A—3

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Native Land Court. Applications for adoptions —Orders granted .. .. .. 1 Applications for annulment of adoptions —Orders granted .. . , 4 Applications for confirmation of alienation of land —Order granted .. .. 1 Totals .. .. .. . , . . , . 6 Meteorological. Summarized, the readings for 1928 are as follows : Barometer : mean for year, 30-04. Thermometer : Highest, 96, in January ; lowest, 57, in August; mean maximum, 87-66 ; mean minimum, 63-83. Rainfall, 61-83 in. Rain fell on 154 days. Maximum rainfall on any one day, 5-15 in., on 9th July, 1928. A severe and quite unexpected gale of hurricane force struck the island on the night of Friday, the 18th January. For a few days prior to this blow the barometer had been dropping gradually, but, the indications were that it was a drop for rain, as the wind had been light and easterly, and, since the Apia Observatory issued no warnings of a cyclonic disturbance approaching, no particular notice was taken of the drop. Our first warning came from the " Maui Pomare " at midday on the 18th January, when Captain McDonald advised us that he had been driven out of Apia owing to a cyclone and that the vessel was hove-to. Even then there were no indications here that such a storm would come this way, as the weather conditions at that time were very good, except for the fact that it was raining steadily, with light easterly wind. At 1 p.m. the barometer showed a sudden drop, but the wind remained blowing steadily from the east right up until 4.30 p.m., when it suddenly died away. The sunset, which was reflected through an overcast sky, was first a dull amber colour, and later a dull leaden, with a very angry appearance. About 6 p.m. the wind freshened and became very fickle and squally, varying in direction from E.S.E. to E., and then suddenly to N.E. The cargo-boats, which had been launched in readiness for working the " Maui Pomare " when she arrived, were hauled up in case of accidents, which was fortunate, for at 7.30 p.m. the wind increased in intensity and was blowing a full gale at 9 p.m. from the N.W., with a very heavy and high sea rolling in and breaking right over the wharf. The peak of the gale was reached between 11 p.m. and midnight. The barometrical readings were as follows : 18th January —9 a.m., 29-63 ; 3.30 p.m., 29-549 ; 6.30 p.m., 29-537 ; 10 p.m., 29-519 ; midnight, 29-489. 19th January—2 a.m., 29-499 : 4 a.m., 29-529 ; and 9 a.m., 29-634. A great deal of damage was done to both coconut-palms and banana-plants. The " Maui Pomare " arrived off Niue at 10-30 a.m. on Sunday, the 20th January, but owing to the very high sea running it was impossible for her to come up to the anchorage. The wind was blowing hard from the W.N.W., which made it dangerous for her to come anywhere near the coast on the west side. She then proceeded to the other side of the island and sheltered there for four days. The wind was still blowing strong from the N.W., and mountainous seas were running, making it absolutely impossible to work the vessel, and on the 23rd, as there were no signs of the weather abating, she proceeded on her voyage to New Zealand. It was well she did so, as the weather did not abate until Sunday, the 27th January. There were 2,250 cases of fruit ready for shipment, and it was extremely hard on the shippers that they lost such a valuable cargo. lam pleased to report that they took it in the right spirit, and their only concern seemed to be for the safety of the vessel.

Meteorological Return for the Year ended 31st December, 1928.

Maximum temperature, 96° F., in January. Minimum temperature, 57° F., in August. Maximum rainfall any one day, 5-15 in., on 9th July. Average monthly rainfall, 5-15 in. Average number of days with rain, 12-83.

Temperature. J Number of Maximum Month. ' Barometer. r — R -° i. Days Rain on any . I hi- • ! am a ' I with Rain. one Day. Maximum. Minimum. J I I I L I Deg. Fah. Deg. Fah. j Inches. Inches. January .. .. 29-87 ! 96 70 ; 10-00 13 4-30 February .. .. 30-03 91 69 4-91 15 1-28 March ' .. .. 29-99 91 71 7-17 19 3-93 April I 30-06 88 67 2-61 12 1-49 May .. .. 30-07 87 64 3-43 20 2-21 June .. ..I 30-06 83 59 0-82 6 0-47 July .. .. 1 30-06 84 58 7-69 15 5-15 August .. .. 30-13 84 57 4-67 14 1-82 September . . .. j 30-12 86 60 2-41 7 1-12 October .. .. 30-05 87 63 i 5-69 9 2-17 November . . .. 30-00 85 65 I 7-26 13 2-43 December .. .. 29-97 90 63 I 5-17 11 2-03 . Totals .. 360-42 | 1,052 i 766 ! 61-83 154 Means .. ' 30-04 87-66 j 63-83 i 5-15 i 12-83 5-15