A.--4.

Postal and Radio. There have been three overseas mails, both inward and outward, each four weeks, providing two connections with New Zealand and one each with Fiji, Australia, and the rest of the world. A fairly large increase in the volume of mail-matter was recorded during the year. The value of money-orders paid at Apia was £6,527 Bs. 10d., as compared with £5,185 for the previous year. Deposits in the Post Office Savings-bank exceeded withdrawals by £9,711 2s. lid., while the amount held on the 31st March, 1936, at the credit of 1,715 depositors was £51,738 2s. sd. (including interest £1,330 Is. 7d.). A slight increase was shown in radio traffic, 8,041 messages being handled, as compared with 7,535 during 1934-35. Receipts amounted to £1,613, an increase of £66 over those of the previous year. Lands and Survey. Field work and other miscellaneous duties kept the staff of this Department fully occupied during the period covered by this report. Work in connection with the Apia Beautifying Society, in which the Administration takes a keen interest, was also performed under the direction of the Chief Surveyor, and has resulted in a decided improvement in the appearance of the beach front, parks, and reserves. Public Trust Office. The expenditure of this office for the year was £628 19s. 2d., and the revenue £796 6s. Bd., leaving a credit balance of £167 7s. 6d., as compared with the surplus of £334 16s. 3d. for the previous financial year. Funds invested now total £9,648 19s. 2d., and the office reserve was increased to £800 by the transfer of £150 from the year's surplus. The balance of the surplus, £17 7s. 6d., was added to the accumulated office profits, which now stand at £4,698 lis. Id. The revenue of the office is derived mainly from interest on the invested portion of the accumulated profits of £4,698 lis. Id. and from commission. The largest item of expenditure is salaries of staff. The office is self-supporting, and its accounts are separate from those of the Administration ; but, as a matter of convenience, all expenditure is made through appropriation of the Samoan Treasury, which is reimbursed at the end of each quarter. Hence the Treasury figures include Public Trust Office expenditure (which is also shown as deduction from the total), but do not show receipts, which are credited direct to the Public Trustee. The Samoa Public Trust Office was established by the Samoa Public Trust Office Order, 1921, and is separate from the New Zealand Public Trust Office. Poet and Harbour Services. Pilotage and harbour services, and maintenance of lights, beacons, and plant continued to function very satisfactorily under contract with the Harbourmaster. The only serious accident to shipping was the capsizing of the motor-boat " Tiafau " on the 17th January, 1936, while proceeding with passengers and mail to Pago Pago, American Samoa. The accident occurred about ten miles from Aleipata, the easternmost point of Upolu, and although there were twenty persons on board not a life was lost; in order to secure help the Captain and three others rowed ashore in a dinghy through heavy seas, and the remainder were picked up by the motor-ship " Hauraki " after having clung to the wreck for almost thirty-six hours. Six bags of mail for southern ports were lost. The accident is the subject of the usual inquiry. Staff. Particulars are given in the following table, as at 31st March for each year :• —

The staff is organized on the basis of having a European official in charge of each Department, with the minimum number of other Europeans with specialist or other essential qualifications required for the work. The remainder of the staff is engaged in Samoa from Native Samoans or persons of part European and Samoan blood, according to the nature of the service.

5

T-, , -\T a* Native Samoan Jrersons 01 irart Native tv + • + a \r-n Europeans. SamoanBlood . 8amoans . Itatnd^dlpillage Services. 1935. | 1936. 1935. 1936. 1935. 1936. 1935. j 1936. Classified departmental staffs— ■ Education .. .. .. 4 4 6 6 82 95 Health 10 11 2 3 53 69 Native Affairs (including Savai'i) .. 3 4 1 1 11 11 164 163 Police and Prisons .. 10 10 2 2 48 49 Other services .. .. 22 24 17 18 21 23 49 53 28 30 215 247 164 163 Casual employees .. . . .. 1 6 15 18 50 21 Totals .. .. ..50 59 43 48 265 268 164 163