A.—4a

3

(c) Lefaga-Safata Area lias now three dispensaries, in charge of trained Native nurses, at Satalo, Lotofaga, and Matautu. (d) Fagaloa Bay, the most isolated and inaccessible district of all, still has a trained nurse in charge of the dispensary. (e) Tuasivi Hospital Area is still under the care of a European Medical Officer, with an interpreter cadet and two trained nurses to assist him. (/) Safotu Hospital, on the north coast of Savai'i, is still doing good work under the care of a Native medical practitioner and a trained nurse. (g) The dispensary at Gagaemalae will shortly be moved to Faia'ai, a few miles to the west, and the dispensary at Satupaitea—the Methodist Station—has been closed. There is still a trained nurse at Sataua, in the Asau district, who is now in touch with the Native medical practitioner at Falelima when required. This part of Savai'i is very hard to cater for, owing to coastal conditions. Unfortunately, it has been found advisable to dispense with the services of the Child Welfare nurse at Fagamalo, Savai'i, and there is no nurse available with similar training just now. INFECTIOUS DISEASES. These returns do not include all cases reported in the Territory, but only those notified from the Apia Hospital: Dysentery (bacillary), 3; pneumonia (lobar), 45; pneumonia (bronchial), 11; enteric fever group, 22 ; leprosy, 3 ; pulmonary tuberculosis, 27 ; tubercular peritonitis, 2 ; meningitis (simple), 3 ; gonorrhoea, 3 ; beriberi, 4 ; tetanus, 3 ; puerperal septicaemia, 5 ; varicella, 2 ; influenza, 50 ; erysipelas, 1 ; measles, 1 :— (1) Influenza. —A mild catarrhal epidemic broke out in August and lasted into November ; no deaths were reported. (2) Yaws. —6,615 treatments were given throughout the Territory, malagas being made for the purpose where required. (3) Hookworm.—s64 cases were treated in all, no serious case being met with. (4) Leprosy.—Two cases were sent to Makogai in May last, and two fresh cases were admitted to hospital in November and December. There are now twenty lepers at Makogai, as follows : Half-caste Europeans, 5; Samoans, 11 ; Chinese, 1; Solomon-Islanders, 2; Melanesian, 1. The two cases mentioned are awaiting transfer. (5) Enteric Fever Group.—Twenty-two cases were admitted to the Apia Hospital, of which nine occurred at the Methodist Mission Girls' School at Faleula. This number about represents the average admissions for this disease, which is endemic in Western Samoa, and has a very small death-rate. The epidemic at Faleula began in September, and there was one death, due to an intercurrent bronchopneumonia. Every effort was made to trace the origin of the outbreak, and for this purpose visits were made to the intake of the water-supply, about three miles inland from Afega. Samples were taken, as well as from the taps in various parts of the village supplied from the reservoir. The drains, privies, &c., were also inspected and found in good order. The analysis of the water-supply (quoted later in an appendix) shows a pure drinking-water. The outbreak was finally traced to a carrier whose home is in Savai'i, and she was isolated until all tests were negative. Only two cases occurred in the village from which the carrier came, and to date no further case has been reported. QUARANTINE. During the calendar year seventy-five vessels arrived from overseas, and pratique was granted to all but one, to which partial pratique was given. Two vessels were fumigated. Quarantine Intelligence Service.—As before, this consists of weekly radios from New Zealand, giving information as to existent epidemic diseases prevalent in that country, and also any valuable information in respect to other parts of the Pacific. In addition, fortnightly messages from London to New Zealand are posted on here, all matters of importance being sent by radio. The Eastern Bureau of the League of Nations Health Organization in Singapore broadcasts returns of epidemic diseases weekly, which are picked up by the Apia Wireless Station, and they also post the weekly fasciculus regularly. In accordance with resolutions passed at the International Health Conference held in Melbourne, 1926, and agreed to by the New Zealand Government, epidemic diseases occurring in this Territory are promptly wirelessed to the Department of External Affairs in Wellington, and from there, through the New Zealand Health Department, to the Director of Public Health in Melbourne, thus keeping up a constant chain of communication. In addition, a wireless message is despatched to Wellington on the Ist of every month, and a quarterly and yearly report of the health of the islands are forwarded and sent on by them as before to Melbourne.

PORT OF APIA. Return of Shipping for the Calendar Year 1928. Steam-vessels.

Nationality. Inward. Outward. Number. | Tons. Cargo. Number. Tons. Cargo. British .. .. .. 66 79,858 12,846 65 79,826 13,356 Foreign .. .. .. 9 28,760 1,066 9 28,760 6,393 { Totals .. .. 75 108,618 13,912 74 108,586 19,749 I Also 12 warships, 2 New Zealand Government vessels, 2 yachts, 1 Royal Danish research ship.