A.—3

MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH. Health conditions were satisfactory generally throughout the Group. All outer islands of both the Upper and Lower Groups were visited during the year. A senior Maori nurse from the Rarotonga Hospital spent some time at Mauke and Atiu. Reports from Aitutaki indicate an increased amount of sickness since the hurricane in February, due to lack of food and malnutrition amongst the people. Insufficient medical attention has been given to these outer islands owing to lack of staff during the absence of the Assistant Medical Officer on sick-leave.

Vital Statistics. The following table shows the Maori births and deaths in each island of the Group for the year :—

MIGRATION. The following returns show the migration to and from Rarotonga from the Ist April, 1930, to the 31st March, 1931 :— Arrivals. —Europeans : Adults—los males, 79 females ; children—7 males, 7 females. Natives : Adults—32 males, 31 females: children—ls males, 11 females. Departurew.—Europeans : Adults —100 males, 82 females ; children—l 3 males, 15 females. Natives : Adults—2s males, 20 females : children—B males, 5 females. EDUCATION. Schools.—There are eighteen schools under the control of the Cook Islands Administration ; eleven of these are situated in the Southern Group, while the remaining seven are subsidized Mission schools belonging to the Northern Group. In the Southern Group the roll number was 1,725, and the average attendance 1,462 ; in the Northern Group, with a roll number of 382, the average attendance was 324. Total roll, 2,107 ; average attendance, 1,786. During the past few years the more important work undertaken in connection with Education in the Cook Islands has been— (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, held in Wellington in January, 1926. (See annual report for 1926.) (2) The formation of c asses for the instruction of Native teachers, the European staff of teachers being concentrated on this work, with the result that all Native teachers are now receiving regular instruction and training. (3) The establishment in 1927 at Avarua of a training college and normal school for Native teachers. (4) The establishment in 1930 at the Normal School at Avarua of a special class to enable the most, promising, pupils from all Cook Islands schools to reach proficiency standard without the necessity of going to New Zealand. Pupils are already attending from seven different islands—viz., Rarotonga, Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, Mitiaro, Rakahanga, and Pukapuka. (5) The continuance of special classes in agriculture for Native teachers, students, and senior pupils.

4

Birtlis. Deaths. Name of Island. M. F. M. F. Rarot.onga .. .. 80 85 28 22 Aitutaki .. .. 30 30 11 14 Mangaia .. 17 23 7 13 Atiu .. ..26 21 10 11 Mauke .. .. 15 10 10 10 Mitiaro .. .. 6 12 .. 3 Manihiki .. .. 2 3 3 2 Rakahanga .. .. 2 8 1 1 Penrhyn .. .. 7 12 4 1 Pukapuka .. .. 9 7 4 5 Palmerston .. . . ... 194 211 78 82 Totals .. 405 160