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" Australian burr is now almost eradicated from the island. Lantana is causing little trouble, except in isolated patches. Pitati mama gives a great deal of trouble, and when growing amongst bush and scrub is hard to eradicate. Three large areas of this weed have been cleared, and the land ploughed. Elephant's-foot is proving very expensive to eradicate. One large coconut plantation is almost covered with this weed, and over £50 has been spent this season in an endeavour to clean it out." Meteorological. The total rainfall at Avarua (Rarotonga) for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1928, was 74'98 in., the highest fall recorded for twenty-four hours being 9-46 in. on the 9th December, 1927. The highest reading of the Fahrenheit thermometer in the shade at 9 a.m. was 91°, on the 20th January ; and the lowest was 54°, on the 17th September. For the twelve-months period the mean of the maximum was 81-9°, and the mean of the minimum 69-I°.

REPORT OF THE NIUE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. Finance. The financial year commenced with a credit balance of £1,875 9s. 9d. Revenue for the year amounted to £6,055 Is. 3d., the main items being New Zealand grant of £1,750 ; Customs duties, £1,546 13s. Bd. ; stamp sales, £770 3s. 5d.; Aid to Revenue, £443 10s. ; and copra export duty, £310 18s. Expenditure amounted to £6,435 15s. 7d., leaving a credit balance at the 31st March, 1928, of £1,494 15s. sd. The estimated revenue for the coming year is £4,835, and the expenditure £5,665. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1928. Revenue,. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance brought forward, Ist April, 1927 .. 1,875 9 9 Ammunition .. .. .. .. 40 3 6 Aid to revenue . . .. . ■ 443 10 0 Benzine .. .. .. .. 228 14 11 Ammunition .. .. .. .. 139 13 1 Education — Benzine .. .. •• •• 195 8 10 Government schools .. .. 391 16 11 Bond storage .. .. . ■ 12 1 London Missionary Society schools, subCopra export duty .. .. .. 310 18 0 sidized .. .. .. .. 500 0 0 Customs .. .. .. •• 1,546 13 8 Foreman, Public Works .. .. 275 0 0 Dox-tax . . .. . . . . 34 17 0 Fruit-inspection fees .. .. .. 5 2 6 Education subsidy, London Missionary Fruit-case Account .. .. .. 460 15 2 Society .. .. • • • • 500 0 0 Furniture, Government residences .. 1112 10 Fruit-case Account .. .. .. 171 8 6 Government buildings .. .. 71 18 5 Government buildings—Grant .. .. 1,000 0 0 Interpreters .. .. .. .. 148 6 3 Fruit-inspection fees . . .. .. 45 13 4 Jetty .. .. .. .. 145 3 9 High Court —Fees and fines .. .. 84 2 0 Landing Account .. .. .. 27 18 4 Landing Account .. .. .. 27 18 4 Leper Account .. .. .. 3 10 Licenses .. .. • • ■ • 163 0 0 Liquor .. .. .. .. 312 1 Liquor .. • • • • • • 55 1 5 Medical service .. .. 1,920 7 0 Medical services—Subsidy .. .. 250 0 0 Miscellaneous services .. .. .. 311 4 8 Native Land Court .. .. . • 015 0 Niue Island Council .. .. .. 48 10 0 Public Works, credit .. ■■ ■ ■ 154 3 11 Police .. .. .. .. 425 16 10 Registration fees .. .. •. 13 10 0 Prisoners .. .. .. .. 227 8 1 Stamp-sales .. .. •. • • 770 3 5 Printing and stationery .. .. 200 10 4 Superannuation .. .. .. 17 7 6 Public works .. .. .. 160 0 1 Transport .. .. • ■ • • 129 15 2 Rent, officer's quarters .. .. 33 0 0 Reservoirs .. .. .. .. 33 18 0 Roads .. .. .. .. 128 17 1 Superannuation .. .. .. 42 12 6 Transport .. .. .. .. 399 3 7 Wireless .. .. .. .. 191 1 9 Balance— Cash in hand .. .. 1,048 7 7 Cash in Bank of New Zealand .. 446 7 10 £7,930 110 £7,930 11 0 Audit. —An audit of the Administration accounts was carried out by the New Zealand Audit Department, during September and October last. Shipping. Fourteen vessels visited Niue during the year. The N.Z.G.S. " Hinemoa " made eight trips to Niue from Auckland. The London Missionary Society's "John Williams," called once, the s.s. "Petricola" called twice, and the s.s. "Pulpit Point," "Hauraki," and "Wairuna" once each, in passing to pick up mails. The H.M.S. " Veronica " paid her annual visit on the 2nd July. Three vessels passed within sight of the island —the s.s. "Hauraki" twice, and the s.s. " Plume " once — but owing to the rough state of sea and boat-passage, it was impossible to despatch mails by them.

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