21

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migration, making a total decrease of 14. The population at the 31st December, 1925, was 3,830, and at the 31st March, 1926, there is a decrease to 3,824. The death figures for the year are the lowest recorded in the history of the Administration, while it will be seen that the births are of the average.

Return of Vital and Migration Statistics for the Year ended 31st December, 1925.

I I I ! ! Return of Marriages for the Year 1925. Marriages performed by — London Missionary Society .. .. .. .. .. .. 34 Resident Commissioner .. .. .. .. .. . . 4 Registrar .. .. . . .. .. ■ ■ • ■ .. 3 Total . . . . . . . . 41 Return of Deaths at Different Ages, 1925. Under 1 year .. .. .. 9 35 to 39 years .. . . 4 Ito 4 years .. • • • • 3 40 to 44 years . . .. 1 sto 9 years .. -. .... 45 to 49 years .. .. .. 2 10 to 14 years .. . . 1 50 to 54 years . . . . 3 15 to 19 years .. .. .. 2 55 to 59 years . . . . 2 20 to 24 years .. .. .... 60 years and over .. .. 29 2-5 to 29 years ...... 5 — 30 to 34 years .. .. .. 2 Total .. 63 Medical Service. Daring the year the health of the island has been good, there being no epidemics of any kind. The deaths were 63, as against 69 for 1924 ; most of the deaths were those of persons over sixty years of age. Child Welfare : This is a matter which is receiving great attention from both Dr. Boyd and Sister Bntler, and both are doing good work in this special branch. The infant mortality in Niue is fairly low, but with greater care and attention on the part of the mothers a greater number of infants might be saved. The chief trouble appears to be that the newly born children are left to the care of old women who chew taro and other indigestible products and then give it to the babies. Many young mothers are not over keen to supply the natural food to their babies, and resort to artificial feeding on sweetened condensed milk. The police and Councillors have been specially warned to look out for this, and any cases that come under their notice are to be reported to the Medical Officer when he pays his weekly visit to their village. Both the Tufukia and Hakupu Schools are being visited periodically by the Medical Officer, and the children inspected. A number of cases of yaws have been detected at these inspections, and all of these have received injections of Salvarsan. Yaws is no longer a serious matter. Dr. Boyd during the vear has carried out a campaign against skin trouble, and has brought about a marked improvement by issuing to the teachers in both European and Native schools supplies of sulphur done up in a palatable state. The daily administration of this has proved to be exceedingly beneficial in irritable skin conditions, which are common amongst children up to the age of fifteen years. In August last another case of leprosy was found, in a young girl of twelve years, and she was immediately isolated in the hospital grounds. In November last the two lepers then in isolation were transferred on the " Hinemoa " to the Makogai Leper Station, Fiji. The following figures show the volume of work carried out during the year : —■ Patients admitted to hospital .. .. . . .. .. 205 (Average duration of stay was nineteen days.) Patients treated at dispensary and out-patients department .. .. 2,770 Patients treated in their villages .. .. .. .. .. 677 Patients treated for yaws and other conditions by injections .. .. 199 Patients treated for gonorrhoea (males and females) . . . . .. 37 Dr. Boyd's report, which deals in detail with the work of the year, is attached hereto : —• " The general health of the island has been good, there being no epidemics of any kind. "Of all the conditions demanding attention, constipation headed the list. Amongst these people this condition is most marked, and in some cases it causes considerable distress. It arises largely

Aboriginal Natives. Persons other than Aboriginal Natives. Total. Male. Female. Male. Female. Births .. .. .. 49 56 1 .. 10(5 Deaths .. .. 34 29 .. .. 63 Arrivals .... 5 .. 10 5 20 Departures .... 39 23 10 5 77