51

A.—3

No. 128. Sir,— Niue, 18th January, 1904. I have the honour to forward to you herewith a return of exports from Nine for the quarter ended the 31st December, 1903, together with a statement showing the total exports for the year ending the 31st December, 1903. You will observe that the total exports amount to £7,861 18s. 2d., or, excluding £210 reshipment, to £7,651 18s. 2d. This is an increase of £936 os. 10d. over the exports for 1902. The export of copra has increased by 33 tons, being 446 tons, in round numbers, against 413 tons in 1902. A gratifying increase has also occurred in the quantity of hats exported —viz., 1,527 dozen —the figures being 4,293 dozen last year against 2,766 dozen the year before, representing an increased money-value of £1,130 13s. 9d. Fungus has decreased somewhat, but it is a product which depends greatly upon the rainfall, being more abundant in wet years. I estimate that the copra crop for the current year will show an increase, although the price will be much lower. The greater demand and enhanced prices for hats will, however, more than compensate for any falling-off in copra. New markets appear to be opened up for Niue hats, and good prices are offered, which should stimulate production to an appreciable extent. Generally speaking, I think we have every leason to be satisfied with the year's exports, and consider that a settled form of government has conduced very materially towards the prosperity of this island. I have, &c, C. F. Maxwell, Government Agent, Niue. The Hon. C. H. Mills, Minister of Trade and Customs, Wellington.

Enclosures. Exports prom Niue for Quarter ending 31st December, 1903. To New Zealand— £ s. d. iTo Tonga— £ s. d. Hats, 639J dozen .. .. .. 408 6 5 I Copra, 35 tone 17 cwt. 3 qr. 9 lb. .. 358 19 1 Copra, 5 toi<e 18 cwt. and 241b. .. 47 5 9 Fungus, 1,862 lb. .. .. .. 26 5 6 Fungus, 1,5401b. .. .. .. 19 5 0 Hats, 50 d< zen .. .. .. 30 0 0 Curios, 2 cases .. .. .. 24 10 0 £415 4 7 £499 7 2 To Sydney— Copra, 135 tons 13 cwt. lqr. 191b. .. 1,085 7 3 To Rarotonga— Fungus, 2,0361b. .. .. .. 21 3 4 Hats, 318 dozen .. .. .. 336 14 0 Provisions .. .. .. .. 1 12 9 Fungus, 367 lb. .. .. .. 3 16 6 £1,108 3 4 ' £340 10 6 Summary. £ s. d. Copra, 177 tons 9cwt. lqr. 241b. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,49112 1 Hats, 1,007£ dozen .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 775 0 5 Fungus, 5,805 lb. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 70 10 4 Curios, 2 cases .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 10 0 Provisions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 12 9 £2,363 5 7 C. F. Maxwell, Ist January, 1904. Government Agent, Niue.

Exports from Niue for Year ending 31st December, 1903. To New Zealand— £ s. d. To Rarotonga— £ p. d. Hats, dozen .. .. .. 1,613 12 0 Hats, 455 dozen .. .. .. 432 13 0 Copra, 44 tons 19 cwt. 3 qr. 9 lb. .. 429 2 6 Fungus, 367 In. .. .. .. 3 16 6 Fungus, 5,077 lb. .. .. .. 64 9 9 Curios .. .. .. .. 98 3 1 £436 9 6 £2,205 7 4 To Tonga— Copra, 226 tons 4 cwt. 2 qr. 21 lb. .. 2,258 18 8 Hats, 1.401J dozen .. ... .. 899 5 9 To Sydney— Fungus, 12,893 lb. .. .. 181 0 0 Arrowroot, 981 lb. .. .. .. 10 4 7 Curios .. .. .. .. 89 8 6 Copra, 175 tons 13 cwt. lqr. 191b. .. 1,405 7 3 Kava, 1601b. .. .. .. 2 0 0 Curios .. .. .. .. 35 0 0 Merchandise reshipped ~ .. 210 0 0 Provisions ........ 1 12 9 —— Fungus, 8,930 lb. .. .. .. 82 11 4 £3,640 12 11 Hats, 10 dozen .. .. .. 16 0 0 — To Samoa—Curios .. .. .. £13 12 6 £1,550 15 11 To Melbourne—Curios .. .. .. £15 0 0 Summary. £ s. d. Copra, 446 tons 17 cwt. 3 qr. 21 lb. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,093 8 5 Hats, 4,293§ dozen .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2,96110 9 Fungus, 27,267 lb. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 331 17 7 Curios .. .. .. .. .. .. -. •• .. 251 4 1 Arrowroot, 981 lb. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 4 7 Kava, 160 lb. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 0 0 Provisions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 112 9 Merchandise reshipped .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 210 0 0 £7,861 18 2 C. F. Maxwell, Ist January, 1904. Government Agent, Niue.