorned with beads and shown a large quantity of various trivial but to them attractive-looking presents to be given to their friends on shore. This advance party of Natives, delighted with their reception on board, would then return to the island and display their presents to their friends, and inform them that they had only to visit the ship to receive similar treatment. Large numbers would then go out in canoes to receive their share of the much-coveted presents from the " white gods," who then had little difficulty in inducing the Natives to board their ship, when they were promptly put down into the hold and carried away from their homes to an unknown port in Peru, never to return. Famines, dysentery, and other diseases have also reduced their numbers in the past, but since these islands have been under British administration their sanitation and water-supplies have been improved, causing improvement in health and increase in population. The natural increase at present is approximately 3 per cent, per annum. The question as to what numbers these islands will support depends upon the growing needs of the Natives and the fertility of the soil. As the latter cannot be improved to any extent, I estimate for the present, in order to live comfortably, the number of people on these atolls should not exceed —Atafu, 350 ; Nukunono, 500 ; Fakaofo, 400 : total, 1,250. 9. Denominations. On Atafu all the inhabitants are of one denomination —London Missionary Society. On Nukunono all are adherents of the Boman Catholic Mission. At Fakaofo there are eighty-eight Boman Catholics ; the remainder are adherents of the London Missionary Society. The people of Atafu are saving money to build a church ; they use a large fale at present for religious services. At Nukunono the walls of the concrete church destroyed by tidal wave in 1915 are still standing, and the question of rebuilding a church on the same site is under consideration. The people are saving money for a new building, and are at present, like the people of Atafu, using a large fale for Church services. At Fakaofo there is a large and well-built church, the roof of which is utilized as a catchment area for a cement cistern. The church of the Boman Catholic Mission on this island is a small wooden building. Apparently the Natives on each atoll make comparatively large contributions to their churches. At Atafu £500 of Church funds was lent, in 1916, to the Samoa Trading and Shipping Company at 5 per cent. They have received neither interest nor any portion of the capital. This company is now in liquidation. Claims have been lodged, through the High Commissioner for the Western Pacific, for recovery of the money. To protect the Natives from future exploitation in this manner, instructions have been issued that all village funds are to be invested under arrangements made through the Secretary for Native Affairs, Apia. At Nukunono the Natives requested that one of their islets be given to the Boman Catholic Mission for use as a school where a European priest and sisters would reside. There is no objection to this so far as the Administration is concerned. 10. Administration. There are no European officials on the Islands, nor is it considered that any are necessary. If a Besident Commissioner were appointed he would not be able to fill in his time with administrative

9

A.—4d

duties, and could only properly supervise the island in which he resided. These islands can be satisfactorily administered through the Native Department in Samoa, but should be visited once a year by the Administrator and, when otherwise required, by specially detailed officials. The following establishment and salaries of Native officials for each of the three islands have been authorized :—• Number. Salary. Fai pule and Magistrate (Fa'amasino) .. .. .. 1 £8 Pulenu'u (Mayor of village) .. .. .. .. .. 1 £6 Failautusi (Clerk) and wireless operator . . . . . . 1 £6 Chief of Police .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 £5 Police .. .. .. .. .. ..3 £3 Wardress .. .. .. . . . . 1 £2 Native medical practitioner .. .. .. .. 1 £50 to £60 (Where no Native medical practitioner available, a " dresser " at £12.) Native nurse .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 £5 The duties of these officials are briefly as under : — Faipule and Magistrate. —Acts as chief representative of the Government. All Government orders and instructions are conveyed through him to Government officials on the island. Attends the Fono of Faipule in Western Samoa when ordered by the Administrator, and advises the latter on matters concerning the administration of the Tokelau Islands ; presides at all meetings of the Village Committee ; administers the Native laws and regulations ; supervises the Island police, prisoners, and prisons ; in his capacity of Magistrate, decides according to law all matters brought before him. Pulenu'u (Mayor of Village).—ls responsible for good order, sanitation, and cleanliness of the village ; assists the Faipule in the administration of Native rules, laws, and regulations ; in the absence of the appointed Magistrate, he will act in that capacity; allocates the work to be done in the village and the plantations ; inspects the village once a week and the plantations once a month, and reports to the Faipule ; sees that all catchment areas are clean and in good order, and that drinking-water is protected from pollution and is not wasted ; supervises the making of copra to ensure its good quality and timely preparation for shipment, so as to avoid delays when copra boats call at the island for trade ; sees that canoes and boats are kept in good order. Failautusi (Cleric). —Keeps all Government records ; keeps daily records of weather conditions ; registers births, deaths, and marriages, arrivals and departures ; has charge of all public money, and is held responsible to the Faipule for same ; pays and accounts for all salaries and disbursements ; attends all meetings of Village Committee, and keeps record of proceedings ; keeps accounts of all sales of copra and transactions between his village and trading-vessels ; is responsible for the wireless installation. Chief of Police. —Is responsible for efficiency of the police ; is in charge of the gaol and prisons. Police. —Keep order in the village ; act as prison warders in rotation ; supervise the work of male prisoners. Wardress. —Has charge of female prisoners, and supervises other work ; is responsible for female gaol. Native Medical Practitioner. —Has charge of the hospital, and is responsible for the care and proper treatment of all patients ; keeps a daily record of cases of sickness and treatment given ; reports to the Chief Medical Officer, Apia, and acts under his orders. Native Nurse. —-Acts under the orders of the Native medical practitioner; attends to all patients in the hospital; inspects babies and infants in their homes once a week, with a view to helping and educating mothers in the proper care and feeding of babies, and child-welfare generally. Village Committee. —A Village Committee, consisting of not less than six of the elder men who are recognized leaders in the village, assembles once a month, or more frequently if necessary, to discuss matters for the welfare of the inhabitants. These meetings are presided over by the Faipule, and no European is permitted to attend, other than a Government official. Women's Committee. —A Women's Committee, consisting of not less than six married women, with the wife of the pastor as president, assembles once a month, or more frequently if necessary, to study child-welfare instructions issued by the Medical Department in Samoa, and promote a knowledge of this subject amongst the women of their village. 11. Health and Sanitation. The health of the people is reported by the Inspecting Medical Officer to be excellent. The children are particularly well nourished, and look healthy and strong, with clean skins, excepting those suffering from Tokelau ringworm, a very contagious and unpleasant-looking disease, which spreads over the greater portion of the body. There is an entire absence of eye-disease, so prevalent in some of the South Pacific islands. The hospital fales are clean and well cared for, and the medical dressers appear to know their duties and to be able to deal with common ailments. A Medical Officer from the Samoan Administration has spent several weeks on these islands during the present year, and has equipped the hospitals and given instruction to the Native medical practitioners. He has personally inspected every inhabitant, and given treatment where necessary.

2 —A. 4D.

10

A.—4d

The porous soil, together with the excellent latrines on these islands, is responsible for the good sanitation and freedom from dysentery, while the habits of the people in adhering to their Native food and clothing, and living in well-ventilated fales, conduce to their good health. It has, however, been shown, in connection with the transfer of boys and girls from the Tokelau Islands to Samoa for education, that they are prone to sickness and lung-disease while residing in this Territory —a factor requiring careful consideration in connection with any scheme for removal of the surplus population of the Tokelau Group. 12. Social Life and Pastimes. The weekly programme of the Tokelau-Islanders does not provide much variety. Sunday is devoted entirely to Church services, extending through the greater portion of the day. Monday- —• the village is cleaned, and food (coconuts) is collected and brought in canoes from the plantations on the various islets of the lagoon. Tuesday —-fishing. Wednesday- —work on plantations and fishing. Thursday —-work in village and fishing. Friday —go to plantations to bring in food (coconuts). Saturday —-fishing and clean up the village. At night, after evening prayers, they pass away the time by telling stories and playing games- —• dominoes, draughts (using different-coloured stones), and cards. Once or twice a week the Natives assemble in the largest jale and practise siva (Native dances), and also occasionally have week-night religious services. The latest siva I witnessed was one called the uaelesi (wireless), in which the performers imitate in song the sounds in an instrument when receiving a message by Morse code. At a given signal the dancers periodically stop singing and, placing their hands to their ears, call out in chorus " Maua Apia "(" We have got Apia "). This dance was to indicate their joy and gratefulness to New Zealand at being brought into touch with the world by a wireless set, which they had seen recently experimented with on the Island of Fakaofo, and which is to be permanently installed there in the near future. It is unfortunate that on each of the three atolls the villages are not provided with an open space sufficiently large to enable the Natives to play team games, such as cricket, football, and basket-ball. An endeavour is being made, however, to remedy this, and to provide a malae or village green where possible. It would be greatly appreciated if old illustrated papers and magazines could be sent from New Zealand to the Administrator for distribution in these islands. Many of these people have never seen even an animal other than those on the islands —-viz., cats and rats —and therefore pictures of the outside world interest them intensely and give them many hours of pleasure. The annual visit of the Administrator with a cinema machine to give these people an entertain - ment for only one night is an exciting event they anticipate with great pleasure and talk about for many months afterwards. 13. Characteristics of the People. Generally speaking, neither the men nor the women are so good-looking or have such fine physique as the pure Samoans. Their poorer physique may be accounted for by the fact that they do not have to exert themselves nor work so hard as the Samoans, who walk miles, almost daily, to their plantations, and carry heavy loads, while the Tokelau-Islander walks very little, as he lives on a small islet and leaves it only in a canoe to fish or to cross the lagoon to his plantation. They seem also to have intermarried with Gilbert and other islanders to the north-west, and are therefore less pure as a type of the Polynesian race than the Samoans. Their chiefs have less intelligence and are not so well versed in oratory as the Samoan chiefs. They have no legends or stories handed down which would be helpful in tracing their origin, but the south-east trade-winds, and the similarity in their language to that of the Samoans, suggest that the original inhabitants of the Tokelaus were probably Samoans voyaging in canoes between the islands of the Samoan Group who were driven by a gale to the north-west and so reached the Tokelau Atolls. 14. Titles and Land Policy. While in Samoa the holder of a title is the recognized owner or controller of certain areas of land, this is not the case in the Tokelaus, where there are no titled chiefs and no aristocracy. The old men of the village are looked upon as Matais or chiefs, who each have their own area of land and assume the power to divide up the land as they think fit. When a young man marries they sit in council and allocate a piece of land to him. In cases where the allocation is a small area and is insufficient to support the man and his family, he works for a Matai who has more land than he and his family can work themselves, and is paid for his labour by a share in the coconut crop. By working the land is meant collecting the fallen nuts for making copra, picking green nuts for food, and planting. Very little other effort is required, as there is no undergrowth to be cleared, as in Samoa. With the exception of the island of Fanui Fala on Fakaofo, all the land is owned by the Natives, and none has been alienated by the missions. The land has all been divided up between families, with the exception of one islet on Atafu and five islets on Fakaofo, which are communal lands. All the land in the Group is reported to be fully planted with coconuts.

11

A.—4d

There are no land disputes at present, but representations were made to me by the chiefs in each island that Olesega (Swain's Island) belonged to their forefathers and should not have been alienated. They could not possibly verify the stories they told me as to how this island had been alienated, and therefore I have not recorded their statements. The people of Fakaofo wish the islet of Fanua Fala to be given back to them, and are saving money to purchase it if necessary, but the present owner (Manuele) holds papers to support his right of ownership. 15. Wills. It is interesting to note that in Samoa there was, until recently, no recognized law of succession according to Native custom, and wills were not recognized. On the other hand, the Tokelau Natives are accustomed to making wills, and where a person dies intestate his land is generally inherited by his eldest son. The wife, however, as in Samoa, appears to have no rights to her husband's land or property. 16. Water-supplies. The most urgent need on these islands is an adequate water-supply, which is not obtainable at present. Provision is being made, however, for the construction of the following : One cement cistern at Atafu, as soon as the new church is built; repair of cisterns at Nukunono, and an additional one to be built in conjunction with the proposed new church ; an additional cement cistern at Fakaofo. With the addition of these cisterns the consumption of nuts for drinking should diminish and the export of copra correspondingly increase. The following remarks are by the Officer in Charge, Public Works Department (Mr. Watson) :■ — " Atafu. —Present supplies are obtained from brackish wells and a number of small cisterns of various sizes ranging from 40 to 60 gallons capacity, with very small catchment areas. In the outlying islands there are a few brackish wells, but the water is not fit for drinking, and I was informed that they do not use them unless they are obliged to. The pastor has a new 600-gallon corrugated-iron tank, but it has not yet been used. He made a request that about twelve sheets of new roofing-iron be supplied, for which he will pay. This will be sent over by first available boat. The church which they propose to erect will be 84 ft. by 36 ft., and, taking the rainfall at about 100 in., this will give about 1 gallon per day per head of population (381), with a 12,000-gallon cistern. I would recommend that a 12,000-gallon reinforced-concrete cistern be erected at Atafu as soon as work is commenced on the new church, which I was informed by the pastor would be built by a Samoan carpenter, Sio, of Leulumoega. There is no building on the island suitable for a catchment area, although there is one old European house which is in a rotten condition. " Nukunono.—Two concrete tanks, of 8,500 and 5,300 gallons respectively, in good condition, are not made full use of, owing to the small size of the present catchment areas. The larger tank has a good catchment area, and the smaller tank only uses the top of the tank (13 ft. 3 in. by 13 ft. 3 in.). I would advise that the catchment area be enlarged and built so as to cover the two tanks : this will allow about a gallon per day per head of population of 210. And, taking into consideration the number of small tanks (50- to 400-gallon cisterns) that are in use, and the absence of wells, it would be advisable to augment the supply with a 12,000-gallon cistern as soon as the church is built: this will double the supply and carry them over a dry spell. Two carpenters, Louifala and Pereira, erected the present tanks, and would be quite capable of re-erecting the catchment area. " Fakaofo. —A concrete cistern in good order, of 11,500-gallons capacity, is filled from the catchment area of the London Missionary Society church, of which it will be possible to collect on a rainfall of 100 in. per annum about 1 gallon per head of population (410) per day. The spouting and downpipe on the church require repairs, and also the cover over the concrete cistern. There are a few wells on the island, all of which are brackish, and during a dry spell become dry. As in the rest of the group, there are a number of small iron tanks and improvised catchment areas. The Catholic church could be utilized as a catchment area, but if it is found necessary to erect a cistern I would advise the roof of the London Missionary Society church being utilized. From observations, and taking into consideration the question of policy of allowing a certain number to emigrate, I would suggest that one cistern be erected at Atafu, one at Nukunono, and one at Fakaofo. There are no carpenters there, and it would be necessary to send a man from Apia." 17. Industries and Tools. The principal industries are — (a.) Copra-making, for which axes and knives are used. (&.) Mat-making : Tokelau mats are among the best made in the Pacific. The local pandanusleaf used in their manufacture has an exceptionally tough and durable fibre, and lends itself well to the bleaching processes. The mats are made of double thickness, with strong and clean mats as a result. (c.) Canoe-building is perhaps the best expression of Tokelau industry, and is an art with which but comparatively few are conversant. (d.) Taluma and model-canoe making : Talumas are boxes carved out of the tauanave wood. They are usually cylindrical in shape, with tightly fitting lid, varying in size accordingly to the use for which they are intended. Very small ones are used as watertight receptacles for tobacco, matches, and fish-hooks when fishing, and the large ones for carrying effects. The Natives make very good bread, using coconut-milk as yeast. The principal tools used are axes, knives, files, and adzes, the blades of which are made out of plane irons.

3—A. 4d.

A.—4d

12

No skilled workmen are available on Atafu or Fakaofo, but at Nukunono two men are available for concrete-work and minor building. Arrangements are being made to have a few boys trained in Apia in elementary plumbing and carpentry, and for sets of tools to be maintained 'by Village Committees in each atoll. 18. Attitude of Natives towards the Government. The Natives in each atoll express great pleasure at being brought under New Zealand, because that country governs the Maoris, the Rarotongans, and the Samoans, all of whom belonged to the same race as themselves, and because they (the Tokelau-Islanders) originally came from Samoa, and they had long desired to be united with the Samoan people. They also express great appreciation of the advancement they have made under the Union Jack, and are pleased that Samoa and the Tokelaus are both under .the same King and the same flag. 19. Increase in Population. Available records of recent years indicate that the natural increase of the population is almost 3 per cent. If this rate of increase is maintained the population will be doubled in about forty years, and in the not-very-distant future provision must be made for transferring some of the surplus population to Samoa or other islands. This matter has been discussed with the Faipule (chiefs) in Western Samoa, who have agreed to accept a limited number of Tokelau-Islanders in their villages and give them land. So far as can be ascertained, the few Tokelau-Islanders who have resided in Samoa for many years are industrious and healthy, but school-children from the Tokelaus suffer ill effects from the sudden change of food and climate. Arrangements are being made to transfer a few Natives from Fakaofo to Samoa this year, and to keep them under close observation with a view to ascertaining whether such a scheme of disposing of the surplus population can be successfully carried out without detriment to their health. Under existing law, marriages of men under eighteen and girls under sixteen are prohibited, and ten days' notice must be given before a marriage is celebrated. 20. Trading. There are two traders in the Group —viz., Nicodemus, at Atafu, who is a native of this island (he had no stock in hand at the time of my visit), and Pereira, at Fakaofo, a half-caste who speaks English (he had a small stock consisting of rice, sugar, biscuits, flour, beef, soap, and kerosene, but no soft-goods). The Natives of Nukunono do not want a store on the island, preferring to deal direct with trading-vessels. The annual license fee for a trader is £15. Prices of goods purchased by Natives either from trading-vessels or local stations appear to be reasonable, and compare very favourably with the prices charged at out-stations in Western Samoa. 21. Education. Village schools under the mission pastors exist on each island, the education being limited to reading and writing the Samoan language and Scriptural literature. The Natives are very keen to have facilities for more advanced education of their children. They realize the benefits derived by the few girls who have been to mission schools in Samoa in the past, and would like to have permission to send more of their children to schools in this Territory. It is intended to make provision for a very small number of selected pupils to be admitted annually to schools in Samoa, and not to establish any Government schools in the Tokelau Group, owing to the difficulty of supervision. Boys brought to Samoa for education will specialize in carpentry, plumbing, and wireless operating. 22. Model Villages. The three villages in the Group have been well planned and laid out. The jales, roads and paths —in fact, the whole village area —are kept clean and in good order. The Tokelau house is not so strongly built as the Samoan Jale, and is of a different design, being made with a gable roof and in many cases with a veranda. The bamboo walls render it less cool than the Samoan jale with its open sides, and in some instances the interior is divided into rooms by bamboo partitions, which, although giving more privacy, prevent the circulation of air. Great credit is due to the British authorities for the work they have done in the past in getting these people to make good villages and houses suited to local conditions. 23. Crimes and Punishments. The Tokelau-Islanders are a peaceful and very law-abiding people. Judged by European standards, there is practically no crime. In each village there are two prison jales —one for men and one for women. Punishments take the form of imprisonment varying from one to twelve months. This involves the prisoner living in the prison fale and working daily on Government work, such as maintenance of roads. In Nukunono the punishments appeared to be chiefly by money fines. In order to encourage the development of a mat, hat, sinnet, and Native-curio industry in these islands, arrangements have now been made for fines to be paid in the form of materials, which offenders make and hand to the Fa'amasino for sale by the Administration in Apia, the proceeds, less expenses, to be returned to the Village Committee for expenditure on village improvements.

13

A.—4D

24. Laws. The existing laws provide for punishments as under : —

25. Canoes and Boats. Tlie canoes are without exception made of tauanave, and are cut from a number of pieces of that timber and laced together with sinnet. They are particularly seaworthy, and equipped with the triangular native sail they are exceptionally fast, and are well handled. The canoes vary in length from 15ft. to 30 ft., and are equipped with the usual outrigger. From inquiries made there are very few who know the art of canoe-building, and the canoes on the islands have been in use for periods varying from ten to forty years. Number of canoes and boats : Atafu, 30 ; Nukunono, 20, and 7 small whaleboats; Fakaofo, 30, and 1 ship's boat belonging to Carruthers Limited, for which a license is payable of 10s. per ton carrying-capacity. 26. Animal and Bird Life. In each village there are from fifty to one hundred pigs, mostly very inferior in size. They are kept out of the actual village area, fed on coconuts, and permitted to roam about amongst the rocks on the seashore for food. They are killed and eaten only on special occasions. There are no dogs on any of these atolls. Cats are numerous, but they do not prevent the large number of rats from becoming a pest, destructive to the coconut crops. Experiments are now being made with rat-poison. Fowls are plentiful. Other than sea-birds there is practically no bird-life on the islands. The Natives of Atafu state that there are a few pigeons, but this has not been verified. Migratory birds call at these islands, notably the golden plover, long-tailed cuckoo, and snipe. 27. Pests and Diseases. A very small number of flies were seen in the villages, and no mosquitoes. A few Natives are suffering from elephantiasis, but state they contracted this disease while absent from the Tokelaus on other islands.

Offences. Maximum Punishment. 1. Murder . . . . ■ ■ ■ • Death. Sentence carried out only on the authority of the Governor-General of New Zealand. 2. Attempted suicide . . . . . ■ Twelve months imprisonment. 3. Procuring abortion . . . . ... One to five years imprisonment. 4. Theft . . . • ■ • ■ ■ Twelve months imprisonment. 5. Assault .. .. . . • • Six months imprisonment, or fine of £5. Where a knife or other weapon has been used, six months imprisonment. 6. Adultery .. . . .. • • Three to twelve months imprisonment. 7. Incest .. • • • • • • Two to five years imprisonment. 8. Tinaba (adultery with a daughter-in-law) One to two years imprisonment. 9. Rape - . ■ • • • • One to two years imprisonment. 10. Fines — (a.) Carrying naked lights .. .. Fine of 10s. (b.) Causing fire to homes and planta- Three to twelve months imprisonment. tions 11. Threatening or abusive language . . Fine of £1, or one month imprisonment. 12. Libel and slander .. .. .. One to six months imprisonment. 1.3. Drunkenness . . .. ■ • One to six months imprisonment. 14. Procuration . . .. .. One to six months imprisonment. 15. Malicious damage to cultivation .. Three to twelve months imprisonment, and to make good loss. 16. Marriage laws (age-limit —men eighteen, Fine of £5, or three months imprisonment. women sixteen) 17. Registration of births and deaths (time- Fine of 5s., or two weeks imprisonment. limit, twenty-one days) 18. Sorcery .. .. .. ■ ■ Six months to two years imprisonment. 19. Gambling .. . . .. . . Fine of £2, or two months imprisonment. 20. Contempt of Court . . ' . . . . Fine of £5, or two months imprisonment. 21. Aiding and abetting .. .. . . Punishments the same as if the crime was committed by offender. 22. Attempted crime . . .. • • Punishable as if crime committed, except in case of murder (fifteen years imprisonment). 23. Repeated offences .. .. .. Second offence, penalty half as great again as for first offence ; third offence or subsequent offences, double punishment. 24. Refusing to assist the police .. .. Six months imprisonment. 25. Violation of any village laws made by the Fine of 10s., or one month imprisonment. Village Committee and approved by the Administrator

A.—4d

14

The coconut-trees have a healthy appearance, except that on some islets the leaves are badly eaten by green locusts, which, however, do not appear to affect the crop. The bananas are beautifully clean and free from rust, indicating an absence of the banana-moth from these islands. From an agricultural point of view the only pest is rats, which climb the coconut-trees and eat many young nuts. 28. Permits to Travel. No Native is permitted to leave the Tokelau Islands unless authorized by special permit from the Native Department; such permit to show the name of the person who agrees to be responsible for the Native while absent from the islands, and for his return thereto. 29. Work of the Missions. These islands were first discovered by Commodore Byron, R.N., in 1765, and were not visited by missionaries until nearly a century later (1859), when the population was little more than half its present number. At that time the islands were governed by an old chief who combined the offices of king and high priest. The holders of this exalted position were apparently not limited to the members of any one family, but were appointed by selection on the part of the inhabitants themselves. This may account for the fact that there are no hereditary or titled high chiefs in the Tokelau Islands to-day. Prior to the arrival of the missionaries the people worshipped many gods, some of which they supposed to be embodied in rough blocks of stone. One of these stones is now preserved as a relic of heathen days, on the Island of Fakaofo, and there are still living a few old men who remember and speak of the courage of the early .missionaries who destroyed a number of these stone gods in the presence of the assembled Natives in order to prove to them the futility of their worship of stone idols, and the powerlessness of their gods to grant their requests. Since the introduction of Christianity Natives have been educated entirely by the missions, until practically every person can now read and write, and thereby take a more intelligent interest in life. Internecine wars have ceased, the population has almost doubled, the people are healthy, and are apparently happy and contented. For these benefits the Natives are indebted almost entirely to the missions. Both missions working in these islands —the London Missionary Society and Roman Catholic- — have their headquarters in Samoa, where Native pastors for the Tokelaus are trained, and where also a few boys and girls are educated in the Samoan mission schools. The mission schools in the Tokelau Islands are controlled entirely by Native teachers who receive their training in Samoa, and no European missionaries reside in these islands. The London Mission Society's mission-ship " John "Williams " makes an annual trip to Atafu and Fakaofo, and the Roman Catholic Mission also sends a European priest to visit Nukunono once a year. 30. Policy. The policy of the New Zealand Government is to promote to the utmost the well-being of the people of these islands. In administering this policy in the light of the needs of the people and the conditions peculiar to the small and separated atolls in which they reside, one is forced to the conclusion that it is impossible to do more than is now being done or proposed to be done in this report. The well-being and development of Native races depend chiefly upon sound administration in the following three essentials —(1) Health, (2) education, (3) full use of lands. In regard to —(1.) Health: The maintenance of trained Native personnel and necessary drugs on each island, together with an annual visit by a European doctor from Samoa, is apparently all that is necessary at present. (2.) Education : The existing system is suitable for the present and future needs of the people if provision is made for the training°of a few boys on each island in building, carpentry, and plumbing, also wireless operating, so that the Natives may be made less dependent on outside assistance for building their churches and improving their water-supplies. (3.) Full use of lands : Economic pressure caused by the increasing population during recent years has compelled the Natives to utilize their lands to the fullest extent possible, so that practically all the available land is already cultivated with the only form of cultivation possible—viz., coconuts. This situation has created a new problem involving the removal of some of the inhabitants and provision of land elsewhere. But this is a problem which can easily be solved, owing to the large areas of uncultivated land in Samoa, and the willingness of the Samoan people to do all they can to help their friends and fellow Polynesians, the Tokelau-Islanders. Geo. S. Richardson.

Approximate Cost of Paper.—Preparation, not given; printing (770 copies, including illustrations), £48.

Authority : W. A. G. Skinner, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 926.

Price 9d.~]

A.—4d

Nukunono, showing Islets surrounding Lagoon.

Two covered Water-cisterns, Nukunono.

The Portable Cinema Plant at Fakaofo used during the Visit.

3—A. 4d.

A. 4d.

Main Street, Nukunono.

London Missionary Society Church, with Water-cistern attached, Fakaofo.

Street Scene, Nukunono, showing partly built Church.

A.—4d

Children of Nukunono.

Chiefs in Gala Dress, Nukunono.

Typical Household, Fakaofo.

A. —4d.

Fast-sailing Canoe, showing Sails and Joints in Timbers necessary owing to Lack of Trees of Suitable Size.

Reception to Administrator at Atafu.

Farewelling Visitors at Atafu.