A.—3

4

Rainfall. Records of the rainfall have now been kept for many years —at Ava.-ua by Mr. Connal, Government Engineer ; at Titikaveka by Mr. Percy Brown ; and at Aitutaki, Mangaia, and Atiu by tiie Resident Agents. To all of these gentlemen the thanks of the Administration are due for this voluntary and important service. Maraerenga Lagoon. The drainage of this lagoon has proved an unqualified success ; and, in addition to reclaiming an area of valuable lands, should prove to be an important contribution towards the general health of the district, and enormously abate the mosquito nuisance. Land Titles Court. Judge MacCormick disposed of a large number of applications during his recent visit, but a considerable number —which is constantly being added to —now awaits hearing. It is unfortunate that this very necessary work entails such a great expense upon the Administration, and seems likely to do so for very many years. Outlying Islands. I regret that, as I only assumed the Resident Commissionership in March last, I have had neither time nor opportunity to visit any of the outlying islands, and cannot, therefore, remark as to their progress and prospects. In a few months I anticipate an opportunity will offer of making myself personally familiar with the inhabitants and their requirements. Audit. The annual audit of the accounts of the Administration was concluded on the 9th May, and I append the report of the Auditor. I have, &c, H. W. Northcroft, Resident Commissioner. The Hon. the Minister in Charge, Cook Islands Administration, Wellington.

Reports of Chief Medical Officer. Sir, — Rarotonga, 15th June, 1913. I have the honour to present my report on the year's work of the medical division. Except for a number of cases of a dysenteric type during the months of April and May, there has been no disease of an epidemic nature. There have been the usual cases of a syphilitic type, mostly constitutional, and a considerable number of tuberculous forms, many being pulmonary. The number of attendances at the dispensary was 3,710, and the number of visits paid was 429. On the 31st March, 1912, there were seven patients in Hospital ; seventy-seven have been admitted, three have died, and twelve were left at the 31st March, 1913. All of the islands except Mitiaro have been visited during the year by myself or by Dr. Maclurkin. Separate reports of these visits have been sent in. A fresh case of leprosy was found at Aitutaki. The patient came from Manihiki about two years ago, and evidently was infected before leaving there, as he had no chance of being exposed to infection on Aitutaki. This gives another family of suspects in Manihiki, hitherto not known. Of lepers in other islands, one in Palmerston is dead ; three in Manihiki and one in Rakahanga also are dead. I wish again to draw attention to the urgent necessity of some means of transport, so that the necessary frequent visits may be made to the other islands. I wish also to again urge the necessity of having some central place where the known and the suspected cases of leprosy can be brought for treatment or observation. In the light of recent discoveries leprosy cannot be looked on as an incurable disease ; but under existing circumstances these poor wretches have no chance, as we have no opportunity of carrying out any definite plan of treatment. Except at Penrhyn, there is no provision made for their food, and, as their relations seem to discard them when they are taken to the Morokai, they are entirely dependent on what can be collected for them by the Resident Agent. One case lying dormant so long in Aitutaki indicates the possibility of there being other cases which have not yet developed, and offers a very strong argument for more frequent visits. The Hospital accommodation will soon have to be increased, as during the months of January, February, and March every bed was occupied. The present building is not one which can be enlarged, and any permanent extension will have to be in the nature of an extra pavilion. Accommodation can be made for six or seven beds by putting up a separate building for a dispensary, with a room for outpatients and consulting-rooms. At the present time all cases have to be attended to in what is intended to be the operating-room, and, as the majority have suppurating sores, any operations have to be conducted under great difficulties. Another need is a laboratory for bacteriological work. Most of the apparatus is at hand, and only the building is required to enable research-work to be carried on. I wish to draw attention to the unsatisfactory system of registration of deaths, and to suggest that a system be adopted which would enable statistics to be compiled. I have, &c, G. Pearce Baldwin, The Resident Commissioner. Chief Medical Officer.