19

A.—3

Skin-diseases. —These are almost entirely parasitic in nature. The various species of the genus Tinea abound. Scabies is much rarer, though possibly many cases of this disease are concealed by the patients. The commonest skin-disease, however, is pityriasi, on the east of the island especially. Litchen is not uncommon. Eye-diseases. —This island would be a " happy hunting-ground " for an opthamologist. Chronic conjunctivitis is the commonest of all. Out of a large number of these latter cases examined I have been unable to find an undoubted case of trachoma. Leprosy. —Two leprosy scares were started by Natives, the alleged victims being near relatives of the leper who died here over a year ago. One proved to be incipient elephantiasis and the other a mild case of ichthyosis. It can be positively asserted that there is no leprosy on the island at the present time. Tropical Diseases. —The only two diseases of this class indigenous to Niue are yaws and filariasis —that is, elephantiasis. The question of the prevalence of yaws brings up the eternal problem of the relationship of the specific form of the disease to syphilis. Suffice it to say that the eruption is absolutely atypical, and a differential diagnosis between the two diseases is always difficult and often impossible. As, however, the same treatment is as efficient for one as for the other, this is not of much practical importance. There are a few cases of elephantiasis spread over the island, but their number relatively or absolutely is not great. Heat-stroke and Heat-apoplexy. —Five cases of this nature occurred during the past few months' Two died, one in the bush at night, before my assistance could be obtained ; one resulted in a temporary attack of insanity ; one in total blindness, but the sight of one eye has recovered ; one at present under treatment and apparently improving has retro-ocular hemorrhage, with the blindness of one eye. Hospital. —I most earnestly draw your attention to the great need of hospital accommodation, even on a small scale, in Niue. It is an undoubted fact that during the severe sickness which has covered the island during the past few months many lives could have been saved by skilled nursing and hospital treatment. Even without these conveniences many recoveries have occurred in Alofi, where the patients were under my constant observation, who would have undoubtedly died in the outlying villages. Also, major operations, such as abdominal sections, could not be performed in Native houses. I know that nothing can be done until after the close of the war, but I can only hope that the first post bellum estimates of the Cook Islands Department will include a grant for the much-needed hospital on the Island of Niue.

Niue Island Administration. Statement of Revenue-for the Financial Year ended 31st March, 1917. £ s. d. £ g. d. Ist April, 1916 —Balance forward .. .. .. .. ... .. 727 0 4 Customs duties .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,247 15 1 Dog-tax .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 High Court fines and fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 7 0 Native Land Court fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 410 0 Interest on investments . . .. .. .. .. .. 35 0 0 Licenses .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 124 1.7 9 Liquor-sales .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 52 7 6 Medical aid and attendance .. .. .. ... .. 4 18 6 Registration fees .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 16 0 School fees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 4 6 Shipping fees .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 110 Stamp-sales . . . . .. .. .. .. .. 108 8 6 Sundry receipts .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1110 Contributions to Medical Fund- — £ s. d. New Zealand Government .. .. .. 208 0 0 Niue Natives .. .. .. .. 191 12 8 399 12 8 — 2,067 14 6 Total revenue .. .. .. .. .. .. .. £2,794 1.4 10 Joseph P. McMahon-Box, Treasurer. Niue, 2nd April, 1917. H. Cornwall, Resident Commissioner.