A.--3.

The Island is administered by the Resident Agent of Mauke, which is some twenty-five miles distant. Transport is now available by a good seaworthy boat, recently built in New Zealand. An Island Council has recently been constituted, and that body takes charge of affairs during the absence of the Resident Agent. NORTHERN COOK GROUP. PENRHYN. Health. —Health conditions have been good throughout the year. At the end of October a number of children and adults were attacked with influenza. Good care was taken of all patients, and in about two weeks all had recovered from their illness. At the dispensary patients have been treated from time to time for ailments such as fevers, colds, boils, wounds, stomach trouble, &c. The dispensary throughout the year has been well supplied with medicines. Leprosy : Two patients are receiving attention. Vital Statistics.—Births—Males, 8 ; females, 8 : total, 16. Deaths —Males, 2 ; females, 1 : total, 3. Marriages, 4. Population. —Census taken 30th April, 1936. Males, 244 ; females, 223 ; total, 467. Trade. —The local trading schooners called five times at the Island. These two auxiliary schooners keep the Island well supplied with provisions, &c., and also transport produce to Rarotonga. Copra shipped during the past five years was as follows : 1932, 173 tons ; 1933, 164 tons ; 1934, 71 tons ; 1935, 35 tons ; and 1936, 99 tons.An increased quantity of copra has been shipped this year, and over 50 tons are on hand ready to be shipped. The 150 tons of copra made during the year is approximately one-third of the coconut crop, most of the balance being used as food and the remainder fed to the pigs, &c. Now that the price of copra has improved there will not be the same amount of waste as formerly. The coconut-trees are bearing well, and from now on there should be good shipments of copra. The people have taken good care of their lands. Proceeds from exports were as follows : — £ 8 . a. Copra .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 249 10 9 Pipi pearls sold in London .. . . .. .. 1,100 0 0 Locally made hats and mats sold to visitors .. .. .. 30 0 0 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £1,379 10 9 Pi-pi Pearls. —The pipi shell is growing in abundance on the rocks, but the demand for the pearls is still poor. Planting of Lands. —Considerable attention has been paid throughout the year to the planting of young coconut-trees where necessary, and most of the outer islands have been well cleaned. Most of the islands are now clear of the rat pest. There is a large lizard that destroys many of the very young coconuts and is really more destructive than the rat. As soon as possible some easy method of exterminating this " Ngarara," as it is called by the Natives, must be found. Public Works.—Throughout the year attention has been paid to keeping the roads in good repair. The two villages are clean and tidy, and each habitation is well disinfected with Jeyes' fluid. To prevent the cross seas from repeatedly washing down the breakwater in front of the residency, 20 tons of large rocks were boated and dumped along the outer edge. This has made a great improvement. One large lime-kiln was made, the lime being required for the erection of the new court-house and public buildings. The Administration buildings have been painted throughout. Care has been taken to keep the water-supply in good order. New guttering has been attached to the north side of the Omoka Church, and that on the south side has been repaired and should last another two years. High Court.—Twenty criminal cases were heard during the year, all being for minor offences involving breaches of regulations and Local Ordinances. Island Council. —There were four Council meetings held during the year. The most important matters discussed were the working of the rahuis (close season for picking coconuts), diving in the lagoon, and the selection of a suitable Island for a segregation camp where the lepers will receive treatment prior to their removal to Fiji. No new Ordinances were made during the year. Schools. —At the London Missionary Society's subsidized schools at Omoka and Te Tautua work and attendance throughout the year were satisfactory. Rolls.—Omoka : 39 males, 29 females (68 pupils) ; Te Tautua : 27 males, 36 females (63 pupils) : total, 131. The two schools have been supplied with extra forms during the year and are at present properly equipped with desks, cupboards, blackboards, and other requisites. On hand is a plentiful stock of ordinary school supplies. General. —There has been a fair amount of rain during the year, and as a result the coconut-trees have borne well.

3—-A. 3.

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