A.—4

55

From 400 to 500 tons of copra are shipped annually, and it is estimated that Aitutaki could ship from 10,000 to 15,000 cases of pineapples in the season (October. November, and December), and from 20,000 to 30,000 cases of oranges in the season (May to September-October), provided the " Talune" called monthly. As we pointed out, however, more attention should be given there to products of a less perishable nature than fruit, owing to the shipping difficulty. Cook Island Traders. A. B. Donald and Co. (Limited), Cook Island Trading Company (Limited), Jagger and Harvey, W. H. Grove and Sons (Limited), E. H. Mitchell. Bonner and Shearman, Captain Yon Hoff, Ah Foo and Taripo, J. Kohn and Co., William Taylor, Arthur H. Brown, W. T. Hewett. Wireless Installation in Mangaia and Aitutaki. There does not seem to be much anxiety on the part of the traders or Natives for wireless communication with Rarotonga, if the cost of such an installation and running-expenses are to be charged against their fruit or copra exports. They claim that prior to 1914 the " Talune " called with the utmost regularity. If she visits the islands again periodically on prearranged dates there would be no absolute necessity, as far as trade is concerned, for a wireless connection, although no doubt such a connection should to some extent benefit trade, and would be a very great convenience, provided the cost of installation was low and the work could be undertaken by the present officials on the respective islands. To bring the Cook Islands into line with Samoa we consider the importation of alcoholic liquors, except for sacramental, medicinal, and manufacturing purposes, should be prohibited. Apart from the demoralizing effect that the custom of drinking bush-beer has on the Natives, it interferes with the trade development of the islands ; moreover, it seems unreasonable to make bush-beer drinking amongst the Natives a punishable offence while permitting the white population to indulge in alcoholic beverages without limitation. We are much indebted to Mr. F. W. Platts, Resident Commissioner, for supplying us with a description of the various islands, and for trade and other statistics he was good enough to prepare for us. NIUE, OR SAVAGE ISLAND. Niue was discovered by Captain Cook in 1774. It was originally included in the Cook Group, but it was found desirable to place the island under a separate Administration because of the discontent of the Natives at losing their independence, and its distance from Rarotonga. It is situated in latitude 19° 1/ 42" S., and longitude 169° 55' 15" W. It has a coast-line of about forty miles, and contains approximately 64,000 acres. The island belongs to the class known as uplifted coral, and in many places the surface is rocky and is difficult to cultivate. In general formation it has two terraces, the lower one being about 90 ft. above sea-level, and the upper one about 220 ft. There are no natural streams of any kind, but the rainfall is evenly distributed throughout the year. December is, as a rule, the wettest month. The annual rainfall averages about 80 in. The mean maximum temperature in the shade is about 85°, the mean minimumtemperature in the shade about 68°, the mean range being about 17°. The population at the end of 1919 was 3,664, including twenty whites and 160 half-castes living as whites. In 1910 a branch of the Post Office and Savings-bank was established ; as no other banking facilities exist on the island the Savings-bank is of great convenience to traders and others. There is one Government school on the island. Trade. To shorten this report we have taken out a complete list of imports and exports for the years ending 1907, 1910, 1914, 1918, and 1919, which is attached hereto, The trend and volume of trade can therefore be seen at a glance,