A.—4a

22

Rainfall. The following table of rainfall lias been supplied by the Director of the Mulinuu Observatory, Apia : —

Monthly Record of Rainfall for Year 1921.

Copra. A new Ordinance, devised to secure a better grade of copra, came into force in April last, and an improvement in the quality of the product has resulted. The standard of the copra now being produced by the Natives was never higher, and Western Samoan copra is easily ahead of that produced elsewhere in the South Seas. One feature of the regulation is that requiring all copra to be certificated before being offered for sale, the function of issuing certificate being delegated to the Pulenuus. There can be no doubt, that this inspection by the Pulenuus has had a beneficial effect in raising the standard of the product. The following table shows the exports of copra and tin- value thereof for the year 1921, with the corresponding returns for the previous year :— Year. Tons. Value. 1921 .. .. .. .. 7,428 £190,520 1920 .. .. .. .. 7,474 £296,356 Cacao. The Department continues to concern itself with endeavours to improve the quality of Samoan cacao. The process of preparation and the grading of the beans are matters that are receiving serious consideration. It has been alleged that, the poor quality of Samoan cacao produced on some of the plantations is due to the varieties being cultivated here, but it cannot be too strongly emphasized that this is not so. The real cause of the trouble lies in defective preparation. Some of the splendid samples produced on a few plantations still command the best price on the market, Exports of cacao for the year 1.921, compared with those of the previous year, are appended : — Year. Tons. Value. 1921 .. .. .. .. ..750 £36,363 1920 .. .. ..785 £90,222 It, will be seen by the above figures how seriously the fall in values has affected the coconut and cacao industry of these islands. Export or Bananas and Limes. The question of exporting bananas is held up, pending a solution ol' the difficulties of transport. Samoan Limes. —In the early part of the year a small trial shipment of limes was despatched by the Department to Auckland, hoping that a market might be found in New Zealand for this product. Much to the Department's surprise, a communication was received from the merchant to whom they were sent stating that, although the fruit arrived in splendid condition, there was absolutely no market for it in Auckland, and he had been unable to dispose of the consignment. Peanuts. At the instance of the New Zealand Board of Trade some samples of nuts grown on the Government farm were forwarded to a Christchurch firm of manufacturers. If sufficient inducement were offered Samoa could supply to a large extent New Zealand's requirements. In February last a second and larger parcel was forwarded to New Zealand for distribution among users and others likely to be interested. The sample of nuts sent has been favourably reported on, and fully demonstrates that peanuts of at least average commercial value can be grown in Samoa.

Total Maximum for for Month. j Twenty-four Hours. I )ato of Maximum. January February March . . April May . . June July August . . September October November December mm. mm. 555-2 212-5 304-1 70-0 186-5 45-7 432-6 120-5 363-8 81-5 101-9 30-0 107-0 34-0 58-6 9-4 143-9 49-0 117-9 40-0 327-2 135-5 336-8 91-2 mm. 212-5 70-0 45-7 120-5 81-5 30-0 34-0 9-4. 49-0 40-0 135-5 91-2 13th 12th 13th 15th ' 8th 1st 30th 22nd 30th 23rd 24th 28th Total for year, 1035-5 mm. = 119-5 in. ■5 in.