A.—3.

Population of Niue, 1875 to 1900.

Of the present population no less than 561 persons are now absent from the island, either as sailors or labourers on other Pacific islands. Imports and Exports. The necessity for the presence of a reliable European officer in each of the larger islands is shown in the case of Aitutaki, by the revenue actually received from the hands of Mr. Large, and which would never have come to hand had the collection been left to the native officials. Ihe receipts for the year ending the 3rd December, 1900, have been : Trade licenses, £45 10s.; Customs duties, £81 4s. Bd.; postal, £8 55.; Court fees and fines, £70 4s. 9d.: total, £205 4s. sd. The following statements show the comparative value of the imports and exports of the Cook Islands from the year 1892 to date :— Year „ F r>° m , rrfw Other Places. Total. * ear - New Zealana. Tahiti. £ £ £ £ 1892 ... ... 10,998 5,251 ... 16,249 1893 ... 10,200 9,084 ... 19,284 1894 13,152 9,283 ... 22,435 1895 16,861 6,408 ... 23,269 1896 17,167 5,911 ... 23,068 1897 ' ... 22,455 4,406 ... 26,861 1898 15,332 2,323 ... 18,155 1899 9,768 2,330 1,457 13,555 1900 ... 17,700 2,230 1,251 21,181 The value of the exports for the same period is as follows : — From From other ™ . , Year. Cook Islanas. Places. rP £ £ 1892 15,394 4,943 20,337 1893 18,703 905 19,668 I 894" . ... ... 18,937 1,728 20,665 1895'" 19,084 1,054 20,138 1896 15,486 1,333 16,819 1897'" 21,751 2,381 24,132 1898" ••• ••• 11,209 1,408 12,617 1899'" ... ■•• 11,199 3,020 14,219 1900." ••• 19,310 3,069 22,379 I have also the honour to forward for Your Lordship's information returns supplied to me by the Customs officer at the Port of Avarua. Table 11. itemises the articles imported into the Cook Islands for the year ending the 31st December, 1900, Table 111. specifies the number and value of each article of export, and Table IV. is a return of the shipping entered in and out of the Port of Barotonga for the past year. In addition to the foregoing, I beg to submit for your information a return showing the exact amount of liquor issued from the Government bond during the past year. The significance of this return lies in the fact that there are not at the present time ten hard drinkers on the island, and therefore it is absolutely absurd to suppose that the foreign element could consume the liquor shown as sold. I must therefore conclude that the Maoris are responsible for the consumption of at least half of the spirits shown on this return, and that they receive the forbidden liquor through the aid of the foreign residents. W. B. Gudgeon, British Besident.

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District. 1875. 1884. 1887. 1891. Alofi Tamakautoga ' Avatele Fatiau Hakupu Liku Tamalagau Mutalau Tamahatokula Uhomotu Makefu ... Students, &c... 954 I 1,046 J 742 433 261 656 836 417 697 834 499 290 684 342 584 314 76 798 369 425 182 731 485 261 633 341 486 306 72 767 347 402 147 637 473 290 645 314 467 274 88 855 337 '415 136 640 490 253 603 276 473 296 80 813 317 447 120 641 458 257 586 275 477 236 49 1 1,255 102 Total 5,454 5,573 5,089 4,851 4,854 4,676