A.—3

Vital Statistics.

Migration. The following returns show the migration to and from Rarotonga from the Ist April, 1927, to the 31st March, 1928 :— Arrivals. —Europeans : Adults—loo males, 58 females ; children—9 males, 15 females. Natives : Adults —57 males, 41 females ; children —10 males, 9 females. Departures. —Europeans : Adults—B7 males, 48 females ; children—l 4 males, 13 emales. Natives : Adults —18 males, 26 females ; children —4 males, 3 females. Education. We continue to make excellent progress in educational matters, carrying out the policy mentioned in the last annual report. The annual visit of inspection was this year made by Mr. F. H. Bakewell, M.A., whose report contains many very valuable suggestions. Mr. Bakewell was greatly impressed with the work being carried out by the Superintendent, and the headmasters and staffs of the various schools throughout the Lower Group. Unfortunately Mr. Binsted, Superintendent of Schools, has been compelled by the strain of the Tropics to proceed to New Zealand on sick-leave. In his absence the annual report on schools has been prepared by Mr. A. F. Scherer, the Acting-Superintendent, and the following are extracts therefrom :— " Staffing, Schools, and Attendance. —At the end of the year the teaching staff in the schools of the Southern Group consisted of nineteen European teachers and thirty-seven Native teachers. Mr. R. B. Wicks, after six years of valuable service as headmaster of Takitumu School, returned to service in New Zealand in November, and to this position Mr. N. Y. Smith has been appointed. Towards the end of the year the headmaster of Aitutaki School, Mr. P. Ruston, on account of the ill health of Mrs. Ruston, who had ably assisted him, resigned, and to this position Mr. A. McKenzie, late of the Niue Island schools, has been appointed. It is to be regretted that at the close of the year the Superintendent and the Head Teacher of Titikaveka School both had to go to New Zealand on sick-leave. " There are eighteen schools under the control of the local Administration, eleven in the Southern Group and seven subsidized mission schools in the Northern Group. The roll numbers show an increase, the number in the Southern Group now being 1,521, as against 1,507 last year. This number includes fourteen European children, who form a separate class of the Avarua School. The subsidized mission schools have a roll of 403, as against 380 last year. One of these schools was opened at Mitiaro in August, on which occasion the parents expressed their appreciation to the Government of this further educational facility. " Supervision and Inspection.—During the year the Superintendent visited the schools of the Southern Group, apart from frequent supervision of the work in the Rarotongan schools, and in August and September visited all the schools of the Northern Group. This is the first occasion when the Superintendent has visited all the schools in the scattered Northern Group. In October Mr. F. H. Bakewell, M.A., inspected all of the Rarotongan schools and also most of the schools in the Southern Group, and furnished a very valuable report and recommendations. " Completion of School Course. —The curriculum involves an eight-years course, and out of the total roll in the Southern Group approximately ninety-eight pupils are in the highest class or class 8. In November over forty pupils in the Rarotongan schools had covered the work prescribed, and they all took this Class 8 examination, with the result that nearly 60 per cent, passed. This is the first time that such a " leaving " examination has been given in common in all the schools. Where those pupils have chosen to remain at school, the head teachers, where possible, are making arrangements for them to further continue their studies. At the close of this school year this examination will be held throughout the Southern Group, and will, in part form the basis of selection of those who wish to continue and gain their proficiency certificates at the Avarua Normal School.

7

Births. Deaths. Marriages. Name of Island. European. Maori. European. Maori. : j European. Maori. M. j F. M. F. M. j F. M. F. Rarotonga ] 2 75 56 .... 46 44 2 35 Aitutaki 1 37 30 .... 31 28 .. 12 Mangaia .. .. 15 12 .... 13 13 .. 12 Atiu .. .. .. 19 18 .... 22 15 1 11 Mauke .. . . 1 .. 14 4 .. . . 4 4 .. 4 Mitiaro .. .. • • • • Manihiki .. .. 4 1 .... 8 11 .. 7 Rakahanga .. .. 2 5 .... 1 .. .. 3 Penrhyn .. .. 4 8.... 5 4 1 5 Pukapuka . . . . 14 8 .... 9 7 . . 10 Palmerston .. . . . • • ■ 2 Totals .. .. ! 2 3 184 142 .. .. I 139 126 4 101