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Report of Engineer. g IR Rarotonga, Ist May, 1913. I have the honour to submit the report on public works for the year ended 31st March, 1913. Survey of Lands. The principal part of the surveying done during the year was at the Island of Aitutaki, where we spent three months, and surveyed some two hundred small sections for the Land Court. I forward a tracing of the Island of Rarotonga showing all the land surveyed and dealt with to date by the Land Court, and submit that two hundred copies of this tracing be litho graphed. I also forward a chart of the Cook Group, and ask that a hundred copies of this chart on the same scale be lithographed. The lithographs might be offered for sale to the public. Meteorological. The total rainfall at Avarua, on the noithern side of Rarotonga, for the year 1912 was 8474 in., which was above the average. The average for the last fourteen years is 81'12in. At the settlement of Titikaveka, on the southern side of Rarotonga, the total rainfall for 1912 was 95-15 in. Average for five years, 100-70 in. I append a summary showing the rainfall for the year 1912, and the averages at the five stations at which we have rain-gauges. The highest reading of the Fahrenheit thermometer in the shade for the year was 88-5° on the 3rd February, and the lowest 55-5° on the 19th June. The mean of the maximum for the year was 79-6° and the mean of the minimum 693° in the shade at Avarua. The lowest reading of the barometer at sea-level was 29 - 56 in., about midnight on the 3rd March, at Avarua, Rarotonga. The monthly meteorological returns have been forwarded to New Zealand and to the German Government at Samoa as usual. Mauke Office and Quarters. A wooden building was erected on the Island of Mauke, containing five rooms with verandas and outhouses, for a Government office and Resident Agent's quarters. Vp-keep, Government Buildings. The Resident Agent's quarters at the Island of Mangaia were painted throughout, and the Government Buildings kept in a good state of repair. Avarua Water-supply. Avarua water-supply was improved by laying another 1,000 ft. of 6-in.-diameter pipes, taking the water from a better place higher up the creek. The head from, intake to main road at Government offices is now 188 ft., and the total length of 6-in.-main pipe is now 7,300 ft. 2,800 ft. of 2 in. pipe was replaced by pipes of 3 in. diameter along the main road, and some 2,000 ft. of 2-in.-main pipe was laid down to better the supply along the main road; also several new service conections were made to houses. The settlement of Avarua is now well supplied with water for domestic purposes, and should be sufficient for several years to come. What is now required is to have an area of land reserved round the intake on creek and have a filter-bed something after the style of the one in Tahiti or other suitable filter. Matavera Water-supply. The settlement of Matavera was supplied with water from the Ngatangiia water-supply by means of 6,000 ft. of 3-in.-main pipes laid along the main road, also 1,200 ft. of 2-in.-main pipes, and some forty-four houses were connected with service-pipes. Arorangi Water-supply. The Arorangi water-supply was improved by replacing 2,000 ft. of 2 in. by 3 in. main pipes. In the Island of Rarotonga the settlements of Avarua, Arorangi, Ngatangiia, and Matavera are now supplied with water. There remain two settlements yet to supply, Muri and Titikaveka. Drainage, Maraerenga Swamp. The main drain for the Maraerenga Swamp has been cut to nearly the proper depth, but there still remains a good deal to do in the way of widening the drain. Four small wooden bridges have been built across the drain where it cuts the roads. The drain seems to answer well, as in heavy rain no water lies where the swamp was. We have still to deal with the creek beyond the Hospital, which in continuous heavy rains overflows. The area of land taken by the Government has still to be arranged for with Natives as to the value, and to be paid for. Roads and Bridges. The main road in the settlement of Avarua has been kept in repair by the Government, also the bridges round the island. Ido not think that the Natives have done their share in the upkeep of the roads. I think that the Maoris should work on the roads as formerly, or pay some sort of tax as suggested in my report of last year. Shed at Aitutaki. A shed 80 ft. long, 30 ft. wide, and walls 10 ft. high, was erected at Aitutaki. The shed is half enclosed for inward cargo and copra. The new shed was connected to the wharf by tramwaylines, and four new trucks with roller bearings were provided. I have, &c., The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. H. M Connal, Engineer.