A.—4

Wireless Cadets : After a preliminary course at Malifa, six boys were given special instruction by the Superintendent of Wireless. They were then located in distant stations, the arrangement being that part time would be spent in teaching at Grade II schools and the remainder at the Wireless Office. The scheme is commendable in so far as it assists each Department. Ifi Ifi School (for Europeans).—This school, stalled by five Europeans, has made splendid progress during the year, the roll number increasing to 210. The syllabus followed is practically that of the New Zealand schools ; consequently the standard of attainment is the New Zealand Proficiency Examination, which is held annually. The gaining of this certificate carries with it the same privileges as accrue in New Zealand. Proficiency Examination : Candidates presented, 6 ; candidates successful — proficiency, 6. Besides preparing pupils for the above examination, the teachers conduct classes in the afternoons and evenings for the purpose of assisting ambitious pupils for the higher departmental examinations. Examinations. —Examinations for the University of New Zealand, Board of Surveyors, Post and Telegraph Department of New Zealand, Public Service Entrance, Accountancy of New Zealand, and ProSciency, New Zealand, were supervised by the Superintendent of Schools duri.ig the year.

Roll Numbers and Average Attendance at Government Schools during the Year ended 31st March, 1927.

JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. Administration of Justice. The attached returns show a slight decrease as compared with last year in both civil and criminal cases. That in criminal cases may be attributable to more of the minor offences being dealt with locally by Native Judges than in the past. Serious crime continues to be rare in the Territory. The effect of the Native Trade Debts Ordinance, 1925, appears to be beginning to be reflected in the reduced number of civil cases. Almost all the Native debts now sued for were incurred previous to the Ist April, 1925. The number of divorce cases has, as was anticipated, returned to normal. No session of the Native Lands and Titles Commission has been found to be necessary during the year, the number of cases not warranting a session. This is probably attributable in part to settlement of disputes by reconciliation efEected by local Native authorities in accordance with the policy of the Administration. As regards title disputes, the Commission at its last session averred its intention to discourage further division of existing titles between adverse claimants, as being a practice which tends to depreciate the value of titles and to increase the number of disputes. The knowledge that one or other of two adverse claimants will have his claim definitely rejected has probably encouraged the settlement of differences without bringing them before the Commission. No session of the Court has been held by the Chief Judge in Savai'i, the cases from that island, when beyond the Commissioner's jurisdiction, having been heard in Apia. The furlough of both Judges falling in the same year has made this more convenient, and no inconvenience has been caused to litigants. Crown Law Work. Five Ordinances and a number of Orders in Council have been drafted, and the conveyancing, advising, and common-law work for the Crown has been considerable. Land Registration, etc. A return of documents registered in the Land Registry is attached. Thirty-five instruments have been registered under the Chattels Transfer Act, 230 marriages recorded, nineteen probates or other authorities to administer "granted, three petitions in bankruptcy filed, and one company registered. High Court of Western Samoa, at Apia. Return of Criminal Gases for the Year ended 31st March, 1927. —Sitting-days, 152; persons charged, 622 ; convictions recorded, 522 ; dismissed on merits, 48 ; withdrawn by leave of Court, 52. Return of Civil Cases for the Year ended 31st March, 1927.—Sitting-davs, 102 ; actions filed, 74.1 ; actions heard, 648 ; judgments given, 581 ; withdrawn or struck out, 67.

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Ifllfl. Malifa. MaUf s a chool ining " Vaipouli.i Avele. Total. Date. , j— — gjg Boys. Girls. Boys. Girls. Boys, j Girls. Boys. Girls. Roll Numbers. 30th June, 1926 .. I 84 95 I 71 6 105 77 61 72 393 178 571 30th September, 1926 .. ! 83 ! 99 | 64 8 100 82 60 80 387 189 576 31st December, 1926 .. \ 85 i 99 j 48 3 100 84 60 84 377 186 563 31st March, 1927 .. j 105 105 66 4 127 ; 95 65 83 446 204 659 Average Attendance. 30th June, 1926 .. ( 155 i 71 162 55 I70 .. .. 513 30th September, 1926 .. 164 66 160 54 72 .. .. 516 31st December, 1926 .. 170 51 160 54 75 .. .. 510 31st March, 1927 .. j 194 I 64 176 58 , 76 .. .. 568