A.—6

The total trade of the island over the last ten years is set out in the following table : —

Native Affairs. The Niueans are a peaceful and law-abiding people, in many ways differing widely from Polynesians in other islands. There are no chiefs, and each male owns his own piece of land. They are a people well worth saving, and every endeavour is being made to preserve the race and to assist them in every way possible, particularly at the present time when they desire to travel the difficult road of civilization. Their shoes are being made to fit as comfortably as possible for their journey. Medical, and Public Health. The Medical Staff consists of 1 European Medical Officer; 1 European Matron and European assistant; 4 Native nurses, 1 Native dispenser, who is also interpreter and chauffeur; 2 Native laundry women. There is one hospital, situated at Alofi (the port). The Medical Officer each week visits all villages in addition to special visits to patients in the outlying areas. No village is farther away from the hospital than ten miles. The health of the people has been good, though an epidemic of typhoid fever proved rather serious. The following is a summary of the work performed at the hospital: Infectious diseases notified—Pulmonary and other tuberculosis, 19; gonorrhoea, 18; infective yaws, 47; pneumonia, 7; typhoid fever, 90; conjunctivitis, 65; ringworm, 58; filariasis, 62; leprosy, 2; cerebro-spinal meningitis, 1. Hospital and dispensary statistics —Remaining in hospital, 31/12/34, 5; admitted' during the year, 156; discharged during the year, 150; died in hospital, 9; remaining in hospital, 31/12/35, 2; average stay in hospital, 217 days; dispensary out-patients, 1,230; district out-patients, 3,612; district special visits, 795; special visits, 515; hospital patients' dressings, 601; hospital out-patients' dressings, 3,708. Operations—major, 7; minor, 104. Dental extractions, 170; dental fillings, 4. Injections Bicreol and N.A.8., 310; peptone, 72; gonococcal vaccine, 14; manganese butyrate, 11; tuberculin, 95; T.A.B. prophylactic, 6,436. Typhoid Fever.—A major outbreak of typhoid fever occurred. There were 90 cases, with a total death-rate of 10 per cent, and a hospital death-rate of 6 33 per cent. Tuberculosis.—'This island compares favourably with other tropical islands. The position is being carefully watched by the Administration, who are endeavouring to educate the people in safeguarding themselves against infection. Leprosy.—Two further cases of this disease have been notified, both of them being sent to Mokogai. Dental Work. —Although there is very little dental caries among the people there is a great deal of pyorrhoea amongst the adult population. This is a matter that is receiving the attention of the Administration. Nursing Staff. —Since the close of the period covered by this report a scheme has been approved under which selected Native girls will be sent to the Apia Hospital to be trained as nurses. Two girls have already been sent to Samoa, and, when qualified, will return to Niue. Education. The two Administration and ten Mission schools are doing excellent work. Education is, of course, a difficult proposition, for; in spite of the excellent common-sense methods employed in the schools, when the pupil returns home much is forgotten. The average roll at the two Administration schools is 287, with the excellent average attendance of 274. There has been an increase of 5-5 per cent, in the average roll strength. The typhoid 2—A. 6.

3

Imports. Exports. 1 — 5 j Total New ! United . . I ! Total New Other I Zealand, j Kingdom. Austlalla - | 0ther - ; Imports. Zealand. ' ' ! Exports. | | •'■*£: itfiSi 1 I £ ! £ £ £ £ ££ £ £ 1926 . 14,105 1,790 1,153 515,17,563 17,655 .. 17,655 35,218 1927 .. 10,896 I 2,003 878 229 14,006 14,290 60 14,350 28,356 1928 .. .. 14,403 2,476 1,027 731 18,637 16,347 4,591 20,938 39,575 1929 .. .. 14,688 2,866 880 673 19,107 13,449 8,757 22,206 41,313 1930 . 14,863 ],588 955 1,224 I 18,630 13,323 2,554 15,877 34,507 1931 .. .. 8,958 961 | 678 910 11,507 5,186 2,005 7,191 18,698* 1932 J1,568 2,424 360 404 14,756 10,820 3,167 13,987 28,743 1933 10,400 1,442 841 440 13,123 10,225 1,317 11,542 24,665 1934 11,888 658 515 311 13,372 11,342 999 12,341 25,713 1935 .. .. 13,191 942 780 375 ; 15,288 10,010 2,066 '12,076 27,364 * Island recovering from drought and storms.