A.—3.

HIGH COURT. Rarotonga. Criminal Jurisdiction. —For the twelve months the Court dealt with 1,1.31 oases for criminal offences and breaches of Regulations and Local Ordinances, as follows :— High Court.—Criminal Jurisdiction. Analysis of cases heard during the YEAR ended 31st March, 1937. Burglary .. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. 6 Theft .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42 Receiving stolen property .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Causing actual bodily harm . . . . . . .. .. .. 1 Carnal knowledge—girl under fifteen years . . .. .. .. 1 Indecent assault .. . . . . .. . . .. . . 2 Attempted rape . . . . . . .. .. .. . . 1 Assault .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Adultery (by married persons) .. . . .. .. . . 14 False pretences .. .. .. . . .. .. . . 1 Cruelty to an animal .. . . .. .. .... 2 Wilful mischief to property . . . . .. .. .. .. 8 Disorderly conduct in public place .. .. . . .. . . 7 Obstructing the police . . . . . . .. . . .. 1 Animal trespass . . . . .. . . .. . . .. 101 Drunkenness .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 4 Prostitution .. . . . . .. .. . . .. 6 Soliciting prostitution . . . . .. .. .. .. 3 Brothel .. .. .. . . . . ~ .. .. 1 Wilful trespass .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 8 Contempt of Court . . . . .. .. .. .. . . 1 Appeal from decision of Commissioner . . . . .. .. . . 1 Manufacturing intoxicating liquor . . .. .. .. . . 16 Consuming intoxicating liquor (Natives) .. . . .. . . 697 Giving intoxicating liquor to Natives . . . . . . .. .. 5 Driving a motor-car in a state of intoxication . . .. . . . . 2 Attempt to defraud grantee of instrument . . .. . . .. 1 Deceiving a Medical Officer .. .. . . .. . . . . 1 Uttering counterfeit coin .. . . .. .. . . . . 3 Unlawful conversion to own use of motor-car . . .. . . . . 1 Escaping from lawful custody . . . . .. .. .. 27 Breaches of Local Ordinances and Regulations, as follows :— Cohabiting .. .. . . . . .. . . . . 6 Failing to register dog .. . . . . . . .. . . 44 Loitering at night after 10 p.m. in public place .. .. . . 42 Riding bicycle at night without a light .. .. .. .. 29 Breach of Fruit Regulations .. .. . . . . .. 9 Breach of Rarotonga Motor-vehicles Ordinances .. .. .. 9 Keeping open a teashop .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Keeping pig in settlement .. . . .. .. .. 1 Breach of Section 4, Rarotonga Ordinances, 1932 . . .. .. 2 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. 1,131 How dealt with :— Convicted and sentenced to imprisonment .. .. . . .. 42 Convicted and fined .. .. .. .. . . .. 965 Convicted and discharged .. .. .. .. .. 37 Convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon . . 16 Convicted to be thrashed .. .. . . . . . . 1 Cases withdrawn . . . . . . .. . . .. 33 Cases dismissed .. .. .. .. .. , . 19 Cases adjourned sine die . . .. . . . , . . 10 Cases adjourned to next month .. . . .. . . .. 8 Total . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,131 The work of the High Court in Group Islands is not incorporated in the above, but is shown in the reports, set out later, relating to the various islands. Civil Jurisdiction.—Fifty-eight cases were heard at Rarotonga for the period under review, including 20 actions for debt, involving the sum of £596 7s. Id., and 14 for divorce. Outer Group. During the year the Chief Judge periodically visited all Lower Group Islands and dealt with the more serious cases on the criminal side which were reserved for hearing by him, and also all civil cases and applications for divorce.

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