A.—3

The health of the people has been good, although mild influenza epidemics occurred in December, 1943, and February, 1944. Regular inspections of the schools and villages are made by the Native Medical Practitioner. A dispensary has been built, the courthouse veranda has been extended, and the landing has been improved by the construction of a small concrete jetty. Attention has been paid to the planting and care of coconut and puraka lands ; breadfruit and banana trees have been planted where possible, and attempts are being made to grow other food crops. Shoots are sent from Rarotonga when required and when direct shipping opportunities occur.

Rakahanga

The health of the people has been good ; an epidemic of measles occurred in 1942. The Native Medical Practitioner stationed at Manihiki visits Rakahanga when possible, gives treatments, medicines, &c., and inspects the villages. The Health Committee also inspects the houses and the villages at regular intervals. A 6,000-gallon tank has been erected, and the roads, tanks, and wells have been kept clean and in good repair. Serious damage to puraka lands was caused by the hurricane in February, 1942, owing to invasion by the sea. The land has been slow to recover, but new shoots of puraka, kumara, bananas, and breadfruit were sent and food plantations are now thriving.

Pukapuka

Public health has been satisfactory and there have been no epidemics. Attempts are being made by the Resident Agent and Island Council to clean up the villages and to improve sanitary conditions. Medical advice has been given by radio when required, and a European Medical Officer visited the island in 1944. The hurricane of February, 1942, severely damaged the villages and also the coconut-trees and other food crops. Supplies of foodstuffs were sent to relieve distress as well as supplies of shoots of food plants to restore the plantations. Shoots are sent whenever possible, and the food plantations have been gradually rehabilitated. Copra is again being produced, and Native mats and sennit are also being made and sold. Palmekston 'Che health of the small population has been good ; medical advice has been given by radio when required, but it has not been possible for a Medical Officer to visit the island for some years. The island lies out of the path of the local trading schooner, and communication has been maintained by a sma.ll ketch, which makes irregular visits. A small business in dried fish has been established, and a small quantity of timber and a few Native mats and hats have also been shipped to Rarotonga. Palmerston has been struck by hurricanes on several occasions, and only now are the people commencing to make copra again. NIUE Niue Island is situated in latitude 19° south and longitude 169° 48" west, somewhat west of the centre of the irregular triangle formed by Samoa, Tonga, and the lower Cook Islands. The island is flat, and nowhere exceeds an elevation of 200 ft. It has an area of 100 square miles. A road 37 miles long runs round the coast, and there are others totalling approximately 30| miles. The island consists of upheaved coral rock and is not very fertile owing to lack of soil, a deficiency which is aggravated by occasional dry periods. There are no running streams, and the water-supply depends on rain-water, which is stored in tanks. The climate is mild and equable ; the mean annual temperature during the last thirty-three years was 76-8° Fahrenheit, and the average annual rainfall for a similar period 79-08 in. The Native population as at 31st March, 1945, was 4,165. The island became part of the Dominion in 1901, when, under the provisions of the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895, the boundaries of New Zealand were extended to include the Cook Islands. Although part of the Cook Islands, Niue has a separate administration in charge of Resident Commissioner. With other Islands, it is now under the control of the Minister of Island Territories.

12

1941-42. 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. Shipping calls during year .... 4 8 5 4 Tons of copra exported .. .. .. 108 36 164f 86| Higli Court cases dealt with .. .. 39 147 57 39

1941-42. 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. Shipping calls during year .... 1 2 4 1 Tons of copra exported .. .. .. BO 3 .. 70 High Court cases dealt with .. .. 94 27 3 33