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June, July, August, and September the coolest and driest. Hurricanes —when they are experienced—come in the hot season. The total estimated population of the Group at the 31st December, 1918, was 163,416, made up as follows : Europeans, 4,748 ; half-castes, 2,803 ; Indians, 61,745 ; Polynesians, 2,709 ; Fijians, 87,761 ; Rotumans, 2,100 ; Chinese, 913 ; others, 637. The death-rate for 1918 was exceedingly high, owing to the influenza epidemic. Revenue and Expenditure. The total revenue for the Group from all sources for the year ending 1918 (blue-book for 1919 is not yet printed) was £371,189 10s. 5d., and the expenditure for the same period was £342,140 14s. Id. The excess of assets of the colony over liabilities at the end of 1918 amounted to £168,926 17s. Id. Customs Tariff. We beg to hand you herewith Fijian blue-books for 1910, 1914, and 1918. Amongst other matters, these show a complete specification of duties chargeable on goods imported into the colony. You will notice, however, that, as a rule, duty is at the rate of 12| per cent, ad valorem, and is applicable to the following goods which are manufactured in New Zealand : Boats, launches, and yachts ; bottled fruit; boots and shoes ; boxes and trunks ; bricks ; cheese ; doors and sashes ; drapery ; drugs ; dried fruits and vegetables ; fancy goods ; furniture ; golden syrup ; dripping and fat; hats and caps ; hay and chaff; honey ; ink ; jams and jellies ; leatherware ; milk (condensed) ; treacle ; mouldings ; oars and sculls ; pickles and sauces ; potted meats and soups ; printing-material; rope and cordage ; sails ; fancy soaps ; stationery. Other duties are as follow : — . .-. d. Aerated mineral water .. .. .. .. quarts 1 6 per dozen. pints 0 9 ~ Ale, beer, porter, &c. .. .. .. .. quarts 4 0 ~ pints 2 0 „ Ditto, in wood or jar . . .. . . ..20 per gallon. Butter .. .. .. .. .. ..0 1 per pound. Candles .. .. .. .. .. ..01 Cement . . . . .. .. .. ..08 per^hundredweight. Confectionery, including cakes . . .. .. ..03 per pound. Flour .. .. . . .. . . .. .. 20 0 per' 2,000 lb. Hops .. .. .. .. .. .. ..03 per pound. Iron tanks, black or galvanized . . .. .. 10 0 each. Lime .. .. . . .. .. .. ..08 per t hundredweight. Matches, wax and wooden, containing under 100 in box .. 3 0 per gross boxes. Meats, tinned . . . . . . .. .. ..01 per pound. Oats .. .. .. .. .. .. ..06 per bushel. Paints, in oil or dry . . . . .. .. ..40 per hundredweight. ~ mixed ready for use .. .. . . ..70 ~ Paper, wrapping .. .. . . .. ..30 ~ Putty .. . . .. . . .. . . ..30 Soap, plain, hard or soft .. .. .. .. ..01 per pound. Starch.. .. .. .. .. .. ..,02 Sugar 0 0J 4 „ Twine.. .. .. .. .. .. ..0 2 sff^„ Vinegar .. .. .. .. .. ..06 per gallon. Shipping. Amongst the evidence submitted will be found full details of pilotage charges, tonnage duty, wharf accommodation, cargo-receiving sheds, particulars of wages for loading and unloading ships, towage, regulations respecting navigation, coasting licenses, wharfages, general rates, special rates, Customs regulations, shipping supplies, quarantine and harbour regulations, light dues, water, lighting, coal-supplies, bond-rent, ship-repairing, Customs requirements, and regulations for reporting and clearing ship. Owing, perhaps, to her unique situation, shortage of shipping was not particularly felt in Fiji during the war period, although strikes in Australia interfered considerably with the Australian section of her trade. On that account more goods were imported from New Zealand than might otherwise have been the case.