A.—3

22

The number of applications awaiting sittings of the Court is 502, distributed as follows ':— Rarotonga' .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . 127 F4itutaki . . .. . . . . .. .. .. .. 286 Mauke .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 37 Mangaia . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. Nil. Atiu . . . . .. . . . . . . .. 36 Manihiki . . . . .. . . . . . . .. .. 4 Rakahanga . . . . .. . . . . .. .. .. ] Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .. .... .. 9 Penrhyn .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 502 I have, &c, H. H. G. Ralfe, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Registrar, Land Titles Court.

Cook Islands High Court. Sir, — Cook Islands Administration, Rarotonga, 10th April, 1915. I have the honour to report that the following was the work done in the High Court during the year ended the 31st March, 1915 : — Criminal cases to the number of 393 were dealt with under the following heads :-— 1914-15. 1913-1914. Adultery .. .. .. .. .. .. ..12 10 Assault (common) .. .. .. .. .. 30 25 Bastardy .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 6 Breach of fruit regulations .. .. .. .. 10 4 Breach of traffic regulations .. .. .. .. .. 4 Breach of the peace . . .. .. .. . . 10 26 Bush-beer making .. .. .. .. .. 20 65 Bush-beer drinking .. .. .. .. .. 77 Drunkenness .. .. .. .. .. .. 146 60 Desecration of grave . . .. .. .. . . .. 1 False pretences .. .. . . .. .. .. 1 False declaration .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Forgery .. .. . . . . . . . . . . 1 Gambling . . . . - .. .. .. . . .. 5 Housebreaking . . .. . . . . . . .. 1 Illegal importation of liquor .. .. . . .. .. 2 6 Keeping liquor for sale .. .. .. .. .. 2 Non-registration of dogs .. .. . . . . 99 Roads, failing to work on .. .. .. .. .. 2 Setting bush on fire .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Slander .. .. .. .. .. .. ..3 14 Smuggling liquor, &c. .. .. .. .. 2 8 Theft .. .. .. .. ..' .. ..14 58 Trespass by persons . . .. .. .. .. 12 4 Wounding horse .. .. .. .. .. ~ 1 393 312 Of the number —393—charged, 116 were dismissed or withdrawn. During the whole period we have had the services of a European police officer (Sergeant Nash), who has displayed great energy and tact, and has been of great assistance to the Court officers. The return shows a reduction in the number of persons charged with bush-beer making, from sixtyfive to twenty. This, in my opinion, is due to the preliminary investigation by the European police officer as to the nature of the offence being more exact than it had been by the Native police, and resulted in charges of bush-beer drinking instead of bush-beer making, which is limited to a few individuals. The increase in charges of drunkenness is, I consider, entirely due to the efforts of the European' police sergeant to keep the Native police up to the mark. Ido not think it can be contended that drunkenness is on the increase. The number of charges resulting from bush-beer would drop very materially if there was no European police officer here. Charges of theft have fallen very considerably, and the few offences charged have been of a petty character, generally relating to produce taken from plantations. Of the fourteen charges, six were dismissed.