A.—2

80

PrAcis hi Mkmohandum on the Development ok Gekuan New Guinea (Island Territory). East ' 'arolines. The discovery of phosphate in the German Micronesian Islands has given them an economic importahce whiob go one could have imagined a Eew ysars ago. The Easi and Central Carolines have, however, not an immediate share in this development. The white population lias nut essentially changed during the year. There was no event of importance in the climatic conditions of tin . Islands. The health of the Europeans was mi the whole good, while the Natives suffered greatly Erom dysentery. The success of the Native schools has hitherto been very small. The Truk Group, which is inhabited bj over 14,000 Natives, promises In i<s position, its fertility, and its considerable copra-production, to become in a few years a valuable possession in the Eastern and Central Carolines. The Native-tax, levied in the form of labour, is expected both there and in Ponape to induce the Natives to use greater diligence in working their planta tions. The total trade in the calendar year I'JOS was 116,662 marks less than in 1907, the imports having decreased by 103,666 marks and the exports by 12,996 marks. The exportation, however, of products of the land (principally copra) increased by 7,712 marks. West Carolines, Pelew, Mariannes, The year under review was an important one. In April, 1908, the commercial bouses "f •lap received a renewed permission to deal in copra, and since August. 1908, the ships of the Austral-Japan line of the North German Lloyd have called regularly twice a month at Jap. The German South Phosphate Company, Bremen, was also founded for the exploitation of the phos I'hate-fields of Pelew. In February, 1909, work was commenced in Angaur. On the Ist January, 1909, the white population, including Japanese, amounted to 153. The climatic conditions were normal, except for the great lack of rain in the dry season. There were no serious epidemic- The trade of the Islands again decreased, as shown by the fol lowing : — Imports. Exports. Kg. M. Kg. M. 1i)07... ... ... 2,198,382 15j.697 1,007,068 255,200 L 908... ... ... 1,537,427 389,292 1,042,873 231,341 The new Customs duties had doubtless a great influence on the imports. In .la].. Saipan, and Pelew, ■'!•"> steamers, with a total tonnage of 27,4X9 tuns, were cleared, and 38 sailing-vessels, with a tonnage of 7,84:8. Marshall Islands. The annexation of this district to the Protectorate of German New Guinea took place quite s, tidy, although resulting in slight economic disturbances. The trade in copra and the pro duction of phosphate increased. (in the Ist January, 1909, there were 164 white people, 533 non-Native South-Sta-lslanders. 112 half-breeds, and 138 Chinese. Of the L 64 white people, there were i>l Germans, as against 88 in the previous yea)-. The number of English has decreased from 59 to 52. There were 9.267 Natives. The health of the Europeans was good. ■Hi,' copra-production increased fro-,, 2,038,262 kg. in 1907 to 3,560,899 kg., an increase which was due principally t«. the fact that the consequenoes "f the typhoon had been more and more overcome. The lotal trade increased as follows: Imports. Exports. total. M. M \1 [MOT ... 1,495,459 1,111,418 2,606,877 1908 ... ... 1,367,066 1.015.579 5,382,645 The decrease in the imports was principally due to the fact that the buildings belonging to the phosphate company were for the most par* finished, and therefore fewer building-materials were imported. The increase of the exports is accounted for mainly by the increased output of phosphate and copra. . The imports from England and Australia to the Marshall Islands increased, while those from other countries declined, as shown by the following figures: Si. ' M. Australia fi.59.337 683,456 Kg :: ::: I i ■■ SiS | China ' •■■ ••■ 160,527 101,423 United States of America ... ... • •■ 101,044 71,865 Other countries ■•■ 6 21 ' 273 Tl,e greater part of the copra (1,627,577 kg.) went to Germany, after which came Australia with 998,749 kg., and Chile with 984,573 kg. Phosphate is exported principally to Australia, which received 39,319.000 kg. Germany received 6,400,000 kg., England 5,300,000 kg., Honolulu 4,000,000 kg.