11

A.—3

Tuberculosis has been the cause of many deaths, and the disease is on the increase. Filariasis is common and increasing, the northern part of the island being most affected. It has increased the Medical Officer's work fourfold, and will continue to do so until the cases can be concentrated. To treat them in their own homes has entailed much travelling. Skin-diseases mentioned in previous reports are not now so noticeable. Gonorrheal disease, we have good reason for thinking, is slowly being got under. Certain villages are now clean. Ignorance has no doubt played an important part in its dissemination and continuance, and I look forward with hope that our lecturing campaign, illustrated with lantern-slides, now nearing completion, will early bear fruit. This method of presenting these diseases has had a wonderful effect. The Ordinance compelling the notification of venereal disease, &c, has greatly reduced the illegitimatebirth rate, and has enabled us to get gonorrheal disease under control. As regards the ravages of specific disease, we hope that time and treatment will gradually have the desired effect, especially in the third generation. Already a healthier type of individual predominates, and no doubt, provided no fresh infection is reintroduced from without, the ill repute this island might or might not have gained should be a thing of the past. It is a pleasure to us all to see our elaborate hospital completed, but for the equipment. When acute cases can be treated under one roof and operative cases centralized the burden of all concerned will be greatly minimized. I desire to thank the Resident Commissioner for so magnificently assisting in the creation of that competitive spirit so necessary in the villages in regard, to hygiene, ventilation improvements, &c. It will have a far-reaching and highly beneficial effect, and, judging from the efforts now being exerted, will accomplish in a single year what would otherwise have taken twenty years or more. It is pleasing to note the way people are taking up the systematic playing of cricket under Marylebone rules, and the support they arc giving to the newly formed Island Cricket Association. The regular playing of weekly matches all round the island is already drawing both young and old out into the fresh air, and having a wonderful psychological effect on their minds, and from my point of view causing them to forget their real or imaginary illnesses. To avoid being placed in the predicament of the previous year, when we were obliged to combat pneumonic influenza with no suitable drugs, I felt it our bounden duty to order an oversupply, considering our poor communication with the outside world. It happened that there was no epidemic to contend with, so these drugs remain as an asset in the dispensary. Nurse Copland has done good work amongst the Natives when fit and when available. I think she has stood the strain under tropical conditions very well indeed. At times it was necessary to spare her to the Europeans. A great deal still remains to be done along the following lines : Public health, tuberculosis, infantile welfare, venereal disease, flics, mosquitoes, care of aged, skin-disease, dietetics, and witchcraft. Roads. Nothing beyond minor repairs has been effected in the roads. This work has been carried out mostly by prison labour. The repair of the roads is a matter which needs urgent attention, for most of the roads at the present time are in a shocking condition, owing to the abnormal rainfall during the past few months. Until a permanent road gang is appointed, and a vehicle for supplying material is purchased, Niue will not be able to boast that it has even fair highways for vehicular traffic. Water-supply. This has been a source of much expense and inconvenience at the residences of the officers, owing to the short life of the corrugated-iron tanks. To overcome this difficulty reinforced-concrete tanks are being erected, and it is pleasing to note that they are more durable and cheaper than the iron tanks. A new reinforced-concrete reservoir has just been completed at the hospital. A new departure has been taken in that the the roof of this one is also of reinforced concrete, instead of corrugated iron, with which all previous ones have been roofed. Tt is the largest on the island, and has a holdingcapacity of 15,000 gallons. Other Works. General repairs have been effected in all residences. Meteorological. Barometer : Mean for the year, 30-04. Thermometer : Mean maximum, 84-36 ; mean minimum, 71-01 ; maximum for year, 98 (in March). Rainfall: Total amount for year, 79-38 in.; total days on which rain fell, 160. Justice. During the past year 416 criminal cases were dealt with, being a decrease of twenty-seven on the returns for the previous year. In the Civil Court five cases for the recovery of debt, two cases for probate, and twenty-two cases of divorce were dealt with. In the Native Land Court seven applications for adoption were dealt with.