A.—3.

of the year has been greatly handicapped by the excessively dry weather of the first half of the year. Variety crops of sweet potato and maize were a failure, due to prolonged absence of rain ; but valuable object-lessons were obtained by surface mulching of taro with weeds, leaves, &c., and by growing watermelon to shade the ground between the taro-plants. The visit of Mr. Caughley has done much to clear the air of doubts, and, by giving us the authority to scrap unnecessary instruction, to simplify much of what remained, and to introduce instruction in the vernacular, has improved very much matters educational on the island. It remains for those of us in whose hands the work of education is entrusted to create a simple but satisfactory course of instruction both in Niue and English, suitable for the needs of all the schools, so that there may be some measure of unity prevailing on the island. As instruction in the vernacular was to be introduced into the Government schools, and there was no systematic method of instruction in any of the schools, a set of books was planned and drawn up by the staff, (a) Live Reader, adapted and translated : for first-year children, (b) Niue Phonics : Graded instruction in the phonic elements of the Niue language, (c) Niue Reader : Reading-book with spellings based on the domestic life of a Niue family. In addition over thirty fairy-tales (translated), Samoan and Niue stories, have been compiled and made up into small books for free reading. As there seems to be many differences of opinion in regard to what is correct Niue grammar, even among teachers, it is intended to have the books corrected by one competent authority, and to make such corrected work the basis of future instruction. The writing of letters to New Zealand children has been extended, and examples of work exchanged with West End School, Palmerston North. This has brought the children of the two countries into closer touch, with a consequent broadening of ideas and a better knowledge of each other's lives. Games.—With funds raised by last year's concert and by the boxing exhibition given this year, ample sports material has been purchased, and both boys and girls have made full use of Badminton and basketball both during and after school hours. Boxing, which finds great favour with the boys, has been taught regularly as part of the physical training. Buildings. —The residence and school buildings are in good state of repair, with the exception of the school-veranda, which is rapidly breaking up and will need attention in the near future. Once again I wish to record my sincere appreciation of the assistance given by the Administration. The Commissioner has done everything possible to help us in our work at Hakupu, and though our requests for materials and transport have been many and varied, they have always received prompt consideration and attention.

APPENDIX A. Port of Alofi. Return of Imports for the Year ended 31st December, 1927.

27

Article. J Whence imported. Value. I I £ £ Agricultural produce .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 65 Ale and stout .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. .. 42 Apparel n.e.i. .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. 394 Western Samoa .. .. 34 United Kingdom .. .. 216 Fiji 1 Tonga .. .. .. 6 Japan .. .. .. 24 United States of America .. 77 American Samoa .. . . 13 765 Arms, ammunition, and explosives .. .. New Zealand .. . . . . .. 174 Bacon and ham .. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 11 Bags and sacks .. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 316 Beverages, non-alcoholic .. .. .. „ .. .. .. .. 14 Bicycles and parts .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. 210 United Kingdom .. .. 5 United States of America .. 1 216 Biscuits .. .. .. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 653 Blue .. .. .. .. .. „ .. .. . . .. 11 Boots and shoes .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. 175 United Kingdom .. . . 11 186 Brushware .. •. .. .. New Zealand .. .. .. .. 8 Butter and cheese .. .. .. .. „ .. .. .. .. 177 Carriages and parts.. .. .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 50 Cement, masonry, &c. . . .. .. ,, .. .. .. .. 114