27

A.—3

Report of Assistant Medical Officer on Outlying Islands. Sir,- — Rarotonga, 4th July, 1914. I have the honour to submit my report on the health of the islands visited by me in April, May, and June of this year. I left Rarotonga by the " Huanui "on the 4th April, and returned on the 3rd July. In the intervening period I was able to spend, two days on Mauke, two days on Aitutaki, one day on Atiu, six days in Palmerston, four days in Pukapuka, ten days on Manihiki, four days in Rakahanga, and fifteen days in'Penrhyn. Mitiaro and Manuae were also visited. The health of the labourers at Manuae is good, and evidently every care is taken of their comfort by Messrs. Bates and Gruning. The tank-water supply is abundant and good and well-ventilated sleeping-accommodation is provided. Mauke, Atiu, Mitiaro, and Aitutaki were visited by me recently, and reported on. The health of the people in these islands still remains good, and evidences of the ravages of the hurricane are rapidly disappearing. Progress is slowly being made with the erection of new dwellings and the repair of damage to existing ones, and there is now no occasion for anxiety on the score of food-supply. Insectlife appears to have multiplied enormously since the hurricane. Flies and other insects have proved a veritible scourge in Atiu, and in Aitutaki a plague of caterpillars has done considerable damage. Palmerston Island. This island, although visited by several severe storms during the recent hurricane season, has suffered no serious damage. The health of the inhabitants is, on the whole, good. Most of the people have suffered or are suffering from scabies, which was apparently introduced by the sailors from the French barque which stranded on the island in the blow of December, 1913. I visited the island on which the lepers are stationed. I examined the two boys suffering from this disease. On the same island the mother of the two lepers lives with some of her daughters, and another family is also resident there. There can be no doubt that these people come in contact with the lepers, and, as they pass freely backwards and forwards to the main settlement, the position is far from being satisfactory. I examined carefully all the members of the leperous family, but did not detect any fresh case of the disease. Pukapuka. This island was visited by a severe storm on the 14th December last, when the force of the wind blew down many houses and coconuts. It was again badly hit by the hurricane of the 9th January, when great damage was done, the greater part of the island being submerged and most of the buildings ruined. x4.s the crop of taro, puraka, &c, were destroyed by the sea which swept over the island, and as most of the coconuts were blown from the trees and swept away to sea along with the fowls and pigs, the inhabitants have been in some straits for food. For some time before our arrival they had been subsisting on very young coconuts and fish, which are, however, not very plentiful at this island. In spite of this, the people did not present an emaciated or even an ill-nourished appearance, and it must be assumed that the quantity and quality of their food was sufficient for their, needs, if the variety was not all they would desire. Forms of ringworm and other skin-diseases are perhaps more prevalent here than in some of the other islands, but the general health of the people is good. Few cases of acute disease were brought to my notice. The site of the present main settlement at Roto is a pestiferous one, lying as it does at the head of a bay in which the water is shallow and stagnant, with a muddy and slimy bottom. The foreshore in a Native settlement being the depository of all sorts of refuse and filth, the stench in this place is abominable, and the flies form a veritable plague. At the back of the settlement are swamps in which the Natives cultivate puraka and some taro. These form breeding-grounds for the myriads of mosquitoes which infest the village. Most of the houses having been destroyed in the hurricane, a good opportunity presents itself for the inhabitants to settle in a more suitable locality. # At present there are a few houses at the small settlement of Ngake, on the south-eastern side of the island. This village has a fine breezy aspect, and a clean shingle beach, with a good slope to the sea. The reef at this point approaches the shore, which is reached by the breakers at high water, so that there is little likelihood of such foreshore pollution as at present exists at Roto. The Natives have been advised to build their new houses on this spot, and Mr. Connal, who visited the place with me and approved of it, has instructed them as to the alignment of the houses, also other matters pertaining to his department. The island is badly supplied with fresh water. In the main settlement of Roto there are a couple of wells the water of which is brackish and must be badly polluted by surface-water percolating through the surrounding shingle, which is badly fouled by the excreta of fowls, pigs, &c, which run loose in the village, and by domestic refuse, which, as in most Native villages, is thrown on the ground in the neighbourhood of the houses. It would be well if tanks could be provided, and if it is decided to erect them it will be advisable to do so at Ngake, the site recommended for the new settlement, as thereby the people would have an inducement to do as suggested, and live in that more salubrious locality. Mr. Connal, who has discussed the position thoroughly with me, will offer suggestions as to the best method of securing collecting surface and cognate matter. I have strongly advised the Natives not to build stone or timber houses, but Native houses with " rau " roof, as this style of dwelling is most suitable for the climate.