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the hands of private merchants operating in Apia, and it is anticipated that the new scheme will be operating before the end of 1948. Tenders will be invited for the purchase of copra, and a licence will be granted for trading purposes, prices for goods in Tokelau to be fixed in consultation with the Administration. 13. Finance No formal budget is drawn up for the financial administration of the Group. The Administration of Western Samoa, in its capacity of representative of the New Zealand Government, keeps a separate account in the Samoan Treasury of receipts and payments, in respect of the Tokelau Islands. All revenue is paid to this account and all expenditure met from it. Where definite proposals are in train for construction or other projects that require a substantial sum of money the New Zealand Government is asked to provide the subsidy required for this purpose, the amount in due course appearing on the annual estimates of the Island Territories Department. Apart from subsidies required for special purposes, if the account at any time shows a deficit which cannot within a reasonable period be reimbursed from ordinary revenue or profit on the sale of copra or trading, the New Zealand Government is requested to provide a sum to balance the account. The Islanders themselves contribute to revenue by means of a tax paid in copra. The amount of the tax is eighteen tons from the whole Group, nine from Fakaofo, seven from Nukunono, and two from Atafu. Considerable revenue is expected to accrue from the new issue of Tokelau Islands stamps which will be placed on sale within a few months. Substantial orders for first-day covers have already been received, and it is expected that even after the first day of issue a regular income will accrue from purchases by dealers and philatelists. At present, and ever since the Administration of Western Samoa assumed responsibility for the government of the Group, the stamp's employed for postage purposes have been those of the current issue for Western Samoa. The currency employed in the Tokelau Group is the same as that in use in Western Samoa : New Zealand or Australian silver and Samoan Treasury notes. American currency is not legal tender, but is accepted. 14. Meteorological Meteorological observations were commenced at Atafu Village on the north-western side of the atoll in 1925, and synoptic reports have been forwarded since 1931. These reports at all three atolls are now taken by the radio operators. The observations at Nukunono and Fakaofo are made at the villages of Nukunono and Fakaofo, which are on the western sides of the respective atolls. The time used is Samoan time, which is that of longitude 165° W.—i.e., 11 hours slow on G.M.T. The climatic table and most of the data included in this note refer to Atafu, where conditions may be considered as representative of the whole Group. Surface Wind.—Easterlies predominate during the day all the year round, attaining the highest frequency (over 60 per cent.) in June, July, and August, the lowest (24 per cent to 29 per cent.) in December and February. North-easterlies and northerlies are the next most common from October to April, south-easterlies in the remaining months. In the summer months most of the fresh or strong winds are from the west. The average estimated wind-speed is about 5 knots, varying from 4 knots to 6 knots in the morning and from 5 knots to 6 knots in the afternoon. March and April show the lowest wind velocities, July and August the highest. The percentage of fresh to strong easterlies is greater in the afternoon than in the morning in summer and autumn.

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