A—3

All boats have been maintained in good repair. A launch was purchased during the year for the purpose of towing lighters. A hand-operated capstan was installed on the jetty during the year and has effected considerable savings in time and labour. The Transport Department also is in charge of a part-Muean. It is responsible for the maintenance of twelve motor-vehicles, one marine engine, and one stationary engine. All vehicles were second-hand when received in Niue, and with spare parts difficult to obtain promptly, it has been a considerable problem at times to keep them all in reasonable running-order. The Administration operates the only trucks at present in runningorder on the island, and is consequently called upon to do a considerable amount of carting outside its own activities. Two second-hand trucks and one second-hand car were purchased during the year.

Meteorological

Rainfall for 1945 was normal, and as it was spread over the whole year there were no periods of serious drought. No storms sufficiently serious to damage plantations noticeably were experienced. Shipping - There were fifteen shipping calls during the year ended 31st December, 1945, including eleven by regular cargo and passenger vessels and three by schooners. The N.Z.Gr.M.V. " Maui Pomare " maintained a regular service, except during the winter months, when the " Matua " made three calls. Inward cargo handled totalled 503 tons and outward cargo 931 tons, exclusive of parcel-mail; 130 passengers disembarked and 127 embarked.

By Authority: E. V. Paul, Government Printer, Wellington.—l 946.

Price 9d.]

23

— 1941. 1942. 1943. 1944. 1945. Total rainfall (inches) 50-67 71-35 64-79 71-55 80-80 Number of rainy days 114 149 146 158 210 Highest for any day (inches) .. Date 6-04 2 Mar. 6-15 20 Sept. 2-94 20 Oct. 5-15 29 Jan. 3-60 23 Apr. Highest temperature (f.) Date 94-0 30 Mar. 92-0 26 Jan. 94-0 11,12,14,15, 90-0 13,17,19,25, 92-0 22 Mar. 25 Feb.; 3 Nov. 28 Mar. Lowest temperature (f.) Date 60-0 26 Aug. 60-0 10 Oct. 58-0 17 July 58-5 28 Aug. 57-0 6 June Mean of maximum thermometer 83-9 831 84-5* 82-4 82-27 (F.) Mean of minimum thermometer 69-8 70-3 69-77 69-3 70-3 (F.)