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munity and the Native community. The measure of self-government which the Samoans now enjoy is considerable, and the present system can be elaborated and extended to enable a greater degree of self-government to be vested in the Samoans as time goes on. This principle is being acted on, and the recent appointment of Puiefaataogas to replaoe white inspectors is a practical instance of the, application of the principle. It would be impracticable to invest any body of Samoan Natives with legislative authority at present, by reason of their want of training and capacity to consider legislation adequately. The power of legislation must continue to be vested in a Legislative Council, and the capacity of the Native Samoans for government should be improved by education and encouraged by the opportunity to take a greater share in the government of their own people by the gradua extension of the present system. Senior in precedence to all other Native officials are the Fautuas, two High Chiefs, who act as advisers in Native matters to the Administrator. N ATIVE DE I >A RTMEN T. All purely Native matters are dealt with through the Native Department, which also acts as a link between the other Departments of the Government and the Natives and Native, officials. The Secretary for Native Affairs is a Commissioner of the High Court, and as such has, during the year ended 31st March, 1921, dealt with 266 cases arising between Native and Native. Of these a considerable number are the initial stages of land and title disputes, which, if not settled in his Court, arc tried in the Land and Titles Commission. The Native Department performs the clerical work and recording for the Land and Titles Commission and the fonos of Faipules, and edits and publishes the Savaii or Native Gazette. A very considerable amount of translation and interpretation, is necessarily required, and this is performed by a branch of the Department. The transmission of directions to, and the general supervision of, the Native officials forms a largo part of the duty of the Department, the number of Pulenuus alone being 208. During the year the Tuufaatasi Company, the Toeaina Club, and the Fealofani venture were brought to a conclusion. The Toeaina Club was in the nature of a Native, trading company, subscribed and managed by Natives ; the " Fealofani " is a large motor-boat, acquired in connection with the Toeaina Club. These concerns were causing considerable loss to the Natives interested, and, consequent unrest being engendered, the Administrator ordered them to be wound up, and permitted, the formation of the Tuufaatasi Company on the understanding that the capital was subscribed in a prescribed time and paid for safe custody into Government control. Although the time was extended the capital was not fully subscribed, and the company was consequently wound up and the capital returned to the subscribers, with the interest earned while the money had been, deposited. The loss from the other concerns was considerable, and demonstrated to the Natives their inability to manage trading concerns for themselves. During the year the salaries of Native officials have been increased, and measures taken to increase their efficiency. The islands are divided into districts, and it is intended to somewhat reduce the number of officials other than Pulenuus and. to reorganize them, with more particular reference to districts than has hitherto been the case. The census of the Native population taken on the 17th April, 1921, was conducted by the Native Department through the Pulenuus. In view of the magnitude and variety of the work undertaken by the Department, the staff is moderate in numbers. RESIDENT COMMISSIONERS. In order to effect decentralization a Resident Commissioner was appointed for the eastern end of Upolu, a populous district isolated from Apia by the configuration of the country, with very satisfactory results, and, on the retirement of Mr. R. Williams, who had administered the government in Savaii as a Deputy Administrator for very many years, replacement was effected by the appointment of a Resident Commissioner for Savaii. Resident Commissioners are responsible for the peace and good government of the districts committed to their charge, and for the due performance of everything of an administrative nature within their districts. They are Commissioners of the High Court, and exercise a limited jurisdiction, both Civil and criminal. The Germans found value in appointments of the same character, and the indications are so satisfactory as to make the appointment of further Resident Commissioners probable. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. The Medical Department was reorganized by the Samoan Health Order made on the 7th February, 1921, consequent upon an inspection of the Samoan medical services in the previous December by Dr. R. H. Makgill, of the New Zealand Department of Public Health. The Department comprises a Division of Clinical Medicine and. Hospitals, and a Division of Medical Hygiene, and such other divisions as the Administrator may appoint. A Board of Health was constituted for the effective administration of the Order, and held its first meeting on the 14th June, 1921. The Medical Officer of Health arrived on the Ilth May, 1921, and took over the port health work at once, and commenced the organization of the Division of Public Hygiene. In this connection a draft Ordinance has been considered and approved by the Board of Health, and passed to the Legislative Council for legislation. Notable events of the year are the establishment of a medical station at Tuasivi, on the Island of Savaii, and the graduation of the first Samoan nurses. The Tuasivi Station consists of a dispensary, a residence for a married medical officer, and certain Samoan fades for patients, &c. It will provide immediate medical attention for the Native community at the eastern end of Savaii, and should effect an early and important improvement in the health of the Natives in that island. It is proposed to erect and equip other stations of a like nature, both in Upolu and Savaii.