23

A.—3

REPORT OF THE NIUE ISLAND ADMINISTRATION. Finance. The financial year commenced with a credit balance of £1,494 15s. sd. Revenue for the year amounted to £6,916 16s. lid., the main items being — Aid to revenue, £456; Customs duties, £1,709 is. 9d. ; copra export duty, £791 13s. ; fruit-cases, £1,020 lis. 3d. ; and stamp sales, £965 10s. 2d. Expenditure amounted to £5,406 4s. 6d., leaving a credit balance at the 31st March, 1929, of £3,005 17s. lOd. There are several accounts outstanding, which will reduce the balance to approximately £1,700. The position may be considered satisfactory. The principal drop in revenue was in Customs duties, which was chiefly due to traders here being overstocked from the previous year. The estimated revenue for the coming year is £4,830, and the expenditure £5,450. Details of revenue and expenditure for the year ended 31st March, 1929, are set out in the schedules attached hereto. Statement of Revenue and Expenditure for the Year ended 31st March, 1929. Revenue. £ s. d. Expenditure. £ s. d. Balance brought forward, Ist April, 1928 1,494 15 5 Benzine Acconnt, debit .. .. 144 13 2 Aid to revenue .. .. .. 456 0 0 Dog-tax Account, debit .. .. 10 12 6 Ammunition Account .. .. .. 98118 Education — Benzine Account, credit .. .. 301 19 3 Government schools.. .. .. 181 17 5 Bond storage.. .. .. .. 12 6 London Missionary Society subsidy, debit 250 0 0 Copra export duty .. .. .. 791 13 0 Fruit-case Account, debit .. .. 240 15 4 Customs duties .. .. .. 1,709 1 9 Fruit Export Account, debit .. .. 100 8 3 Dog-tax .. .. .. .. 43 15 0 Fruit-inspection fees, debit .. .. 24 111 Education —London Missionary Society Interpreters .. .. .. .. 169 0 6 subsidy, credit .. .. .. 500 0 0 Jetty, boats, and Bond sheds .. .. 322 13 10 Fruit-case Account, credit .. .. 1,020 11 3 Landing and Shipping Account, debit .. 317 6 Fruit Export Account, credit .. .. 168 4 2 Leper Account .. .. .. 47 16 0 Fruit-inspection fees, credit .. .. 16 10 3 Liquor Account, debit .. .. .. 31 18 4 High Court —Fees and fines .. .. 92 13 6 Medical Service Account, debit .. .. 1,330 17 6 Jetty Account, credit .. .. .. II 7 7 Miscellaneous Services Account .. .. 184 19 6 Landing and Shipping Account, credit .. 276 7 9 Niue Island Council .. .. .. 80 9 6 Licenses .. .. .. .. 162 10 0 Office equipment, fittings, repairs, buildLiquor Account, credit.. .. .. 25 19 0 ings, &c. .. .. .. .. 327 18 9 Miscellaneous Service Account, credit .. 94 11 10 Police .. .. .. .. 418 0 5 Native Land Court —Fees and fines .. 3 0 0 Printing and stationery .. .. 64 4 7 Public Works —Stock and material, credit 101 13 II Prisoners .. .. .. .. 156 810 Residency-—Buildings, furniture, &c. .. 112 6 Public Works — Registration and permit fees .. .. 20 14 0 Foreman .. .. .. .. 252 16 7 Stamp sales .. .. .. .. 965 10 2 Buildings and repairs .. .. 33 14 7 Superannuation Account, credit .. .. 26 5 0 Stock and material, debit .. .. 46 19 6 Transport Account, credit .. .. 27 2 10 Tools .. .. .. .. 7 13 2 Rent, officers' quarters.. .. .. 33 0 0 Reservoirs, village .. .. .. 7 4 1 Residency, repairs, buildings, &c. .. 5 12 7 Roads " .. .. .. 155 12 6 Superannuation Account, debit .. .. 17 17 5 Transport Account, debit .. .. 499 0 9 Wireless Account, debit .. .. 201 7 10 Ammunition Account, debit .. .. 54 11 8 5,406 4 6 Balance, 31st March, 1929 — Cash in hand .. .. .. 2,812 17 11 Bank of New Zealand .. .. 192 9 11 3,005 17 10 £8,411 12 4 £8,411 12 4 Shipping. Twenty vessels visited Niue during the year. It was found necessary to withhold pratique on one occasion. The N.Z.G.S. " Hinemoa " made three trips, and on the 24th May the " Maui Pomare " took up her running, making six trips from New Zealand to Apia via Niue. The s.s. " Hauraki " called twice ; the s.s. " Waihemo," " Voco," " Petricola," and Mission ship " John Williams " once each, which made it possible to despatch additional mails. It is not, of course, possible to despatch Niue cargo by these vessels. The H.M.S. " Laburnum " paid her annual visit on the 12th August, staying only the one day.