A.—3

21

Cook Islands Administration. Vital Statistics for Year 1912.

Report on the Health of the Island of Mangaia. Sir,— Rarotongo, 29th July, 1912. I beg to submit my report upon the health of the Island of Mangaia, with details of the work done during my visit in June-July of this year. I arrived on the island on the 19th June, and left on the 18th July, having thus a period of four weeks in which to carry out the inspection. In this time I was able to see and treat practically all the cases of serious disease among the inhabitants, but I may say here that I am strongly of opinion that a more frequent visitation will be necessary if the health of the population is to be cared for in a satisfactory manner. The amount of disease is considerable, and many of the cases require periodical supervision and attention. If proper travelling facilities were available it would be of inestimable benefit to the island if visits at monthly or six-weekly intervals could be instituted, and if at each visit five or six days were spent in seeing and treating the cases of disease these would be kept well in hand, and in course of time the Natives would be educated to take care of their skin and other diseases in a proper manner, and to understand the nature of contagion and infection, so that the spread of disease would be materially checked.

island and Village. lirtl is. Deaths. >cai is. j i Marriages. ! Rarotonga— Avarua Arorangi Titikaveka Ngatangiia Matavera 67 16 12 13 9 34 24 15 22 7 19 5 3 9 4 Totals 117 102 40 Aitutaki — Arutanga \ Reureu I Nikaupara j Amuri ) Vaipae Tautu .. 48 28 10 8 2 4 14 4 1 Totals 58 46 15 Mangaia — Oneroa Tamarua Ivarua 39 II 14 39 10 7 8 5 4 Totals 64 56 17 Penrhyn 11 13 Manihiki 21 Rakahanga 10 20 12 Palmerston Island Atiu 36 20 12 Mauke— Oiretumu Kimiangatau 9 11 7 4 4 2 Totals 20 11 H. H. G. iALFE, Registrar.