A.—4

Exports,

The exports for 1926 show a decrease of £58,605, the figures being £320,783, as compared with £379,388 for the calendar year 1925. However, as previously stated, a large quantity of produce, amounting to £34,000, was carried over to 1927 owing to shortage of shipping. Copra. —The export of copra for the calendar year 1926 was 12,249 tons, valued at £275,086, as compared with 14,519 tons, valued at £331,274, for the year 1925. Cocoa. —The cocoa export was 356 tons, valued at £20,151, in comparison with 664 tons, valued at £39,626, for the previous year. The storm of January, 1.926 is accountable for a great deal of this shortage, as cocoa is now coming in, the quantity for the March, 1927, quarter being 223 tons. Rubber. —The export of rubber for the calendar year amounted to 33| tons, valued at £6,702, as compared with 3 tons, valued at £1,165, for 1925. The production is steadily increasing each month, and March quarter shows 20 tons 7 cwt. as being exported. Prospects for 1927 are very bright. The weight and values of copra, cocoa, and rubber for the financial year 1926-27 are : —

The totals for the financial year ended 31st March, 1926. were —Copra, 14,068 tons, valued at £328,715 ; cocoa, 653 tons, valued at £38,859 ; rubber, 7-j tons, valued at £2,987. The total exports for March quarter, 1927, were valued at £44,828. Re-exports. These amount to £18,260, as compared with £6,844 for the year 1925. Included in this, however, is bullion to the amount of £15,800. Shipping. The number of vessels arriving from overseas at the Port of Apia for the calendar year 1926 was eighty-four, with a registered tonnage of 93,441, as compared with eighty-eight vessels, with a registered tonnage of 88,137, for the year 1925. Outward vessels show eighty-three, with a registered tonnage of 90,045, as compared with eighty-seven, with registered tonnage of 88,115, for the previous year. Inward cargo shows an increase of 353 tons, and outward cargo a decrease of 2,727 tons, in comparison with the same period of 1925. The figures are : Inwards 14,696, outwards 13,290, for 1926 ; and inwards 14,343, outwards 16,017, for 1925. The shipping figures for March quarter, 1927, are: Inwards, twelve vessels, 24,163 tons register, 1,910 tons cargo; outwards, thirteen vessels, 27,548 tons register, 1,624 tons cargo. New Wharf. —The wharf now in course of construction should be finished in May, and should prove a great benefit to all concerned.

Total Net Receipts at Customhouse, Apia.

Harbour Section. Shipping.—Returns of inward and outward shipping for the Port of Apia during the year will be found appended. Lights. —The new beacon on the East Reef was washed away on New Year's Day, 1926, but was rebuilt, the lamp being overhauled in New Zealand and re-exhibited in June, 1926. New lighthouse built on Fanuatapu Island, at east end of Upolu, and fitted with Aga lamp, exhibited from December, 1926. Other lights attended when necessary, and towers repainted. All buildings and maintenance done by harbour staff.

* Lighters purchased outright by Stevedoring Company, Ltd., and rents ceased July, 1924. f Travelling-passes since the Ist of April, 1924, collected by police. f Includes lightering-charges when Administration did stevedoring.

23

Copra. ! Cocoa. j Rubber, j Quantity. j Value. Quantity, j Value. j Quantity. ] Value. I I I ; I r I Tons. j £ Tons. £ Tons. cwt. £ June quarter, 1926 .. : 3,047 67,610 66 3,799 0 2 375 September quarter, 1926 3,892 81,956 106| 6,004 10 6 1,729 December quarter, 1926 i 2,610 ! 56,719 147i 8,140 16 14 2,776 March quarter, 1927 .. 1,325 27,488 223 13,016 20 7 3,493 10,874 j 233,773 543 ' 30,959 49 7 I 8,373

(To nearest pound sterling.) Stevedoring and Taxes, Other Year Import Export Shipping mSSskle Total Net Duty. Duty. Fees. Td'' of MeZn Jf Recei P ts " and Towage. Water Rates. Liquor. - . £ £ j £ j £ £ £ £ 1926-27 .. 42,991 12,421 2,379 | 682 9,421 2,611 70,505 I ! I 1925-26 .. 51,076 15,445 2,439 700 9,509 2,294 81,463 ! ■ [ J— ! 1924-25 .. 43,015 15,008 2,268 796 8,909 3,610 73,606 1923-24 .. 41,948 11,685 2,195 j 1,029 9,495 2,098 68,450 1922-23 .. 45,673 16,272 1,962 ! 889 10,125 1,017 75,938 1921-22 .. 56,824 14,395 1,779 1,209 9,540 653 84,400 1920-21 .. 79,567 9,563 | 1,383 | 4,661$ 9,524 3,053 107,751 1 I __l | I