9

A.—4d

duties, and could only properly supervise the island in which he resided. These islands can be satisfactorily administered through the Native Department in Samoa, but should be visited once a year by the Administrator and, when otherwise required, by specially detailed officials. The following establishment and salaries of Native officials for each of the three islands have been authorized :—• Number. Salary. Fai pule and Magistrate (Fa'amasino) .. .. .. 1 £8 Pulenu'u (Mayor of village) .. .. .. .. .. 1 £6 Failautusi (Clerk) and wireless operator . . . . . . 1 £6 Chief of Police .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 £5 Police .. .. .. .. .. ..3 £3 Wardress .. .. .. . . . . 1 £2 Native medical practitioner .. .. .. .. 1 £50 to £60 (Where no Native medical practitioner available, a " dresser " at £12.) Native nurse .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 £5 The duties of these officials are briefly as under : — Faipule and Magistrate. —Acts as chief representative of the Government. All Government orders and instructions are conveyed through him to Government officials on the island. Attends the Fono of Faipule in Western Samoa when ordered by the Administrator, and advises the latter on matters concerning the administration of the Tokelau Islands ; presides at all meetings of the Village Committee ; administers the Native laws and regulations ; supervises the Island police, prisoners, and prisons ; in his capacity of Magistrate, decides according to law all matters brought before him. Pulenu'u (Mayor of Village).—ls responsible for good order, sanitation, and cleanliness of the village ; assists the Faipule in the administration of Native rules, laws, and regulations ; in the absence of the appointed Magistrate, he will act in that capacity; allocates the work to be done in the village and the plantations ; inspects the village once a week and the plantations once a month, and reports to the Faipule ; sees that all catchment areas are clean and in good order, and that drinking-water is protected from pollution and is not wasted ; supervises the making of copra to ensure its good quality and timely preparation for shipment, so as to avoid delays when copra boats call at the island for trade ; sees that canoes and boats are kept in good order. Failautusi (Cleric). —Keeps all Government records ; keeps daily records of weather conditions ; registers births, deaths, and marriages, arrivals and departures ; has charge of all public money, and is held responsible to the Faipule for same ; pays and accounts for all salaries and disbursements ; attends all meetings of Village Committee, and keeps record of proceedings ; keeps accounts of all sales of copra and transactions between his village and trading-vessels ; is responsible for the wireless installation. Chief of Police. —Is responsible for efficiency of the police ; is in charge of the gaol and prisons. Police. —Keep order in the village ; act as prison warders in rotation ; supervise the work of male prisoners. Wardress. —Has charge of female prisoners, and supervises other work ; is responsible for female gaol. Native Medical Practitioner. —Has charge of the hospital, and is responsible for the care and proper treatment of all patients ; keeps a daily record of cases of sickness and treatment given ; reports to the Chief Medical Officer, Apia, and acts under his orders. Native Nurse. —-Acts under the orders of the Native medical practitioner; attends to all patients in the hospital; inspects babies and infants in their homes once a week, with a view to helping and educating mothers in the proper care and feeding of babies, and child-welfare generally. Village Committee. —A Village Committee, consisting of not less than six of the elder men who are recognized leaders in the village, assembles once a month, or more frequently if necessary, to discuss matters for the welfare of the inhabitants. These meetings are presided over by the Faipule, and no European is permitted to attend, other than a Government official. Women's Committee. —A Women's Committee, consisting of not less than six married women, with the wife of the pastor as president, assembles once a month, or more frequently if necessary, to study child-welfare instructions issued by the Medical Department in Samoa, and promote a knowledge of this subject amongst the women of their village. 11. Health and Sanitation. The health of the people is reported by the Inspecting Medical Officer to be excellent. The children are particularly well nourished, and look healthy and strong, with clean skins, excepting those suffering from Tokelau ringworm, a very contagious and unpleasant-looking disease, which spreads over the greater portion of the body. There is an entire absence of eye-disease, so prevalent in some of the South Pacific islands. The hospital fales are clean and well cared for, and the medical dressers appear to know their duties and to be able to deal with common ailments. A Medical Officer from the Samoan Administration has spent several weeks on these islands during the present year, and has equipped the hospitals and given instruction to the Native medical practitioners. He has personally inspected every inhabitant, and given treatment where necessary.

2 —A. 4D.