A.—3.
Trade generally has improved, chiefly owing to the fact that cash is now paid by the Government to growers for their fruit instead of the Native people being required to take out the value largely in trade from the local stores. Unfortunately, following last year's heavy crop of oranges there is every indication of a light export of fruit during the coming season. Heavy rains experienced in January and February have reduced activities in copra production, and the low price being paid for this commodity being a poor return to the producer. Shipping.—Twenty-three shipping calls were made at Aitutaki: H.M.S. " Wellington," 1 ; yacht "Viator," 1; m.v. " Matua," 3; s.s. "Limerick," 1; schooner " Tagua," 6; schooner " Tiare Taporo," 11. Imports and Exports.—lmports : General, 134-J- tons ; timber-shooks, 295f tons ; timber (sawn), 512 sawn feet. Exports : General 12|- tons ; copra 208J tons ; fruit, 17,152 cases. High Court and Native Land Court. —Criminal cases for the year totalled 318. None was of a serious nature. Civil work was negligible. Native Land Court, nil. Postal and Wireless Telegraph. —Number of wireless messages handled, 674; revenue derived therefrom, £285. Total postal business, £1,471. Meteorological.—With the exception of a heavy gale experienced on the 12th and 13th January, the hurricane season passed without any serious incident. During January and February 9-4 in. of rain fell in twelve days and 25-56 in. in twenty days respectively. The exceptionally heavy rain caused damage to roads and held up all Island work for some time. Public Worl-s.—Owing to financial stringency only repair-work of an urgent nature has been carried out. Government property, roads, drains, wells, wharf, and boat have been maintained in good order. Sites were prepared for the erection of a fruit-case and a central packing-shed adjacent to the wharf. Education. —The school roll stood in March at 516. The average attendance exceeds 95 per cent, over the year. Two additional open-air class-rooms were erected by the people. The Headmaster and his assistants have done excellent work throughout the year and the children are showing a ready response. Medical and Health. —Apart from two visits paid by the Chief Medical Officer, the medical-work of the Island has been carried out by the District Nurse, who has worked exceedingly hard throughout the year. Schools have been visited and all children inspected once a month. Cases attended .. .. .. .. .. •• ..34,715 (a) Out-patients and dressings .. .. .. .. .. 1,605 (b) Children examinations .. .. .. .. .. 3,950 (c) Injections .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 979 (id) Anaesthetics .. .. .. .. ■ ■ .. 42 (e) Operations .. .. .. .. .. ■. 47 (/) Dental examinations .. .. .. .. .. 562 (g) Nasal clinics .. .. .. .. .. .. 295 (h) Maternity cases .. .. .. .. .. .. 75 (i) Births .. .. .. ■ • • • • ■ • • 92 Child welfare is enthusiastically carried on, and a branch of the Junior Red Cross has been established. Seven positive cases of leprosy were transferred to the Te Sauma leper concentration hospital at Penrhyn. Planting. —Planting has been steadily carried out, and the Native people have more than sufficient native foods for their sustenance. Atiu. Owing to Government control of fruit the year proved the best Atiu has ever experienced. A total of 17,735 cases of oranges was exported, and prices were far in excess of any previous season. Prospects for the coming year are bright, with heavy crops well forward awaiting suitable shipping. The people , enthusiastically support fruit-control, and are assiduously making new roads to open up orange-bearing areas and alternative loading-points in the event of bad weather. Approximately 80| tons of copra were shipped. The price received by growers was Id. per pound for approximately 25, per cent, of this output, but this dropped to |d. per pound and later to fd. per pound. At these low prices growers have no inducement to ship, but prefer to make use of the coconuts for domestic purposes. Health. —The Island has neither Medical Officer nor District Nurse, but, fortunately, with the exception of a slight epidemic of typhoid and a rare case of pneumonia, the health of the people has on the whole been good. The gambusia fish (mosquito-eating) are reducing the numbers of mosquitoes. Villages have been inspected every fortnight, and the people are encouraged to improve their housingconditions and beautify their homes by planting flowers, hedges, and shrubs, and are responding well. Vital statistics : Births, 52 ; deaths, 34 ; marriages, 9. Wireless. —An efficient service is maintained twice dialy, press news being received thrice weekly. In time of serious sickness this service is an especial boon, enabling medical advice to be obtained from the Chief Medical Officer, Rarotonga. Public Works. 4- Over severl miles of new roads were completed and a new Courthouse erected. A site for a central packing-shed was completed and access road formed. A new road was completed to an alternative landing at Konakonako, All existing roads have been maintained. Planting.—Atafle foodstuffs have been planted for the Native population, including taro, tarotarog,, yarns, kumera, arrowroot, and bananas, a total of 64,370 plants. High Only one serious offence occurred. Minor offences are diminishing in number" with more prosperous.:times, assisted by the influence of the " Au Vaine," which patrols the Island. Education.- —Since the departure of the European Headmaster the school has been placed in charge of a Native acting as Headmaster.
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