A.—3

6

Fruit prices have been so good during the last few seasons that the Natives are not planting and attending to their lands to the same extent as formerly, and, as a result, a decreasing output is inevitable. Should prices decline, the Administration will suffer from a revenue point of view, for a decrease in exports must eventually affect the revenue. Every effort should be made to encourage landowners to cultivate all suitable waste land by planting bananas, oranges, and coconuts. The majority of the orange-trees on Rarotonga are getting old and bearing small, inferior fruit. Suitable varieties of young trees for distribution among planters and Natives who are willing to attend them should be imported from Australia or America. In a few years these trees would take the place of the present ones, producing not only a larger but a better quality of fruit. Prospects for the coming year are very promising, and the volume of trade should equal that of the year just closed. I therefore do not anticipate any decrease in the revenue. I have, &c, W. J. Stevenson, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Collector of Customs and Treasurer.

Report of Auditor. Sir,— Rarotonga, 9th May, 1913. I have the honour to inform you that I have audited the accounts of the Cook Islands Administration for the year ended 31st March, 1913, and find them to be correct. I have also audited the books of the High Court and Land Titles Court, and find that all moneys recorded as received by the official receipt butts and statements from Resident Agents have been duly accounted for. I have, &c, A. G. Clarke, Auditor. The Resident Commissioner, Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga.

Cook Islands Administration. Estimated Expenditure for the Year ending 31st March, 1914. Salaries — - . £ s. d. Registrar, High and Land Titles Courts .. .. .. .. .. 350 0 0 Assistant Medical Officer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 450 0 0 Engineer and Surveyor ... .. .. .. .. .. .. 300 0 0 Interpreter and Printer .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 250 0 0 Hospital Nurse .... .. .. .. .. .. .. 150 0 0 Foreman of works .. .. ■ ■ .. .. .. .. 150 0 0 Draughtsman .. .. .. . • • • .. .. .. 120 0 0 Island allowance, Resident Commissioner .. . . .. .. .. 100 0 0 Collector of Customs .. .. .. 150 0 0 Cadet, Registrar's Office . . .. . . .. .. .. " . . 60 0 0 „ Post-office 60 0 0 Resident Agent, Mangaia .. . . .. .. .. . . . . 225 0 0 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 0 0 Aitutaki.. ... .. .. .. .. .. 225 0 0 Mauke .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 225 0 0 Penrhyn .. .. .. .. . .. 200 0 0 ~ Rakahanga and Manihiki . . . . .. .. .. 100 0 0 European policeman, Rarotonga . . .. .. .. .. .. 150 0 0 Native policemen, Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. .. 115 0 0 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 39 0 0 Mangaia ~.'.. .. .. .. .. 41 0 0 Atiu .. .. 17 0 0 Mauke 12 0 0 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .. .. 600 „ Rakahanga and Manihiki .. .; .. .. 24 0 0 Native assessors, Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. .. 20 0 0 Atiu .. .. .. 800 Mauke .. .. .. "... 5 0 0 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .-.. .. .. 6 0 0 „ Rakahanga and Manihiki .. .. .. .. .. 800 Clerk of Court, Mitiaro .. .. .... ..... .. 3 0 0 Postmaster, Mitiaro .. .. .... ...... ... ~ 300 Subsidies — Cool chamber .. .. .. . • • • • ■ • • • • 100 0 0 Boatman, Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10 0 0 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. 9 0 0 Atiu • • • • 3 0 0 Carrying mails .. .. .. .. . • • • • • • • 20 0 0