A.—3

Return of Marriages for the Year 1926. Marriages performed by — London Missionary Society .. .. .. .. 34 Resident Commissioner .. .. .. 7 Registrar .. .. . ■ • • .. 2 43

The following table shows the births, deaths, and marriages for the past seven years : —

The natural increase for the above period was 147. As to migration, 29 persons, including 13 Europeans, arrived, and 76 persons, 8 being Europeans, departed. Medical and Public Health. During the year the health of the island has been good. There were no epidemics of any kind. The deaths were 69, as against 63 for 1925 ; most of the deaths occurred in those .of sixty years and over. Child Welfare. —This matter still continues to receive particular attention, and every effort is being made to reduce infant mortality. Good work has been done in this special branch. Fourteen infants under one year were admitted to the hospital during the year. These were all weaklings, and were kept in the hospital for periods extending from three to six months, thus giving them a good start in life. It was surprising how quickly these responded to proper care and attention, regular and correct feeding. Yaws. —During the year a campaign against this disease was commenced. Both Government and subsidized mission schools were inspected. Each village in turn was visited, and all adults, with their children, inspected. These inspections were carried out on Sundays, after the morning service. This was found to be the most convenient time to carry out a thorough inspection, as the majority of the Natives assemble in their villages on that day. With a view to cleaning up this condition, all cases about which there was any doubt received the same treatment as positive ones. In this manner the whole island has been cleaned, and, except for old scars, shows no evidence of this disease. Leprosy. —The number of lepers from Niue under treatment, at the Leper Asylum on the island of Makogai, in Fiji, at the end of the year under review was two —one male and one female. From a message received from the Secretary for the Cook Islands, after he had visited Makogai in December last, it was learned that both those patients were progressing favourably, particularly the girl, and that they were happy and contented. This message was translated into the Niue language and sent to their relatives here. The following figures show the volume of work carried out during the year : — European in-patients . . .. .. .. .. .. 2 Native in-patients (including fourteen infants under one year) .. .. 176 Average duration of stay was twenty-two days. Patients treated at dispensary and out-patients department .. .. 2,857 Out-patients, dressings .. .. .. .. .. ..2,716 Patients treated in their villages .. . . .. .. .. 419 Patients treated for gonorrhoea (males and females) .. .. .. 14 Operations, major .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Operations, minor .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 57

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Births. Deaths. Marriages. Year. European. Native. European. Native. Total. Total. European. Native, j Total. M. F. M. F. i M. F. M. F. 1920 45 47 92 .... 47 57 104 .. 45 45 1921 .. 1 56 46 103 .. .. 56 41 97 .. 46 46 1922 1 1 49 48 99 .... 40 42 82 .. 47 47 1923 1 2 56 47 106 .... 43 60 103 .. 42 42 1924 60 54 114 .... 27 42 69 .. 49 49 1925 1 .. 49 56 106 .... 34 29 63 1 40 41 1926 61 53 114 .... 26 43 69 .. 43 43 Totals .. 3 4 376 351 734 .. .. 273 314 587 1 312 313