A,—3

40

The cost of the Niue medical service during the past year amounted to £928 3s. 6d., made up as follows :— £ s. d. Medical Officer's salary .. .. .. .. 246 5 0 „ travelling-expenses .. .. .. .. 3 9 0 (local) .. .. .. 80 11 9 Purchase horse, trap, harness, and bicycle . . . . .. 80 6 6 ' Trap-shed and stable .. .. .. .. ..11190 Medical supplies and assistance, as per statement C .. .. 457 7 2 Maintenance, leper-station (one leper) .. .. .. . . 48 4 7 £928 3 6 From the above total must be deducted £200 os. 2d., being voluntary contributions received from the Natives, and £125, being contribution received from the New Zealand Government towards the cost of the service, leaving|aj[sum of £603 3s. Id., which was paid by the Niue Island Administration. Vital Statistics. The following are the total number of births, deaths, and marriages registered during the year 1914 15 and the four preceding years : — Year. Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1910 11 .. .. .. .. .. ..80 93 46 1911 12 .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 77 44 1912-13 .. .. .. .. .. .. 106 99 45 1913-14 .. .. .. .. .. ..94 80 48 1914-15 .. .. .. .. .. 93 73 70 The increase in the number of marriages in 1914-15 is largely due to the operation of the Niue Island Marriage Registration and Divorce Ordinance, 1913, which came into force in September, 1913. Under that law twenty-nine divorces have been granted, twenty-two of which were granted during the past year. The number at first sight appears large, but the great majority of the cases were old-standing ones, in which the parties had for years been trying to obtain relief, but could not do so in the absence of any law of divorce. Subsidized Service. During the year the " Kereru " made six round voyages from Auckland to Niue and back, under a new contract. The experience of the past year has once more amply demonstrated the fact that the " Kereru " is too small and too slow for the Niue service. This condition of things has led to overloading both as regards cargo and passengers, and while these things are taking place right under my eyes I. am powerless to act in the absence of the necessary laws. It is quite time that the " Kereru " was replaced by a larger and faster boat, as under the present state of things trade is being seriously hampered. During the past year the ship has been called upon on several occasions to carry ten or twelve passengers, while she is only licensed to carry nine passengers. The accommodation for the most part, and the conditions under which the passengers have to live while on board, are wretched in the extreme. Tf cleanliness was only understood in a minor sense the conditions would be much more tolerable. The following is a schedule of the voyages made by the " Kereru " last year : —

Auckland to Niue.

Niue to Auckland.

Left Auckland. Route, Arrive Niue.* Number of Days. April 1 May 26 July 14 Sept. 3 Oct. 17 Dec, 14 Direct .. .. April 18 .. . . "June 7 .. .. July:|26 .. Sept, II .. .. Nov. 1 .. . . Jan. 3 .. 18 13 13 9 16 21 * Local time one day behind New Zealand time. Average per trip, 15 di lys.

Loft Nine.* Route. Arrive, Auckland. Number of Days. April 24 June 12 July 31 Sept. 17 Nov. 7 Jan. 9 Direct May 16 .. July 5 .. Aug. 22 .. Oct. 5 .. Dec. 4 .. Jan. 29 .. 21 22 21 17 26 19 Average per trip, 21 di * Local time one day behind New lealand time. ys.