A.—3

34

Meteorological Records.

Wireless. The wireless station has, with the exception of trouble experienced with the engine, worked smoothly throughout the year. The following figures show the volume of work transacted during the period, excluding press news : —

Considerable trouble during the year has been experienced with the engine and magneto, and it is hoped to remedy this early in the coming year. Radio press news has been issued free twice weekly to all Europeans throughout the year. Public Works. Roads.—General maintenance work has been carried out on all roads by prison labour. The roads from Alofi Central to Tufukia and Vailolo have been re-formed and top-dressed with ma/cajiala. A large number of overhanging trees were felled ; these have been cut up for firewood at the hospital. Government Buildings. —Hospital: The rebuilding of the outbuildings at the hospital have been completed, by the erection of new bath and store rooms at both the male and female quarters. Concrete reservoirs, with a capacity of 1,500 gallons each, have been erected to supply the bathrooms. Medical Officer's Residence.—A new cookhouse has been erected on the same level and adjoining the residence, and a new range fitted. The old cookhouse has been converted into a laundry, and a concrete Hudson boiler and copper fitted. Bathroom and reservoir : A new bathroom has been erected on the west side, also a concrete reservoir with a capacity of 1,500 gallons. Furniture and paintwork : All furniture has been renovated, and paintwork painted, both inside and out. Government Offices : An extension to the main office has been made by the erection of a new oifi.ee, 15 ft. by 15 ft., for the Commissioner. Structural alterations have been made by pulling down the dividing wall between the Treasurer's and Resident Commissioner's old office, thus enlarging the Treasury and post-office by some 180 square feet. This was badly needed owing to the large increase in parcel-post work. Quarrying. —The prison gang were employed in quarrying rock for the foundations and building-up of the floors of the new office, also for the verandas of the main office. Motor Transport. —The two cars and four lorries have been taken down, thoroughly overhauled, repaired, and repainted, and are now in good running order. Boats.—Two new surf-boats have been purchased during the year. These were specially designed for the class of work required of them, and have a carrying-capacity of 4 tons each. The two old boats, which were second-hand when acquired by the Administration, were beyond repair, and have been condemned. Boat-channel. —Further improvements to the boat-channel have been made by blasting away a portion of the reef on the south side.

Temperature. Barometer. ; ! Rainfall. I Da y s . witl » Maximum Rain , Rain. on any one Day. Maximum. 1 Minimum. I I Deg. Fall. Deg. Fah. Inches. Inches. Highest .. 30-32 98 72 30-90 27 10-35 (April, 1911) (Mar., 1921) (Feb., 1921) (Mar., 1923) (Mar., 1913) (Nov., 1926) Lowest .. 29-66 82 54 0-08 1 0-06 (Mar., 1911) (July, 1911) J (July, 1915) (June, 1915) (July, 1911) (June, 1915)

Inwards. | Outwards. L Gross I Receipts. | Messages. Words. Messages. Words. ! - _ _ _ _ £ 8. d. First quarter .. .. .. .. 53 392 57 469 35 12 8| Second quarter .. .. .. 114 1,107 81 920 64 7 7" Third quarter.. .. .. .. 106 1,119 82 938 69 9 3 Fourth quarter .. .. .. 94 1,015 112 1,110 70 11 6 Totals .. .. .. 367 3,633 332 3,437 240 1 OJ