A—3

38. Rakahanga

The Resident Agent at Manihiki is responsible also for Rakahanga and he normally visits the island whenever opportunity offers. The health of the people has been very satisfactory and there was very little sickness beyond the usual bronchial colds, which are prevalent in the northern islands after a ship's call. Rakahanga is more fertile than Manihiki and more native foods are available. The roads, water-tanks, and Courthouse were maintained in good repair. No pearl-shell is obtained in Rakahanga.

39. Pukapuka

The general health of the people has been good, but there was a mild influenza epidemic in April and May and also epidemic whooping-cough in September to November. Medical advice is given by radio when required. There has been an ample supply of native foodstuffs throughout the year. 40. Palmerston There is nothing of special significance to report from this very small community. Palmerston has very little contact with the rest of the Group and at best has only one or perhaps two schooner calls per year. NIUE PART I.—GENERAL INFORMATION 41. Geography Niue Island is situated in a somewhat isolated position to the east of the Tongan Group in latitude 19 degrees south and longitude 169 degrees 48 minutes west. It has an area of 100 square miles and a population on 31st March, 1948, of 4,289 Natives and 29 Europeans, a total of 4,318 inhabitants. These are spread amongst eleven villages spaced around the coastal terrace, the largest being Alofi, which contains approximately 900 people and is the administrative centre. The island is an elevated coral outcrop with a coral reef fringing a precipitous and broken coast-line. The central saucer-shaped plateau, rising to a height of 200 ft., is encircled by a narrow terrace about 90 ft. above sea-level, and in the absence of any streams the traditional supply of fresh water was from pools formed in the numerous caves. The soil, though fertile, is not plentiful, and this feature, combined with the rocky and broken nature of the country, makes cultivation difficult and precludes the grazing of stock. The climate is mild and equable and, although on the edge of the hurricane belt, the island is rarely visited by serious weather disturbances. The mean annual temperature over the last thirty years was 76-719° f., and the average annual rainfall over the same period 78-268 in.

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— 1943-44. 1944-45. 1945-46. 1946-47. 1947-4S. Shipping calls during year Tons of copra exported High Court cases dealt with .. 5 164 57 4 86 39 4 74 10 163 9 11 115 33

— 1943-44. 1944-45. 1945-46. 1946-47. 1947-48. Shipping calls during year 4 1 1 2 3 Tons of copra exported 70 60 80 85 High Court cases dealt with .. 3 33 139