A.—3.

of breeding-places for mosquitoes and of rubbish that will attract flies. Fortnightly inspections of the villages are carried out —on Manihiki by the Resident Agent, the Island Council, and the police ; and 011 Rakahanga by the Island Council, the police, and two representatives of the health committee. Trade. —-During the year copra shipped totalled 287 tons and 206 tons for Manihiki and Rakahanga respectively, as compared with 102 tons and 117 tons for the previous year. The increases are due partly to the higher prices being paid and partly to the recovery of the trees from a drought of two years ago. The imports for the year also show an increase, being £1,638 for Rakahanga and £910 for Manihiki. The high totals are due, however, to the arrival of schooners on the first and last days of the year. Vital Statistics. —-Manihiki : Births —Male, 8 ; female, 3. Deaths —Male, 5 ; female, 5. Marriages, 10. According to the official census taken on the 30th April, 1936, the population of Manihiki at that date was : Natives —Male, 237, female 249 ; European—Male 1 ; Totals —Male 238, female 249 : Grand total, 487. At the same date the adherents of the various missions operating on the Island totalled : London Missionary Society, 353; Roman Catholic, 117 ; Seventh Day Adventist, 17. Rakahanga : Births —Male, 5, female, 7. Deaths —Male, 3 ; female, 2. Marriages, 2. The total population according to the official census taken on the 30th April, 1936, was : Natives —Male 145, female 143 ; European —Male 2 ; Totals —-Male 147, female 143 : Grand total, 290. The adherents of the various missions totalled : London Missionary Society, 173 ; Roman Catholic, 103 ; Seventh Day Adventist, 14-. Planting. —Good attention is being paid to the planting of the land. New coconut-trees are being continually planted to replace old ones. Since experience has proved that most foodstuffs of the Lower Group can with care be grown on atolls, the people are increasing their plantings of bananas, breadfruit, kumeras, arrowroot, taro, &c. A good supply of these is received from Rarotonga by every schooner. On Manihiki the people have given the Resident Agent two large pieces of land within the village of Tauhunu to make into nurseries for reserve supplies of plants and trees and to test out the suitability of new varieties. Public Works. —All public buildings, water-tanks, and roads are in good order. On Manihiki a new well was made near the Residency in December. To-improve the appearance of the village by systematic work the people voluntarily formed themselves into eight ga'ngs, the leaders of which, with the Resident Agent, making up a committee to direct the work. Already, working only one morning a week, a vast improvement is manifest. Hedges are being planted along the roads, coconut stumps are being cleaned out, and all old buildings and useless structures are being demolished. On Rakahanga the people are at present working voluntarily on the construction of a new road through the coconut lands to the lagoon. The proposed road is about a mile in length and will be of great assistance in bringing produce to the village. Within a stone's throw of the village, at the edge of the lagoon, is a medicinal spring. This has been walled in and fitted with a pump, and is proving a great help to the people. Next year the Government will be sending two more pumps for wells inland. Meteorological.—An out-station of the Meteorological Branch of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research has been established at Manihiki. There have been no storms during the year, but in the months of November and December exceptionally heavy rains fell, the best, it is said, that the Island has experienced for five or six years. As a result of these rains it is expected that the coconut crop next year will be a heavy one, and with the increased prices being paid for copra 1937 should be a prosperous year for the people. Wireless.—Early in 1937 a network of wireless stations will be installed in the Northern Cook Group, with Manihiki as the parent station and the link with Rarotonga. On the outer islands will be installed small 6 volt transmitters and receivers with windmill generators. The installation at Manihiki will consist of a generator driven by a 1J h.p. petrol-engine, the latest type of two-tube, 60 watt transmitter, and a four-tube receiver. Already the labour gangs have erected at Manihiki the two 60 ft. masts, and have partitioned off one end of the courthouse, preparatory to the arrival of the apparatus. A nightly schedule will be kept with the outer islands of the Northern Group and with Rarotonga. This will put an end to the complete isolation of the Northern Group during the hurricane season, when for a period of four months there is no schooner communication with the outside world. High Court. —Manihiki: Criminal cases, 78 ; divorce cases, 3. Rakahanga ; Criminal cases, 33 ; divorce case, 1. There is an entire absence of serious crime on the two Islands. Most offences are trivial, and law and order are being well maintained. Island Councils. —Manihiki : After the death of the former Resident Agent the Island Council took charge of the Island and governed it satisfactorily until the arrival of the new Resident Agent in October. Since then three meetings of the Council have been held and all matters affecting the welfare of the Island discussed. Munakao Ngari, an original member of the Council and one who has given good service to the Island, resigned on account of old age. Rakahanga : On. this Island also the Island Council took control until the arrival of the new Resident Agent. In October the Resident Commissioner visited the Island and a Council meeting was held. Further meetings were held when the Resident Agent visited the Island for ten days in November. At these sittings all outstanding matters affecting the welfare of the Island were discussed. In the absence of the Resident Agent the Island Council assists the local Sergeant of Police in governing the Island.

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