7

A.—3

Pearl-shell is being gathered at Manihiki, and stored there for shipment immediately there is a payable market. The prospects for the present year appear bright. The only drawback may be the shipping services. I have, &c, W. J. Stevenson, The Resident Commissioner. Collector of Customs and Treasurer.

Cook Islands Administration. Revenue for the Year ended 31st March, 1917. £ s. d. £ s. d. Balance, Ist April, 1.916 .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,684 711 Customs duties, Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. 4,131 1 6 New Zealand .. .. .. .. .. 1,585 8 4 Traders' licenses .. .. .. .. .. .. 604 2 0 Stamps .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 711 17 9 Fees, Land Titles Court .. .. .. .. .. .. 108 7 3 Fees and fines, High Court, Rarotonga .. .. .. . . 578 12 6 R.M. Court, Aitutaki .. . . . . .. 47 15 0 Mangaia .. .. .. .. 28 5 0 Mauke .. .. .. .. 8 13 6 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. 3 19 8 Manihiki .. . . .. .. 59 410 Penrhyn .. .. .. .. 10 8 0 Water rates, Avarua .. .. .. .. .. .. 194 8 0 Arorangi . . .. .. .. .. .. 93 18 0 „ Ngatangiia . . .. .. .. .. . . 41 0 0 Matavera . . .. .. . . . . .. 40 14 6 Titikaveka .. .. .. .. .. .. 65 19 0 Muri .. .. .. . . .. .. 36 8 3 Rents .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 132 10 0 Shipping fees and forms .. .. .. .. .. .. 1302 Interest on deposit . . . . .. . . . . .. 40 0 0 Road rates .. . . .. .. . . .. .. 38 0 0 Post-card sales .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 16 4 Hall licenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 0 Fruit Fumigation and Inspection Account .. .. .. . .Cr. 932 2 5 Ammunition Account . . .. . . .. . . .. Cr. 3 1 4 Muri Water Account .. .. .. .. .. . .Cr. 65 1 3 Liquor Account . . . . .. .. " .. . .Cr. 1.24 15 I Miscellaneous .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 7 .1.1 0 9,710 5 8 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. £11,394 1.3 7 Rarotonga, Cook Islands, 11 th April, 1917. W. J. Stevenson, Treasurer. Audited and found correct —A. G. Clarke, Auditor.

Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1917.

Service. Voted. Expended. 1. Registrar of High and Land Titles Courts 2. Engineer and Surveyor 3. Interpreter and Printer 4. Nurses, Hospital (two) 5. Foreman of Works 6. Draughtsman 7. Island allowance, Collector of Customs .. 8. Clerk, Land Office 9. ,, Registrar's Office .0. „ Post Office .1. Resident Agent, Mangaia 2. . „ Atiu 3. „ Aitutaki .4. „ Mauke 5. ,, Penrhyn 6. ,, Rakahanga and Manihiki 7. Native Agent, Mitiaro 8. Native Police, Rarotonga 9. „ Aitutaki 10. „ Mauke .. £ 350 200 275 200 196 175 150 90 90 90 245 220 220 220 220 200 50 122 39 20 s. d. 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 £ s. d. 325 0 0 275 0 0 186 16 1 196 0 0 175 0 0 150 0 0 90 0 0 97 11 8 90 0 0 245 0 0 238 6 8 220 0 0 21 12 2 220 0 0 200 0 0 50 0 0 169 1 0 41 10 0 20 0 0