A.—6.

The total trade of the island for the last ten years is set out in the following table

Native Affairs. The hard-working Niueans are a contented people, in spite of the difficulties experienced in growing their food-supplies. The Administration; considers its first duty is the care of the Native population, and the maintenance of law and order, bringing about desirable changes gradually. In its efforts it is ably supported by the London Missionary Society. Medical and Public Health. There have been no epidemics during the year. The medical services have functioned in a very satisfactory manner. The following is a summary of the work performed at the hospital:— Statistical. Operations— (1) Infectious diseases — Major . . .. . . 12 (a) Tuberculosis ... .. 32 Minor .. .. ..." 248 (b) Gonorrhoea ... .. 127 Dental extractions .. 261 (e) Yaws .. .. .. 326 Injections— (d) Pneumonia . . .. 9 N.A.B .. . 734 (e) Conjunctivitis ... . . 124 Gonococcal vaccine .. 620 (/} Ringworm .. .. 97 Peptone . . .. 144 (ff j Filariasis . . .. 117 Old tuberculin .. 66 (h) Varicella , „ ... 19 Manganese (collosal) .. 254 Number of confinements at,2) Hospital and dispensary statistics— tended .. . . .■ r. 67 Remaining in hospital, 31st (3) Summary of Operations— December, 1936 .. .. 8 Abscesses opened . . .. 180 Admitted during year .. 231 Removal of foreign bodies .. 6 Discharged during year .. 222 Aspiration of cysts, &c. .. 5 Died in hospital during year. . 5 Circumcisions . . .. 38 Remaining in hospital, 26th Suture of wounds . . .. 7 December, 1937 .. ..12 Sequestrectomy .. v. 3 Average number of days in Reduction of fractures, &c. .. 2 hospital . . . . 24-1 days Excision of tumours, &c. .. 5 Average number of beds oc- Amputation .. .. 1 cupied per day . . .. 13-7 beds Laparotomy .. .. 1 District out-patients .. 8,621 Gynaecological .. .. 3 Dispensary out-patients .. 3,357 (4) Summary of anaesthetics— Special visits .. .. 717 Local .. .. .. 224 District special visits .. 820 Spinal (stovaine) .. .. 4 Hospital dressings .. . . 2,336 Chloroform and ether .. 7 Hospital out-patient dressings i, 929 Evipan and ether .. .. 2 Yaws, Gonorrhoea, and Tuberculosis. —The treatments given in these cases have had excellent results, and the indications are that they will gradually decrease in numbers. Nursing Staff. —The one European Matron is assisted by Niue girls as nurses, who respond readily to the training they receive. On the return of those now at the Apia Hospital, where they receive excellent training, even more satisfactory results should be obtained. It is hoped that it will shortly be possible to send a Niue boy to the Central Medical School, Fiji, or training as a Native Medical Practitioner.

4

Imports. Exports. Year. ] I j 1 New | United . . .. n ,, Total New ' 1 Total Trade. Zealand. . Kingdom.| Australla ' ; 0ther ' Imports. Zealand. 0ther - Exports. £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ 1928 .. .. 14,403 2,476 1,027 731 18,637 16,347 4,591 20,938 39,575 1929 .. .. 14,688 2,866 880. 673 19,107 13,449 8,757 22,206 41,313 1930 .. .. 14,863 1,588 955 1,224 18,630 13,323 2,554 15,877 34,507 1931 .. .. 8,958 961 678 910 11,507 5,186 2,005 7,191 18,698* 1932 .. .. 11,568 2,424 360 404- 14,756 10,820 3,167 13,987 28,743 1933 .. .. 10,400 1,442 841 440 13,123 10,225 1,317 11,542 24,665 1934 .. .. 11,888 658 515 311 13,372 11,342 999 12,341 25,713 1935 .. .. 13,191 942 780 375 15,288 10,010 2,066 12,076 27,364 1936 .. .. 22,280 609 649 1,124 24,662 15,915 7,077 22,992 47,654 1937 .. .. 26,142 840 865 1,472 29,309 12,469 10,852 23,321 52,630 * Island recovering from drought and storms.