A.—6

Medical and Public Health. The health of the Natives has been good, and the medical services have functioned in a verysatisfactory manner. The following is a summary of the work performed at the hospital:— (1) Infectious Diseases (3) Hospital and Dispensary—continued. (а) Tuberculosis .. .. 3 Daily average bed state .. 7-21 (б) Gonorrhoea .. .. 8 District out-patients .. .. 10,287 (c) Yaws .. .. .. 1,485 Dispensary out-patients .. 3,533 (d) Pneumonia and broncho- Special visits .. .. .. 1,034 pneumonia .. .. 3 Special district visits .. .. 816 (e) Conjunctivitis .. .. 187 In-patient dressings .. .. 3,503 (/) Ringworm .. .. 109 Out-patient dressings .. .. 15,564 (fir) Varicella .. .. .. 3 Operations— (2) Endemic Diseases — Major (a) Filariasis .. .. . . 69 Minor .. . . .. 30 (b) Myositis tropica .. .. 7 Dental extractions .. .. 123 (3) Hospital and Dispensary— Injections— Remaining in hospital, 31st NAB, Bisoxyl, Myosalvarsan December, 1938 .. .. 5 and Kharsulphan .. 4,165 Admitted during year .. . . 105 Mixed staphylococcal and Discharged during year .. 98 common cold vaccines .. 33 Died in hospital during year .. 3 Confinements .. .. .. 5 Remaining in hospital, 31st AnaestheticsDecember, 1939 .. .. 9 General .. .. .. 9 Average number of days in hospital Local .. .. 13 per patient .. .. 27 -92 j During the year the schools were visited by the Chief Medical Officer and his staff and NAB injections were given. A house-to-house inspection in all villages was carried out during the year with excellent results. Education. The Department has functioned very satisfactorily. lhe most important event during the year was the opening of an Administration school at Mutalau, where there are now 170 pupils. The Natives have asked for Administration schools in other villages, and it is hoped that when funds permit their wishes will be granted. The average roll strength of the three Administration schools is 550, with an average attendance of 94 per cent. The technical school, handicraft, and sewing classes have shown good results during the year. The London Missionary Society has nine schools in villages where there are no Administration schools and is a very great help in the educational work. These schools have a roll strength of 440 pupils. Public Works and Transport. The training of Niue youths in these Departments is now showing results, and the knowledge they have gained will be of great advantage to the Administration in future years. Roads. These are now in a fairly satisfactory state, and as a consequence breakdowns in motor-vehicles are not so frequent as formerly. Roadwork is still being carried on as funds permit. Water-supply.—As there are no rivers or creeks, the only water-supply is from rain, which is directed into concrete tanks, the number of which has been considerably increased during the year. Agriculture. Gradual improvements are observed in the methods employed by the Natives in cultivating their plantations and raising pigs and poultry, which are their main meat-supply. High Court and Native Land Court. No serious offences have occurred during the year. The High Court has dealt with 717 cases, the Civil Court with 13, the Juvenile Court with 12, and the Native Land Court with 24 cases! There are still very many land disputes to be settled. Island Council. The thirteen Native Councillors advise the Resident Commissioner on Native matters and meet in Council quarterly. They also maintain continuous contact with the Resident Commissioner in all matters concerning their villages. Legislation. No new laws have been enacted in Niue during the year. Wireless. During the year 362 inward messages, containing 6,408 words, were received, and 399 outward messages, containing 7,892 words, were despatched.

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