A.—3.

There were no civil cases. Island Council. —Three meetings were held, when various island matters were discussed and decided. No new Ordinances were passed. Hare, a very old and much respected Council member, died in November, 1934. Schools. —Satisfactory work continues to be carried out at the subsidized London Missionary Society's schools at Omoka and Tetautua. Rolls are as follow : Omoka, 61 ; Tetautua, 58 : total, 119. Census. —An unofficial census of the island was made in September, and showed the population to be 285 males and 224 females, total 509, which is an increase of 114 over the census made in March, 1926, which gave the total of 395. MANIHIKI AND RAKAHANGA. The following are extracts from the report of the Resident Agent. Owing to lack of communication the report is for the year ended 31st December, 1934 :— Health. —General health conditions have been satisfactory during the year. The Acting Chief Medical Officer paid a short visit to these islands in the month of August, and a Native medical practitioner was stationed here for the hurricane season —viz., from December to March. Trade. —All trading to these islands was done by schooner, and trade returns are as follow : — Exports. —Copra : Rakahanga, 200 tons ; Manihiki, 187 tons : total, 387 tons, as compared with 450 tons for the previous year. Imports.—Manihiki, £540 14s. ; Rakahanga, £340 3s. Bd., making a total of £880 17s. Bd., as against a total of £1,403 for the previous year. The above figures are an indication of how trade is continuing to fall off. The lagoon at Manihiki was opened for diving during 1934, and about 7 tons of shell were lifted, but none was exported owing to lack of market. Planting of Lands. —ln recent years there has been a very marked improvement in the livingconditions at these islands owing to quite a considerable quantity and variety of foodstuffs now being produced through the Administration sending up breadfruit-trees, banana-shoots, taro, arrowroot, and other food plants for distribution to the people, and which are greatly appreciated and which go far to replace the former monotonous diet of coconuts and fish. Puraka is also being largely cultivated now, and considerable new areas have been planted out. Experiments are being made in the planting of avocado pears and Brazilian cherries, with satisfactory results so far. Planting of coconuts is also receiving attention, as the people are dependent on coconuts for many purposes. Owing to the depression, the Natives are unable to buy kerosene, and they are using coconut-oil for lighting-purposes with lamps ingeniously made out of bottles and jars. Public Works. —In both islands the Government buildings, roads, and the concrete water-tanks have been kept in good repair. During the coming year it is proposed to build a cargo-shed of native materials at the Tauhunu Landing-place. Schools. —At the subsidized London Missionary Society's schools (two at Manihiki and one at Rakahanga) attendances and work were both satisfactory. The average attendances were : Tauhunu, 62 ; Tukao, 32 ; Rakahanga, 47. High Court. —In Manihiki the total number of cases heard for criminal offences and for breaches of local Ordinances was seventy-five, whilst at Rakahanga twenty-two cases were heard. Police. —There are three Police officers in each island. Offences committed have been of a minor nature, and law and order have been well maintained. Island Councils. —ln each island there have been two meetings of the Council during the year, when matters of local importance were dealt with. Council members take an intelligent interest in Administration activities, and are at all times ready and willing to assist in any work for the benefit of the community. General. —No severe storms occurred during the year. For the first nine months of the year very little rain fell, and in consequence the output of copra for 1935 will be adversely affected. However, since September there has been a plentiful rainfall, and the coconut-trees are recovering and should be bearing heavily again towards the end of 1935. Owing to the low price of copra the Natives in both islands are using coconuts to a far greater extent than formerly for food purposes in place of converting them into copra, and this also has had the effect of reducing the output of copra. Efficient transportation by motor-boat is badly needed here both for use in the lagoon at Manihiki, in making visits to Tukao, to the Rahui lands, and to supervise shell diving, and also for trips to Rakahanga, which is 24 miles distant by the open sea. At present, trips are made in open sailingboats when conditions are favourable, but there is always considerable risk.

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