A.—3.

" L&prosy. —This is the bane of the Northern Islands. The state of affairs at present is—Lepers. Suspects. M. F. M. F. Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. ..20 00 Penrhyn .. .. .. .. .. ..7 4 22 Manihiki .. .. .. .. .. ..41 05 Rakahanga .. .. .. .. .. ..7 0 0 1 20 5 2 8 " The suspects are isolated apart from the lepers. I should like to say, in the hope that it will be of assistance to whatever Medical Officer may have the unpleasant duty of dealing with these afflicted people, that the Resident Agents in Manihiki and Penrhyn are experts in picking out persons affected with leprosy in the early stages, and both are thoroughly conversant with the family histories of all affected persons upon the islands under their charge —a most important point. " General Remarks. —-The general health and sanitary condition of all the islands has been well maintained during the year. There have been no deadly epidemics. The typhoid problem in Mangaia and the leprosy one up north are our greatest difficulties at present; our staff is not adequate to deal thoroughly with these matters under existing conditions of intercommunication round our widely scattered group of islands. In Rarotonga itself the most pressing requirement is the provision of settling-tanks and filter-beds at the various intakes of the water-supplies, and the removal of all chances of pollution of taro swamps where these exist above the intake of the water."

Vital Statistics.

Migration. The following return shows the migration to and from Rarotonga for the twelve months ending 31st March, 1925 Arrivals. —Europeans : Adults —45 males, 43 females ; children—B males, 9 females. Natives : Adults —26 males, 16 females'; children—lo males, 13 females. Total for year, 170. Departures. —Europeans: Adults —43 males, 36 females ; children—lo males, 7 females. Natives : Adults —17 males, 19 females ; children—B males, 2 females. Total for year, 142. Education. The attached report of the Superintendent of Schools shows that, including the Northern Group, we have seventeen schools under our jurisdiction, with a total of 1,728 pupils on the rolls. In addition to the completion of the Arorangi School buildings, three new class-rooms have been built at Aitutaki, and during the coming year new class-rooms will be added at Atiu and at Avarua. It is much to be regretted that Mr. J. C. M. Evison, Superintendent of Schools, will retire on superannuation in June next, after many years of valuable service. Attendance. —In the Lower Group the roll number at the beginning of that year was 762 boys and 599 girls ; total, 1,361 : at the end it had increased to 754 bovs and 656 girls ; total, 1,410. The average roll number for the year was 1,369-91 pupils. The average attendance was 673-13 boys and 559*93 girls, totalling 1,233*06. There were also in attendance in the schools of the Northern Group 367 pupils. Pomare Medals and Vernon Reed Shield.- These were again competed for by the schools in the Island of Rarotonga, and the competition is to be extended to embrace the school at Oneroa and the school at Atiu.

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" ' Births. Deaths. Marriages. Name of Island. European.: Maori. European, Maori. j Remarks. —— European. ] Maori. M. I F. M. F. M. i F. M. j F. | ' 1 I Rarotonga .... 4 73 64 .... j 35 43 2 30 Aitutaki 38 35 j .. .. 10 16 .. 22 Mangaia 17 20 .. .. i 45 17 .. 13 Atiu 11 13 .... 10 10 .. 2 To 31 Dec., 1924. Mauke 9 8 .... 5 2 .. 4 To 30 Nov., 1924. Mitiaro* .. .. Manihiki 8 7 .... 5 7 .. 8 To 31 Dec., 1924. Rakahanga 6 5 5 4 .. 6 „ Penrhyn 4 3 1 .... 1 4 218 „ Pukapuka* .. .. .., Palmerston* .... .... Totals .. .. 4 166 155 .. .. 116 103 4 93 * No returns received.