5

A.—3

Sir, — Rarotonga, 16th June, 1913. The Hospital has been opened for the reception of patients for-two years. During that time there have been admitted 151 patients—l3B Natives and 13 Europeans. The number of deaths has been 5. The Native cases came from the different islands as follows: Aitutaki, 12;. Atiu, 2; Mangaia, 25 ; Manihiki, 8; Mauke, 4 ; Niue, 4 ; Palmerston, 3 ; Penrhyn, 6 ; Rakahanga, 2 ; Rarotonga, Natives or permanent residents, 74. I have, &c, G. Pearce Baldwin, The Resident Commissioner. Chief Medical Officer.

Report of Treasurer and Collector of Customs. Sir, — Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 6th May, 1913. I have the honour to enclose statements of revenue and expenditure for the financial year ended 31st March, 1913, and trade returns for the year ended 31st December, 1912. The revenue for the year amounted to £9,420, which, with the balance in hand on 31st March, 1912, £4,151 2s. 3d., made a total of £13,571 2s. 3d. available for the working of the Administration. As compared with last year the revenue shows an increase of £496 Is. Id. The principal increases comprise stamp-sales, £233 ; Land Titles Court fees, £223 ; High Court fees and fines, £221 ; traders' license fees, £129 ; Court fees, Rakahanga and Manihiki, £46 ; Court fees, Atiu, £38 ; interest, £35 ; and water rates, £31. The only decreases of any magnitude are Fruit Fumigation and Inspection Account, £387 ; Customs duties, £150 ; and cash profit from the sale of liquor, £69. The expenditure (summary appended) amounted to £11,508 45., being £2,088 in excess of the revenue. £ s. d. Public works .. .. .. .. .. .. 4,362 12 6 Salaries .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3,626 17 5 Contingencies .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,394 8 7 Hospital supplies and attendance .. .. .. .. 1,259 18 10 Fruit-fumigation Account, deficit .. .. .. .. 263 12 8 Subsidies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 161 7 6 Compensation for land resumed .. .. .. .. 145 0 0 Ammunition Account, Dr. .. .. .. .. .. 98 13 10 Maintenance, lepers . . .. .. .. .. .. 69 4 4 Maintenance, lunatics .. .. .. .; .. 66136 Rents and house allowances .. .. .. .. .. 36 5 0 Law-books for High Court .. .. .. .. .. 23 9 10 £11,508 4 0

The contingent expenditure of £906 18s. in connection with the Land Titles Court is very high, but this includes the charges for Judge MacCormick's services while in the islands as Judge of the Land Titles Court and Acting Resident Commissioner. Liquor Account: The liquor sales for the year amounted to £96 2s. 9d., compared with £194 12s. sd. during the previous year. Waterworks Account: The amount expended to date on waterworks in Rarotonga is £4,567 lis. lid., being apportioned as follows : Avarua, £2,488 14s. 2d. ; Ngatangiia, £837 lis. ; Arorangi, £706 3s. Id. ; and Matavera, £535 3s. Bd. The latter system was installed during the year. The rates collected from the first three systems amounted to £260 9s. Fruit Fumigation and Inspection Account: This account shows a deficit of £263 12s. Bd., owing to the New Zealand Agricultural Department calling upon the Administration to refund the sum of £529 ss. Id., being balance of salaries and expenses of Fruit Inspectors while stationed at Rarotonga, to 31st March, 1912. The fees collected from the fumigation and inspection of fruit amounted to £750 17s. 9d., and the expenditure, excluding the £529 ss. Id. refunded to the New Zealand Agricultural Department, totalled £486 3s. Bd. Postal : The volume of work in this Department is increasing yearly. 1,098 money-orders, value £13,429 ss. Id., were issued, and 988, value £17,893 os. 7d., were paid at the Rarotonga Post-office. Postal notes to the value of £411 14s. 9d. were issued. A savings-bank was opened on the Ist July last. The deposits for the nine months totalled £1,207 6s. Bd., and the withdrawals £141 lis. 7d. Trade : The year has been an exceedingly good one for growers and traders, as almost all island products have been commanding exceptionally high prices. The total oversea trade of the Group for the year is valued at £195,520 —imports £93,812, and exports £101,708. This represents an increase of £14,821 compared with the previous year —imports £4,189, and exports £10,632. The increase in exports is largely due to the rise which has taken place in the price of pearl-shell, thus enabling traders to give remunerative prices to the divers. The output for the year amounted to 85 tons, compared with 5 tons in 1911. Fruit-exportation is slightly on the decline as regards quantity. Copra decreased by 355 tons. The orange output is practically the same as last year, being 106,878 cases, as against 107,612 cases in 1911. Bananas decreased by 14,300 cases and 4,000 bunches, the respective figures being 108,520 cases 6,441 bunches and 94,108 cases and 2,135 bunches. 4,000 cases were lost owing to the Maitai " being unable to take them in February, 1912, so that the shortage for the year is about, 10,000 cases.