A.—3.

Manihiki and Rakahanga. General health good in both islands. The Au-Vaine in Rakahanga are a particularly active body and do much good work. The villages of these two islands are exceptionally clean. Penrhyn. Rid of its lepers in February, 1935, the remainder of the people will be able to breathe again more freely. I feel that many more are passing through the incubation period of the disease. The Resident Agent is doing much to clean up the two villages and improve the housing accommodation. Pukapuka. Lack of communication has been a serious drawback to the inhabitants who have to a large extent been forced back to their own staple foods to subsist. The general health is good. A great improvement is to be noticed in the housing and the general appearance of the people. VITAL STATISTICS. The following table shows the births and deaths in each island of the Lower Group for the year ended 31st March, 1936, and of the Northern Group for the year ended 30th September, 1935.

Statistical Return for Year ending 31st March, 1936 (Islands of Lower Group), and for Year ending 30th September, 1935 (Northern Group Islands).

Of the deaths recorded, sixty-one were under the age of one year, as compared with forty-two for the previous year. Attached hereto is a table showing deaths at different ages during the year.

Analysis of Deaths as shown in above Return for Year ending 31st March, 1936 (Islands of Lower Group), and for Year ending 30th September, 1935 (Northern Group Islands).

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Island. Births. Deaths. Marriages. Lower Group — M. if. m. e. Rarotonga .. .. 104 112 56 52 40 Aitutaki .. .. 42 30 22 26 22 Mangaia .. 23 34 9 14 11 Atiu 21 16 15 15 10 Mauke .. .. 9 7 7 7 9 Mitiaro . . .. 6 7 4 1 3 Manihiki .. .. 8 8 10 5 3 Northern Islands — j Rakahanga . . . . 7 8 2 1 1 Penrhyn ..... 2 10 3 2 2 Pukapuka .. 13 8 6 7 8 Totals .. .. 235 240 134 130 109 470 births of Maoris, 258 deaths of Maoris, 212 increase.

. , Under 1 Under 5 Under 10 Under 15 Under 20 Over 20 T , > lsland ' Year. Years. Years. Years. Years. Years. iota1 ' Lower Group— m. f. m. p. m. f. m. p. m. f. m. f. m. f. Rarotonga .. 14 7 7 13 3 1 4 1 30 28 56 52 Aitutaki .. .. 8 6 3 3.. 4 1 1 2 1 8 11 22 26 Mangaia .. .. .. 3 4 2 .... 1 4 9 9 14 Atiu .. .. ..3 5 2 5 1 10 4 15 15 Mauke 4 .. 1 .... 1 2 6 7 7 Mitiaro .. .. .. 1 1.. 1 1 1 4 1 Northern Islands — Manikiki .. .. .. 2 1 2 ... . 1 6 3 10 5 Rakahanga .. 1 2 .. 2 1 Penrhyn .. .. 3 2 3 2 Pukapuka.. .. .. 3.. 1 2 7 6 7 Totals .. .. 38 23 19 22 1 10 2 1 7 3 67 71 134 130 . I i