19

A.—B

(a.) The pilot-boat shall be the first to communicate with any vessel arriving from places outside of the Federation. (b.) It shall be the duty of the captain to satisfy the pilot or boarding officer that he has conformed to the first regulation under " The Public Health and Quarantine Act, 1898 " ; should the pilot or boarding officer not be satisfied, he shall report the matter forthwith to the Resident Magistrate, who may prohibit all communication between ship and shore. Any offence against this section shall render this offender liable to fine not exceeding ten pounds. 30. It shall be the duty of the district Au to protect the wild birds within the limits of his jurisdiction, and the Au may fine any one destroying them a sum not exceeding five dollars, and may recover the fine before the district Court. 31. Any one who shall offer a bribe to a public officer shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not exceeding fifty dollars, or, at the discretion of the Judge, may be awarded one month's hard labour on the public roads. 32. Any public officer failing to report the offer of a bribe to him in his official capacity shall be deemed to have received the same, and shall thenceforth be held to be ineligible to occupy any public position. Any public officer receiving a bribe may be tried before the High Court, and receive such punishment as shall meet the offence. 33. Any Judge who shall in any way abuse his office, or exceed the jurisdiction given to him by this or any other Act, shall be reported to the Chief Judge of the High Court, who shall inquire into and punish the offence. 34. Any policeman or officer of any Court who shall behave harshly or oppressively in the performance of his duties, or who shall force his way into any house against the will of the owner or owners, may be summoned as an ordinary offender before the district Court, and, on conviction, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than ten dollars. 35. Any policeman who shall seize the clothing of any woman or man in payment of a fine shall be guilty of an offence, and, on conviction, may be fined not exceeding six dollars. 36. Any one who shall attempt to terrify or torture any person into confessing an offence that may or may not have been committed, or into giving evidence against others, shall be guilty of an offence against the Federation, and shall be committed to trial before the High Court. Any such offence shall be punishable by a fine of not exceeding sixty dollars, or, at the discretion of the Judge, by two months' hard labour on the public roads. 37. In default of the payment of any fine mentioned in this Act the offender may be ordered to do one day's hard labour on the public roads for each dollar of his fine remaining unpaid. Administration of the Law. Whereas the administration of the law in the Island of Aitutaki has been unsatisfactory, and it is imperative that the laws under which the Council and Judges act should be ascertained and printed without further delay : 38. There shall be a European Chief Magistrate, three native Judges, and eight policemen, for the Island of Aitutaki, all of whom shall be paid out of Federal revenue. 39. The three Judges and eight policemen shall be elected by the adult population of Aitutaki; but the British Resident shall appoint the European Chief Magistrate, whose duty it shall be to instruct the native Judges and police in their duties, and explain the laws to the people of Aitutaki. 40. The British Resident shall make regulations for the election of Judges and members of the Island Council, hereafter to be called the Au. Such regulations shall determine the date on which elections should be held, the period during which Judges and members of the Au shall hold office, and the procedure during election. 41. A native Judge shall only sit and act judicially within the district for which he has been elected : Provided always that the European Magistrate may authorise any Judge to sit out of the district for which he may have been elected. 42. No Court shall be legally constituted, or have mana to hear and determine cases, unless the European Magistrate shall be present; but, in the event of that officer being absent from any cause, the British Resident may authorise the two native Judges to sit together, and hear and decide all cases brought before them. 43. All fees and fines received by the Court shall be Federal revenue, and shall be paid to the Treasurer at Rarotonga with the least possible delay. 44. Notwithstanding the provisions of section three of "The High Court Act, 1898," the Chief of the Government may appoint a third Judge, who shall reside at Aitutaki, and shall sit with the Chief Judge whensoever the High Court shall open at Aitutaki. 45. Either of the parties to a suit heard or determined in the local Courts of Aitutaki may appeal to the High Court against the decision of the Chief Magistrate. 46. The Judge shall hear all cases in open Court, and shall keep a record of each case and of their decisions. 47. Before any Judge shall hear a charge he shall satisfy himself that the accused has been properly summoned to appear, that the charge has been explained to him, and that the accused has had the necessary opportunity to call witnesses for his defence. The accused must in every instance be allowed to cross-examine the witnesses who have given evidence against him. 48. All the laws of Aitutaki, whether of ancient date or made by the so-called Council, are hereby repealed, except such as are embodied in this statute. 49. Notice of appeal shall be served on the Chief Magistrate within one month from the date of the decision appealed against, and a fee of ten shillings shall in each case be deposited with the notice aforesaid. 50. There shall be a Court within the Island of Aitutaki to decide all questions of boundary,