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POST OFFICE. Savings-bank. — Deposits for the year amounted to £14,898 10s. Id., and withdrawals to £17,623 13s. sd. Withdrawals exceeded deposits by £3,205 3s. 4d., whereas for the preceding year deposits exceeded withdrawals by £1,092 15s. lid. Interest credited to depositors' accounts amounted to £856 os. lOd. Interest arising from the investment of Savings-bank funds in New Zealand (credited to Cook Islands Administration) amounted to £1,208 10s. 6d. The balance in favour of the Cook Islands Administration is £352 9s. Bd. Accounts to the number of 1,116 remained open at the 31st March, 1931. The gross amount at the credit of depositors is £22,338 Is. -Id., practically the whole being invested in New Zealand on behalf of the Administration. During the year 122 new accounts were opened and 80 closed. Money-orders.—Orders to the number of 952 were issued, of the value of £13,917 7s. 6d. Commission amounted to £111 7s. 9d. The number of orders paid was 394, amounting to £17,581 3s. 9d. Stamps. —Stamp-sales amounted to £1,051 3s. 7d. From the Ist March, 1931, the postage-rate for letters was increased to a minimum charge of 2d. for each letter, and steps have been taken to introduce stamps of 2d. denomination. Telephones.—Despite the severity of local atmospheric conditions at certain seasons of the year on telephone apparatus, the telephone system has functioned satisfactorily at all times. Radiograms.—A total, covering all charges, was received for forwarded radio traffic amounting to £965 7s. lOd. Mails.—Eight bags of mail-matter and twenty-eight parcel-receptacles were lost in the unfortunate sinking of the " Tahiti " on the 17th August, 1930, en route to Rarotonga from New Zealand. The mail-service to the various islands of the Group continues to be maintained on a satisfactory basis. WIRELESS. The radio-stations under the control of the Administration have maintained an efficient and continuous service. The sub-stations at the Islands of Aitutaki, Atiu, Mangaia, and Mauke, all of which are operated by Native cadets, continue to work satisfactorily, and no trouble has been experienced. A li-kilowatt short-wave transmitter was installed at Rarotonga, and direct communication with New Zealand established. This has enabled a reduction of 6d. per word to be made in the radio charges, and (compared with last year) has resulted in an increase of over 18 per cent, in the amount of traffic handled. The expenditure of approximately £900 for the necessary apparatus fully justified itself at the time of the disaster to R.M.S. " Tahiti," when the Rarotonga station was able to do very valuable work in conveying messages between the stricken vessel and New Zealand and ships' stations. Instead of replacing the storage batteries at Radio-Mangaia, a low-power valve transmitter with dry batteries for the power-supply is to be installed. Fifteen radio receiving licenses were issued during the year, as compared with five last year. POLICE. The conduct of all ranks has been good. Efficiency and discipline have been well maintained, and in several instances commendable initiative has been shown by the Native police. Group Islands.—All police officers stationed on the Group islands are Natives, and numbers are as follows, viz. : Mauke, one sergeant and three constables ; Atiu, four constables; Aitutaki, one sergeant and five constables ; Mangaia, one sergeant and six constables ; Mitiaro, three constables ; Penrhyn, four constables ; Manihiki, five constables : total, thirty-three. In each of these islands the Resident Agent is in immediate control of the local Police Force. Reports from Resident Agents show that work and conduct of their police have been satisfactory. At the 31st March, 1931, there were ten prisoners in the gaol at Rarotonga, serving sentences ranging from three months to seven years. Twenty prisoners completed their sentences during the year and were discharged. METEOROLOGICAL. The total rainfall at Avarua (Rarotonga) for the twelve months ended 31st March, 1931, was 62-78 in., the highest fall recorded for twenty-four hours being 4-94 in. on the 22nd February. The highest reading of the Fahrenheit thermometer in the shade was 88°, on the 10th January, and the lowest 52°, on the 6th July and the 16th August. The mean of the maximum was 80-2°, and the mean of the minimum 67-4°. The lowest reading of the barometer was 29-594 in., on the 15th February at 4 p.m. Daily observations were taken of weather conditions (including barometer, thermometer, wind, clouds, rain, &c.), and a monthly return forwarded to the Director of the Meteorological Office at Wellington. Full weather reports are sent daily by radio to Apia for the purposes of the scheme of weather reports and storm warnings in the South Pacific Ocean. Storm. On the 15th February a hurricane passed to the east and south of Aitutaki and north of Rarotonga. Roth these islands suffered considerable damage from the heavy wind and huge seas, although neither island felt the full force of the hurricane. At Aitutaki -the seas broke over low-lying lands and destroyed the taro and puraka, crops, whilst the gale destroyed nearly the whole of the

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