A.—3

14

REPORT OF NIUE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. (Prepared from a Report from the Resident Commissioner to the Minister for Cook Islands.) Finance. The year commenced with a credit balance of £1,361 3s. lid. Revenue for the year amounted to £4,622 Is., the main items being — New Zealand Government grant, £2,100; Customs duties, £1,849 10s. 6d. ; copra export duty, £647 18s. 6d. ; aid to revenue, £482 ; stamp sales, £314 2s. 4d. Expenditure amounted to £3,079 17s. Bd., leaving a credit balance at 31st March, 1926, of £2,903 7s. 3d. Of this amount £1,000 is for the wharf-extension. Owing to a very severe drought, which extended from September to March last, I estimate the revenue for the coming year at not more than £4,000, and the expenditure at £4,300. Should the revenue exceed my expectations, additional amounts will be allocated to such works that demand immediate attention. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1926. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance brought forward as at 31st March, Education .. .. .. .. 157 9 0 1925 .. .. .. . . 1,361 311 Foreman, Public Works .. .. 256 5 0 Aid to revenue .. .. .. 482 0 0 Furniture, officers'quarters .. .. 166 2 1 Ammunition Account .. .. .. 516 10 Government buildings .. .. .. 268 7 0 Copra export duty .. .. .. 647 18 6 Interpreter .. .. .. 132 0 0 Customs duties .. .. .. 1,849 10 6 Library .. .. .. .. 717 6 Dog-tax .. .. .. .. 49 0 0 Medical service .. .. .. 519 17 4 Fruit-inspection fees .. .. .. 18 5 5 Miscellaneous services .. .. ... 273 18 10 High Court fees and fines .. .. 131 12 0 Niue Island Council .. .. .. 45 0 0 Jetty Account .. .. .. Or. 925 15 2 Police .. .. .. .. 399 2 9 Licenses .. .. . . .. 177 5 0 Printing and stationery .. .. 98 3 6 Liquor Account .. .. .. 4 5 6 Prisoners—food and supervision .. 187 3 9 Native Land Court fees .. .. 15 0 Rent, officers' quarters .. .. 33 0 0 Registration fees .. .. .. 14 7 0 Reservoirs .. .. .. .. 148 9 8 Stamp sales .. .. .. .. 314 2 4 Roads .. .. .. .. 63 18 1 Superannuation Account .. .. Or. 017 9 Transport . . .. . . .. 175 5 5 Wireless Account .. .. .. Dr. 147 17 9 Balance— Cash in hand .. .. .. 1,132 16 3 Baisk of New Zealand .. .. 1,770 11 0 £5,983 4 11 £5,983 4 11 Estimate of Expenditure for Year 1926-27. Service. Amount. Education, Government schools . . .. .. . . 200 Education, London Missionary Society subsidy . . . . .. 500 Foreman, Public Works . . .. . . . . . . 275 Furniture .. . . .. . . . . . . . . 100 Government buildings . . . . . . . . .. 500 Interpreters . . . . . . . . . . . . 135 Wharf and extensions . . . . . . . . 1,200 Library . . . . .. .. .. . . .. 10 Medical service . . .. .. . . .. 1,200 Miscellaneous services .. . . . . . . . . 250 Niue Island Council .. . . . . . . . . . . 60 Police .. . . .. . . . . .. . . 400 Prisoners food, &c. . . . . .. . . . . . . 200 Printing and stationery . . . . . . . . . . 100 Rent, officers' quarters .. . . . . .. . . 33 Reservoirs . . .. . . . . " . . . . . . 100 Roads .. . . . . .. . . .. . . 400 Transport . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 200 Wireless Account . . .. . . . . .. Dr. 150 6,013 Less New Zealand Government grants : — Wharf (included in credit balance carried forward from 1925-26) 1,000 Medical subsidy . . .. . . .. . . 250 London Missionary Society subsidy . . .. . . 500 1,750 £4,263 Shipping. Eleven vessels visited Niue during the year. The New Zealand Government steamer " Hinemoa " made six trips to Niue from Auckland; the s.s. " Navua," the mission steamer "John Williams," and the yacht " Kaimiloa " called once each ; and in addition H.M.S. " Dunedin " and 11.M.5.