13

A.—3

As to other works completed during the year, the police officer's residence was finished at a cost of £440. Prison-cells anel ft garage have also been built, and the reservoirs and wayside tanks have been thoroughly overhauled. All necessary repairs to Government buildings have been effected. Time has not been found for the enlargement of the jetty as proposeel in my last report, and a report on this subject is now awaited fremi the Public Works Engineer who visite-d us with the parliamentary party. Population. During the year 1919 eighty-two persons, including sixteen Europeans, arrived in Niue, and sixty-one persons, including twenty-four Europeans, departed. The Native population has'thus gained to the extent of twenty-nine through migration. In this connection 1 desire to place on record my gratituele to the London Missionary Seiciety, who at my request brought home thirtv-se-ven Niueans from Samoa in October last. As the "John Williams " hail on board a number oi passengers for other islands, the ship was put to senile inconvenience in bringing these Niueans home, ami the thanks of the Administration are due for the courtesy shown. The following are the numbers of births, deaths, and marriages during 1919 and the five previous years :— Year. Births. Deaths. Marriages. 1914-15 ... ... ... 93 73 70 1915-16 ... ... ... ... ... 94 100 41 19.16-17 ... ... ... ... ... 82 128. 63 1917 (nine months only) ... ... ... ... 100 137 37 1918 ... ... ... ... ... ... 95 178 43 1919 ... ... ... ... ... ... no 126 71 The excess of deaths over births is therefore sixteen, as against eighty-three in the previous year. Taking migration into account, the Native population increased by thirteen during the year, and, small though the increase may be, it is much more encouraging than the results for the past few years. The births were very satisfactory, and the marriage figures are the' highest recorded since the Administration took charge of Niue. Birth, death, and marriage rates are alike a good deal higher than theise of New Zealanel. I regret to have to record the death of one European during the- year, the Rev. J. H. Cullen, of the London Missionary Society, having died of angina pectoris on the 14th September. During my term here the relations between the Administration and the society have been most cordial, and 1 eleeply deplore Mr. Cullen's death. Education. Weirk at Tufukia School has been handicapped during the year by the absence on leave in New Zealand of the European teachers. Owing to the delay in commencing the contract service Mr. Cowan eliel not return from leave until the Bth July, ami Mr. Evison left for New Zealand on the 14th November, and has not yet had an opportunity to return. Both these officers were in urgent need of leave, and further delay in granting it might have proved disastrous to their health. However, a gooel deal eif progress has been maile at the school. A more thorough system of instruction in technical work has been instituted, and classes have also been started in handwork and mat-weaving. A fife-and-drum band has been formeel and is making gooel progress. Progress with the building of the new school at Hakupu has been slow, principally because that village has also had a good deal of roadwork and plantation-clearing on its hands. However, the building will be ready in a few weeks, and the school should be opened eiuring May or June. The Natives eiesire to erect further schools at Tuapa, Mutalau, and Avatele. The Tuapa School would cover the villages of Hikutavake and Makefu, the Mutalau Sohool would include Lakepa, and the Avatele School would cater also for Fatiau and Tamakautoga. This arrangement would leave only Liku unprovided for. but many of the children there could no doubt attend the Hakupu School in the meantime. The three schools asked for are necessary before it can be said that education in Niue has been placed on a proper footing. Ne>w that a hospital and good roads have been provided for, eelucation is certainly the most urgent question for the Administration. Native teachers are out of the question as officers in charge of these schools, and, further, the necessity for properly trained teachers is even greater than it is in New Zealand. The salaries of a sufficient educational stall would always, I am afraid, prove too great a drain upon the slender resources of this Administration, and 1 therefore submit the matter for yemr earnest consideration. "The Niueans are still a primitive people, and because there is only a handful of Europeans.on the island their enlightenment is a slow progress. If the Niueans are to be preserved from ultimate extinction it is to eduoation we must look to combat the evils of superstition and pernicious custom which yearly take toll of their lives. High Court and Native Land Court. During the year 1919 324 criminal cases were dealt with, as against 190 in 1918 and 142 in 1917. This increase is due to a slight extent tei the creation of various new offences by Ordinance, but more particularly it results from an increased efficiency on the part of the Native police. Civil work continues to be negligible in quantity. Fines and fees amounting to £295 19s. 3d. were collected eiuring the year, the amount outstanding at 31st March being £3. In the Native: Land Courl twenty applications for adoption and one application concerning land were dealt with. Ordinances. Four sittings of the Island Council were held during the year, and the following Ordinances were passed : Suppression of Immorality Ordinance, Public Health Ordinance, and Aid to Revenue Ordinance.