A.—4.

Return showing the Number of Offences reported, etc. —continued.

TOST AND TELEGRAPH DEPARTMENT. Savings-bank. The expansion of business is indicated by an increase in deposits during the year of over £11,000 as compared with the previous year, whilst withdrawals exceeded the previous year's figures by some £400 only. Deposits exceeded withdrawals by £6,821, whereas during the previous year withdrawals exceeded deposits by nearly £4,000. The total balance at credit of depositors at 31st March, 1925, was £44,906 Is. 5d., which includes interest amounting to £1,344 4d. sd. credited to depositors' accounts during the year. The number of new accounts opened during the year was far above expectations, being 278, while eighty-six accounts were closed, leaving a total at 31st March, 1925, of 607 accounts open, an increase of 192 for the year. It is gratifying to note the improvement made in Savings-bank transactions during the year, demonstrating the confidence of the people of Samoa in the Post Office Savings-bank and also the improved financial outlook. The following figures show the increasing extent to which the Native Samoans are taking advantage of the Savings-bank to protect their savings. Native accounts opened in the year ending 31st March, 1921, 28; 1922, 30; 1923, 22; 1924, 41 ; 1925, 135: total Native savings-bank accounts opened as at 31st March, 1925, 256. Money-orders. The number of money-orders issued was 1,653, for a total of £12,207 7s. lid. Commission on such money-orders amounted to £107 16s. lid. Money-orders paid numbered 205, totalling £1,135 16s. Id, Both items show a substantial increase over the previous year's figures.

4 —A.. 4.

25

1»24 reported. Offences Oiteooas ar N r estedor ' Number dLrtdsscfd | | reported reported. g a ™^ e d i 0 ™' icted - „ « S £ withdrawn. £ « ! 1 Police offences— Breach of the peace .. .. .. .. 30 15 15 8 7 15 i Disorderly conduct .. .. .. .. n 47 47 29 n 1 .! I 36 Drunkenness .. .. .. .. 14 9 9 * 8 .. 1 5 Cruelty to animals .. .. .. .. 9 4 4 r 4 _ _ j g Indecent acts .. .. .. .. ., 2 2 2 '' ! ' 2 Stone-throwing .. .. .. .. 5 4 4 ?3 .. 1 Damaging property .. .. .. .. 3 _ . j .> Unlawfully removing sand .. .. .. 1 1 1 j Insulting language .. .. .. .. 1 ,, ., ' j Converting animals or vehicles to own use .. 3 5 5 5 2 Threatening language .. .. .. .. 4 4 4 4 Opium offences— Opium-smuggling .. .. .. . . I 2 .. .. 2 Opium-smoking . . .. . . .. I 1 3 3 3 2 In possession of opium .. .. . . J 1 5 5 5 4 Liquor offences— Manufacturing liquor .. .. .. j 21 12 12 11 1 .. 9 Liquor found on occupied premises .. .. ! 3 .. .. .. .. 3 In possession of liquor .. .. ..I 4 4 4 4 Importing liquor .. .. .. .. 6 1 1 1 .. .. .... , 5 Concealing liquor .. .. . . .. 1 .. .. | 1 Selling liquor .. .. .. .. 4 1 1 .... 1 3 Breach of Distillation Act .. .. .. j 2 3 3 2.. 1 .. j 1 Consuming methylated spirits .. .. .. 1 30 18 18 18 .. I .. i 12 Samoans consuming liquor .. .. ..j.. 6 6 6.. .... I 6 By-law breaches— Wandering cattle .. .. .. .. 10 9 9 9 I .. 1 Trespassing cattle .. .. .. ..j 6 3 3 2.. 1.. .. 3 Driving unlicensed .. .. .. .. I 66 10 10 10 .. . . .. 56 Driving without lights .. .. .. 36 10 10 9 1 ., 26 Furious riding and driving .. . . .. | 17 17 17 17 .. Motor-vehicle without number-plates .. .. . . 1 1 1 .... 1 Unlicensed vehicle .. .. .. .. .. 6 6 6 6 Negligent driving .. .. .. .. 27 11 11 10 1 .... 16 Driving with improper brakes .. .. .. 1 1 1.. .... 1 Unattended vehicles .. .. . . .. 1 .. . . .... .... .. I Negligent riding .. .. . . .. 7 .. .. 7 Public nuisance .. .. .. .. 1 .. . . 1 Miscellaneous— Breach of Pacific Island Contract Labourers Ordi j 44 .. .. 44 nance Breach of Permits Ordinance .. .. .. 2- 4 4 4 .. .. .. 2 Breach of Dog Ordinance .. .. ..[ 3 3 3 2 1 Breach of Samoa Offenders Ordinance .. .. .. 4 4 4 . . j .. 4.. Trader unlawfully giving credit .. .. .. 1 1 1 .. j .. 1 Trader failing to account for goods .. .. .. 1 1 1 .. I .. 1 Breach of Immigration Ordinance .. .. .. 1 1 1 1 Breach of Harbour Regulations .. ..[.. 2 2 2 2 Bathing nude .. . . . . .. 2 .. .. 2 Totals .. .. .. 652 538 530 453 34 42 1 162 276