A.—3

Accounts. Savings-bank accounts opened during the year, 164 ; savings-bank accounts closed during the year, 89 ; total number of accounts open, 1,416 ; amount at credit to depositors, £26,128 2s. Bd~ Postal Notes. Number of notes issued, 1,590 ; value, £585 13s. ; commission, £14 14s. lOd. Money-orders. Money-orders paid : Number of orders, 277 ; amount, £2,598 17s. 6d. Issued : Number of orders, 812 ; amount, £9,330 Is. 3d. ; commission, £84 7s. sd. Repatriation ot? Old Bank-notes and Silver Coinage. The repatriation of Australian and English silver coinage and trading-bank notes was undertaken by the Post-office, and during the year £1,176 in silver and £5,000 in trading-bank notes was remitted to the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department. The silver was forwarded in exchange for New Zealand silver currency. Considerable work was involved in effecting the change-over, but it may now be said that the bulk of the old currency has been returned to New Zealand. Cook Islands Postage and Revenue Stamps. Total sales (all sources), £3,167 12s. lOd. This figure shows an increase of £2,508 ss. 3d. over the total sales for the year ended 31st March, 1935. To commemorate the Silver Jubilee of the Accession to the Throne of His late Majesty King George V arrangements were made to suitably overprint three stamp denominations, Id., 2fd., and 6d. These stamps were placed on sale from the 7th May to the 6th August, inclusive. The increase in the total sales for the financial year is attributable to this issue. A further change in Cook Islands stamps was the reprinting, on watermarked paper, of the 2d., 6d., and Is. values, replacing stamps of the same values printed on unwatermarked paper. The latter printing was withdrawn from sale on the 31st March, 1936. WIRELESS. Besides the parent station at Rarotonga, there are substations at Aitutaki, Mangaia, Atiu, and Mauke in the Lower Group and during the year efficient services have been maintained by all stations. At the present time there is no communication by radio with the Northern Group, but the early establishment of stations at Penrhyn, Manihiki, and Pukapuka is under consideration. These islands are respectively 737, 650, and 715 miles from Rarotonga, and the provision of wireless services would be a boon to the residents and also to shipping. The Superintendent of Radio, Rarotonga, made a visit of inspection during the year to the substations at Aitutaki, Atiu, and Mauke, which showed that all apparatus was being kept in good condition. On the 14th January a night letter-telegram service was introduced. This service permits sending cheap-rate telegrams between New Zealand and Group stations and vice versa. During the last two months the service has become popular and it should, in the future, prove an additional source of revenue. A reduction was made in the charges for Christmas and New Year greetings telegrams for the 1935-36 season. Reduction in charges for this class of message did not result in an increase in revenue. One radio transmitting license and fourteen radio receiving licenses were issued during the year Three thousand nine hundred and eighty paid messages totalling 57,097 words were handled for 1935-36 and revenue for the year totalled £872 7s. sd. compared with £942 15s. Id. for the previous year. The decrease in revenue was caused by a poor fruit season following the hurricane in February, 1935. Twenty free Naval messages of 735 words were transmitted or received. Additional free services totalled 14,000 words, including 2,000 words of medical advice to Resident Agents and nurses in the Lower Group. Approximately 40,000 words of free press were transmitted to the four substations, the thrice weekly service keeping residents in close touch with events of local and international interest. Over 420,000 words of free press were received at Radio Rarotonga during the year. Of this total approximately 140,000 words were received from Wellington Radio, and the balance from other stations sending international free press bulletins. Overhaul of the main steel tower, outer masts, and stays at Radio Rarotonga was completed in May. The masts and the aerial systems are in first-class order. Painting of the station buildings and residence was completed in September.

3—A. 3.

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