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MEMOBANDUM. Cook Islands Administration Department, Wellington, Bth September, 1913. The reports of the Resident Commissioner at Rarotonga and the Resident Commissioner at Niue are attached hereto. The following features of the reports may be drawn attention to :— Revenue and Expenditure. The revenue in the Cook Islands amounted to £9,420, being an increase of £496 over the previous year. The expenditure for the year amounted to £11,508, or £2,078 in excess of the previous year. Of this amount, £4,362 was expended on public works, the principal items under this head being the improvement of the Avarua water-supply, water-tanks for the outlying islands, drainage of the Maraerenga Swamp, offices and quarters for the Resident Agent at Mauke, and water-services at Aroraugi and Matavera settlements. The balance standing to the credit of the Administration on 31st March last was £2,063. At Niue Island the year's operations have resulted most favourably, the revenue of £2,680 being a record, and £383 in advance of the previous year. The expenditure amounted to £2,320, or £230 more than was expended in the year 1911-12. A sum of £1,126 was expended on public works. One technical school has been built, and under the supervision of Mr. W. C. Smith, school-teacher, much progress has been made by the Native boys in this branch of education. A hospital and quarantines ite has been purchased and quarantine buildings erected, and useful work has been done under the direction of the Resident Commissioner, Mr. Cornwall, in the making of roads and the erection of much-needed water-storage tanks. Trade, etc. In both the Cook Islands and Niue trade has steadily progressed. In the Cook Islands, as pointed out in the report of the Treasurer, the year has been an exceedingly good one for both growers and traders. Imports amounted to £93,812, as against £89,623 in 1911. Of this amount, goods to the value of £73,704 were imported from New Zealand. The total export trade was £101,708, or £10,632 in excess of the previous year. The trade at Niue has been equally satisfactory. The imports for the year amounted to £19,119, as against £9,838 in 1911. Of this amount goods to the value of £15,990 were imported from New Zealand. The total exports for the same period amounted to £15,709, or £3,662 in excess of the previous year. Health of the People. In the Cook Islands the health of the people is receiving full attention, and both the Chief Medical Officer and his assistant are doing good work. As shown by the figures supplied in the report of the Chief Medical Officer, there is a growing appreciation of the benefits of the hospital treatment provided at Rarotonga amongst both the European and Native people of the community. A permanent Medical Officer has recently been appointed at the Island of Nine, and the Government has considered it expedient this year to increase the subsidy for the medical service at this Island. Education. The system of education established at Nine Island has worked very satisfactorily, and it is proposed to appoint an assistant teacher to enable the work to be extended. M. Pom are.