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Public Works. Roads. —A good deal of re-forming and re-dressing of roads round the island has been carried out by prison labour. Considerable trouble was experienced with the coast road to Tamakautoga and Avatele, it having sunk in a great many places to the extent of 18 in. to 2 ft. The cause of this trouble was found to be through the coconut and other trees, which were cut down in the making of the road, being thrown into the deep crevices to help fill up. These have now rotted and caused the road to subside. This is being remedied by taking up these portions and removing the rotted trunks and filling in with rocks. The following roads have been repaired and top-dressed with makatea : Mutalau-Tuapa, MakefuTuapa, and Hikutavake-Tuapa Roads, also the Peta Hill. All are now in good repair. Reservoirs.—Three new reservoirs have been erected in concrete —one at North Alofi (capacity 10,000 gallons), one at Fatiau (2,000 gallons), and one at the Residency (1,000 gallons), and repairs effected to those at Mutalau, Tuapa, and the hospital. All new reservoirs have been built above the ground-level, which makes them more accessible for cleaning out or repairs. Government Buildings. —The new copra, fruit, bond, and coal sheds have been erected during the year. These now provide the necessary facilities for handling and storing all outward and inward cargoes. Government Offices. —Structural alterations —enlargement and putting down floors in concrete — have been effected in the Post, Treasury, and Commissioner's offices. This was made necessary by the wood floors of these offices having deteriorated through dry-rot. Schoolmaster's Residence, Hakwpu. —The residence was limewashecl, painted inside and out, and all furniture renovated and cleaned up in readiness for the new teacher, who arrived by the " Hinemoa " in March. Painting has been carried out at the several buildings, and all have now been attended to during the past eighteen months. Minor repairs and improvements have been effected where necessary. Motor-garage at Utoko has been enlarged to take the second car. As to work for the coming year, the extension and enlargement of the wharf and chute will be carried out, also the re-forming and top-dressing of those roads which have not yet received attention. Concrete steps and a makatea path have been made from the wharf approach to the main road at Alofi. The flagstaff has been re-rigged with new stays and guys, and painted. The two surf-boats and dinghy have been thoroughly overhauled, repaired, recaulked, and painted in readiness for the new season's work. The Medical Officer's motor-car and the two motor-lorries have been taken down, thoroughly overhauled, and all worn parts renewed. Education. During the year Mr. and Mrs. Reeves resigned their positions as head and assistant teachers of the Tufukia School. Mr. McKenzie, headmaster at Hakupu School, was transferred to Tufukia as headmaster, vice Mr. Reeves, and Mr. H. Hamilton was appointed from New Zealand to the Hakupu School. An exhibit of handwork, writing, drawing, &c., from both schools was added to the island exhibit for the South Seas Exhibition at Dunedin and forwarded during the year. Mr. McKenzie has reorganized the work at Tufukia ; his scheme of work now includes agriculture, sewing, Native handicraft, &c. These subjects were not previously taught in this school. Mr. McKenzie's report, which deals in detail with the work of both Hakupu and Tufukia Schools for the past year, also his " scheme of work " for the present year, is attached hereto. The following are the attendance figures of both schools for the year : —

London Missionary Society Subsidized Schools. —The decision of the New Zealand Government to subsidize the London Missionary Society for their educational work in the nine villages where the Administration is as yet unable to open schools has given satisfaction. The following are the attendance figures of the nine mission schools for the year : Number on rolls, 31st March, 1926 : Males, 250 ; females, 213 : total, 463. Average attendance, 418*54. Mr. A. McKenzie reports as follows : — " I beg to submit my report on the Hakupu School for the year ended 31st December, 1925. " When the Hakupu School was taken over, slightly more than a year ago, it was found that the system of educational instruction was very formal; most lessons seem to have been of an abstract nature, and the concrete form of lesson hardly touched upon. The lessons given stimulated the mental

Tufukia. ! Hakupu. j Male. Female. ! Total. Male. Female. Total. Number 011 roll : 1st April, 1925 .. .. 122 96 218 52 34 86 Number on roll, 31st December, 1925 .. 127 106 2-33 52 32 84 Average attendance 118-52 101-17 219-69 49-04 j 30-42 79-46