A.—3

Census. A census was taken on the 20th April, 1926, and gives the following figures : —

It will be seen from the following comparative table that our population is steadily increasing, the increase since last census being 622.

Education. Excellent progress has been made this year in educational matters, as will be seen by a perusal of the attached annual report of the Superintendent of Schools. The more important work undertaken was — (1) The construction of new courses of study for the pupils in keeping with the conclusions arrived at by the Conference of educational experts from New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, and Cook Islands, mentioned in last annual report, and well suited to.the educational needs of this community. Agriculture has been made one of the main studies and good progress is shown. Woodwork is also undertaken in all schools. (2) Classes for instruction of Native teachers have been established. The European staff has been increased and concentrated on this work, with the result that all Native teachers are now receiving regular instruction and training, and already there has been considerable improvement in their academic status. (3) The most important development during the year was the establishment at the beginning of this year of a training and normal school, in order to thoroughly train the Native teachers. This policy is absolutely sound, and when developed will give a regular supply of good reliable teachers capable of taking up work in any part of the Group. This will be of great benefit particularly to the outlying islands of the Northern and Southern Groups. In July and August last there was a visit of inspection by Mr. J. A. Valentine, until recently a Senior Inspector of the New Zealand Education Department. He visited the' schools in Rarotonga and in all

2—A. 3.

9

„ ,. _ , ,. Population other than Native Population. Native Totals. . Island. j Males. Females.! J' 01 " 1 Males. Females. , Males. Females. I oexes. bexes. oexes. Aitutaki .. .. .. | 720 609 1,417 7 7 14 727 704 1,431 Atiu .. .. .. 474 450 924 5 4 9 479 454 933 Mangaia .. .. .. 636 605 1,241 7 1 8 643 606 1,249 Manihiki . . .. 214 199 413 3 3 217 199 416 Manuae and Te-Au-o-Tu .. 21 .. 21 1 1 22 .. 22 Mauke .. .. .. 1 263 233 496 8 7 15 271 240 511 Mitiaro .. .. .. j 113 123 236 2 2 115 123 238 Palmerston .. .. 48 49 97 .. j .. 48 49 97 Penrhyn .. .. .. 201 189 390 3 2 5 204 191 395 Pakapuka.. .. ,. 266 244 510 9 7 16 275 251 526 Rakahanga .. .. 172 153 325 1 1 2 173 154 327 Raroronga .. .. 1,969 1,762 3,731 122 83 205 2,091 1,845 3,936 Totals, Cook and 5,097 4,704 9,801 I 168 112 280 5,265 4,816 10,081 Northern Islands

Island. | 1906. 1911. 1916. 1921. 1926. I , Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. 1,162- 1,237 1,302 1.373 1,431 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. 918 812 759 837 933 Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. 1,531 1,471 1,245 1,230 1,249 Manihiki .. .. ■ .. .. .. 521 444 493 432 416 Manuae and Te Au-o-Tu .. .. . . .. 29 23 .. 22 Mauke .. .. .. .. .. 446 457 490 578 511 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .. 210 199 237 207 238 Palmerston .. .. .. .. 82 107 90 83 97 Penrhyn . . . . . . .. . . 420 335 326 376 395 Pukapuka .. .. .. .. 435 490 474 530 526 Rakahanga '. . . . . . . . 352 315 295 310 327 Rarotonga .. .. .. .. 2,441 2,759 3,064 3,503 3,936 Suwarrow .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Totals .. .. .. .. 8,518 8,655 8,805 9,459 10,081