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Aitutaki. On arrival at Aitutaki I had a look round, and went to Amuri and saw the new tank, which is now nearly completed. The next day I went to Tautu and Vaipae to see the damage done. On the 18th I accompanied Dr. Maclurkin to Motu-rakau, the leper island. A small cottage has been erected for the lepers, of which there are three. The cottage is 18 ft. by 10 ft., with veranda in front, provided with a 400-gallon tank for water. The cottage requires a coat of paint or whitewash. The damage done by the hurricane is mostly to the houses, which are all unroofed in Vaipae and Tautu, and mostly sp in Nikaupara, Arutanga, and Amuri, less some fifteen buildings, of which two are the wharf-sheds and one the Resident Agent's quarters, which stood the blow without the least harm. The coconut-palms have also suffered, but I am of opinion that in one year's time, with the shaking they have had (barring another hurricane), they will produce better than before. The Natives have plenty of money at present, and the stores are well supplied with provisions. There are plenty of coconuts on the ground, which will keep the Natives making copra for the next three or four months, and should keep them in funds for the next six months or so. They may feel the pinch for money for store provisions, but then they should have plenty of root food with the kumeras they are at present planting. Ihe orange-trees have also suffered. Many of the big trees are down, but not lost if the Natives will only do as I saw had been done on Mr. Hewett's plantation, where he cut the tops off and replanted the stems of the trees, which are now sprouting. Perhaps it would have been better had he not cut so much off the trees, but I suppose he had not the appliances to lift heavier weights. The orange crop in Aitutaki this year will be a small one. Some of the trees are again in blossom. In no instance did I hear a Native talk about want of food, but they are lamenting the loss of their houses, and seem to think that the Government should do something to help to rebuild tli em. Their houses have been badly built from the start, the walls being mostly of dry stones faced with lime-plaster inside and outside; the roof of very light timber, and simply laid on the walls. I suggest that the Building Ordinance be made to apply to Aitutaki, and that no house should be allowed to be erected before submitting a description of the same to the Resident Agent, who will also see that the house is not placed too close to the main road. I also suggest that no more Native sheds or tea-shops be allowed to be erected near the (Government wharf sheds. A better style of h< use should be adopted by the Natives, to allow of more light and air, and I think that they should abandon the lime walls and substitute cement, wood, or other good material, as their lime hardly ever sets hard, having perished before being used. I do not consider that the Natives require any help at present, but in six months or so help might be given to them in the way of relief works —say, concreting wharf, erection of Courthouse, and other necessary public works might be carried out. The roof has been blown off the old Government Native Courthouse, and I do not consider the walls, which are most irregular, and of lime concrete, are good enough for a new roof. I therefore submit that a new place be built on the present site. I think a big open shed would make the best Courthouse, with a room at one end enclosed for the Post-office. The Resident Agent's quarters are practically finished. There are a few small jobs to complete in the way of placing the tanks properly and a shower for the bath. The wharf is very little damaged, except the top-dressing of sand is washed away, but that generally happens every year. I submit that the wharf have a top-dressing of concrete from end to end, and that an opening be left at the shore end of, say, 20 ft. or so, as it had in former years, to allow the sea to work around. Water is much needed in most of the settlements. The present bores are too shallow, and deep bores are required, with windmill or other power for pumping purposes. A holding of the Land Court is urgently needed at Aitutaki this year, as there are some urgent land disputes to settle. If it is your intention to send me to Aitutaki this year for survey work I should like to carry out any sanctioned public works at the same time. Manvae. We left Aitutaki on Friday, 20th February, at 4 p.m., and arrived off Manuae on Saturday, 21st, about 10 a.m.., and a boat came off from the island. The islands have suffered much in the same way as Aitutaki. Most of the buildings and copra-drying platforms are down. The coconuts have been blown off the palms, and some of the coconut-palms are down. The weather being so bad, heavy sea, squally and raining, we did not land. Plenty of food and water on the islands. Atiu. We left for Atiu at 1 p.m., and arrived off Atiu on Sunday morning, the 22nd, buj on account of the heavy sea all round the island we were unable to communicate with the shore until Tuesday morning, the 24th, when we landed mails and passengers, and left at 11 a.m. for Mauke. At 3 a.m. on the 2;srd the barometer fell to 2978, with heavy sea and squally. Takutea. I am sorry we were unable to call at Takutea on account of the heavy sea, nor did we see it from the ship or pass close to it, •. ■■

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