37

A.—3.

On the 7th January last an Ordinance entitled the Niue Island Marriage, Registration, and Divorce Ordinance, 1913, was passed and forwarded for the assent of His Excellency the Governor. Under that Ordinance the registration of births, deaths, and marriages is taken from the resident missionary of the London Missionary Society and his Native pastors, and placed in the hands of the Administration; also, provision is made for divorce similar to the law of divorce in Rarotonga. Every Native Magistrate will become a Deputy Registrar under the Ordinance. I may say that the change as regards registration of births,.deaths, and marriages is welcomed by the resident missionary, who has for a long time past taken exception to the duties imposed upon him under the Niue Island Marriage and Registration Ordinance, 1904, whereby the resident missionary for the time being was appointed Registrar for Niue. Vital Statistics. The following are the number of births, deaths, and marriages for the year 1912-13 as compared with the four preceding years : — Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1908-9 ... ... ... ... ... ... 115 95 56 1909-10 ... ... ... ... ... ... 104 79 40 1910-11 ... ... ... ... ... ... 80 93 46 1911-12 ... ... ... ... ... ... 100 77 44 1912-13 ... ... ... ... ... ... 106 99 45 The number of deaths during the past year was slightly larger than usual. Subsidized Service. The three-3'ears contract for a service between Auckland and Niue, by a vessel of not less than 80 tons, expired on the arrival of the " Kereru " at Auckland on the 9th January, 1912. The " Kereru " was kept on the service during the whole of 1912 under a temporary contract, and succeeded in making six direct return voyages. It has been amply demonstrated that the vessel is not large enough for the Niue trade. Full cargoes were brought from Auckland nearly every trip, while the produce offering at Niue was almost invariably more than the vessel could carry. I may mention that the steamers " Baroona " and "Dawn" called at irregular intervals during the year and took away between them a total of 250 tons of copra. The following is a schedule of the voyages made by the " Kereru " : —

Auckland to Niue.

Niue to Auckland.

* Local time one day behind New Zealand time. Average per trip, 1883 days. Tenders were called at the latter end of 1912 for a new service between Auckland and Niue, but owing to an extension of the time for closing tenders and the non-receipt of a mail at Niue since the 3rd March (Auckland, 28th January), I am not aware that arrangements have been entered into. Emigration and Immigration. During the year 151 persons, including thirteen Europeans, left Niue for other places, while 177 persons, including twenty-two Europeans, arrived in Niue, the gain being twenty-six persons.

Left Auckland. Route. Arrived Niue.* Number of Days. April 1 May 29 July 17 Sept. 6 Oct. 26 Dec. 16 Direct April 19 . . June 10 July 31 .. Sept. 19 .. Nov. 14 .. Dec. 29 •• 19 13 15 14 ' 20 14 * Local time one day behind New Zealand time. Average per trip, 15' 13 days.

Left Niue.* Route. J Arrived Auckland. Number of Days. Lpril 25 une 15 Lug. 7 Sept. 25 fov. 21 an. 2, 1913 .. Direct ! .. j May 15 ' .. . . ' July 5 .. Aug. 24 .. .. Oct. 16 .. .. Dec. 9 .. .. Jan. 25, 1913 19 19 16 20 17 22