A—3

Rakahanga

The health of the people has beeir good ; the Native medical practitioner from Manihiki visited Rakahanga twice during the year and gave treatment where necessary. He also made general inspections of the village, as well as house-to-house inspections. The local Health Committee has inspected the houses at regular intervals. In addition to the copra shipped during the year, there were 120 tons awaiting shipment at the end of the year. A brisk trade has been done in Native hats, and it is estimated that approximately 2,000 hats were exported during the year.

Pukapuka

The general health of the people has been good, but there appears to be a high incidence of filariasis in this island. A Native youth has been brought to Rarotonga for training as a dresser, and he is also being instructed in mosquito-control measures ; it is anticipated that he will return to Pukapuka towards the end of 1947. In addition to the copra exported, there were 73 tons awaiting shipment on the 31st March, 1947. Palmerston The health of the small population has been good ; medical advice has been given by 'radio, and medical officers have visited the island twice during the year. There have been three shipping calls during the year, and 20 tons of copra, some native timber, and Native handicrafts have been exported to Rarotonga. NIUE Niue Island is "situated apart from the other islands of the Cook Group, being somewhat west of the centre of the irregular triangle formed by Samoa, Tonga, and the lower Cook Islands. Niue became a part of New Zealand at the time when, under the provisions of the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895, the boundaries of New Zealand were extended in June, 1901, to include the Cook Islands. Niue has a separate Administration in charge of a Resident Commissioner, who is responsible directly to the Minister of Island Territories. Niue has an area of 100 square miles, nowhere exceeding an elevation of 200 ft., and is without natural fresh water. A road thirty-seven miles long encircles the island, and other roads total approximately thirty miles. The island consists of upheaved coral rock, and is not very fertile owing to lack of soil. The climate is mild and equable ; the mean annual temperature during the last thirty-four years was 76-79 degrees Fahrenheit, and the average annual rainfall for the same period 79-13 in. The population on 31st March, 1947, was 4,303 Natives and 25 Europeans, a total of 4,328. 2—A 3

17

— 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. 1945-46. 1946-47. Shipping calls during year 8 5 4 410 Tons of copra exported 36 164| m 74 163 High Court cases dealt with .. 147 57 39 9

1 1942-43. 1943-44. 1944-45. 1945-46. 1946-47. Shipping calls during year 2 4 1 1 ' 2 Tons of copra exported 3 70 60 80 High Court cases dealt with .. 27 3 33