A,—3

The following comparative table shows the exports of main products for the last seven years :—

SHIPPING. Overseas shipping at the port of Avarua, Rarotonga, comprised a total of thirty-six vessels, twentysix being the Sail Francisco mail steamer, four the Union Steamship Company's fruit steamer from Auckland, and six miscellaneous. MEDICAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH. With only one medical officer stationed in the Group, no visits have been made to the islands of the Northern Group. The last visit to these islands was made in October, 1930. Three short visits to the Lower Group islands were possible, but on each occasion the few hours that the Doctor could remain ashore were quite insufficient to enable him to carry out any effective medical work. Fortunately, with the exception of Rarotonga, health conditions throughout the Group have apparently remained satisfactory. Native Medical Practitioners.—Two Native medical practitioners—viz., Takao Tinirau and Tau Cowan—returned to Rarotonga in February after completing a four year's course at the Fiji Medical School. Increase in Population.—From statistical records it appears that since the last census in April, 1926, when the population of the Cook Islands (excluding Niue) was shown as 10,081, there has been to the 31st March, 1932, a natural increase of 1,100 in the Native population, which must be considered as highly satisfactory. Rabotonga. Typhoid.—ln Rarotonga the period was marked by an epidemic of typhoid, followed later by an outbreak of influenza. Gastric Influenza, chiefly confined to the young, broke out in the latter weeks of July, and continued throughout August and September. Filarial manifestations of one kind or another are always with us and constitute a majority of the minor operations performed in and out of hospital. Acute Rheumatism with occasional cardiac complications has come under notice, and has caused some deaths. Particularly was this incidence marked during the rainy season. Tuberculosis.—This disease is not by any means tinder control, as the figures will show. For the year sixteen females and twenty-nine males came under notice at the out-patients department, while thirty-one others have been received into hospital for treatment. Paratyphoid.—ln February this year two cases were early recognized and brought into hospital. No other cases have occurred. Yaws. —Occasional cases are seen in the early tertiary stage and bicreol or N.A.B. is given with most beneficial results. Venereal disease is present, but I have yet not been able to gauge its incidence. The Infantile Death-rate is high. This will receive close attention during the coming year. Leprosy.—The cases in the Group are seven in number, which have come under observation since all known lepers were removed to Makogai Central Leper Asylum in 1927. Public Hospital.—ln-patients Department: Total cases admitted, 195; major operations, 12; minor operations, 87 ; general anaesthesia, 21. Out-patients Department: Total attendances, 10,635 ; total visits, 447 ; total confinements, 85 ; T.A.B. injections, 236 ; bicreol injections, 1,077 ; antitetanic injections, 15; N.A.B. injections, 108; minor operations, 114; other injections, 80. Dental Department.—New patients, 337 ; re-examinations, 1,500 ; fillings, 1,916 ; extractions, 969 ; Ag. No. 3 treatment, 211 ; cleaning and scaling, 1,298 ; miscellaneous, 1,047 : a total of 5,450 operations.

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1925. 1926. 1927. 1928. 1929. 1930. 1931. Citrus fruits (Cases) 94,773 169,668 123,021 142,315 106,187 128,196 82,740 Bananas „ 85,451 30,766 45,470 47,410 51,026 53,493 55,769 Tomatoes „ 61,064 72,087 41,080 51,955 52,685 30,263 34,750 Copra (Tons) 2,440 1,245 1,676 1,770 2,020 2,143 1,546