A.—3.

High Court. Criminal Jurisdiction. —During the year under review 1,356 cases were dealt with on the criminal side. This represents an increase of 105 cases over the previous year's total; 77 of these were cases of animal trespass. Outer Islands. —Returns of Court work in the various islands of the Group are received as communication permits, and the work appears to be kept well up to date. No serious offences have been reported. During the year the Chief Judge visited the Northern Group once and the Lower Group on three occasions, and during those visits he dealt with all cases which were outside the jurisdiction of the Commissioner of the Court. Native Land Court. The past year has seen considerable activity in Native Land Court work. The Chief Judge held several sittings at Rarotonga to determine the succession to the Ariki title of Makea Nui ; decision was given, but later leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of New Zealand was granted. Following the arrival of Judge McCarthy at Rarotonga, a sitting of the Court was commenced on the 29th May, 1939, and continued until the 15th June. During that time ninety-nine applications were dealt with, of which twenty-two were dismissed and-seventy-seven ordered. In addition to these, several applications were partly heard and adjourned for further evidence. A short sitting of the Court was held before the Chief Judge on the 22nd November, when ten cases were dealt with. Judge McCarthy proceeded to Aitutaki, where between the 26th June, 1939, and the 31st March, 1940, the Court sat on 148 days. Post Office. The usual services have been maintained at all post-offices throughout the Group. Post Office Savings-bank. —Deposits totalled £17,794 16s. lOd. and withdrawals £16,270 16s. 10d., leaving an excess of deposits over withdrawals of £1,524. Inward transfers amounted to £5,410 12s. sd. and outward to £6,208 15s. 2d. ; interest credited to depositors was £848 6s. The amount at credit of depositors in 2,010 accounts was £30,981 15s. Id. at the 31st March ; compared with last year's figures, there has been an increase of 119 in the number of accounts and of £2,372 6s. in the amount at credit. Postal Notes.—Number of notes, issued, 1,474; value of notes issued, £613 16s. 7d. Money-orders.—lssued : Number, 1,886 ; value, £36,237 3s. 2d. Paid : Number, 289 ; value, £3,350 Is. 9d. Telephone Service.-—The telephone system continues to give satisfactory service ; during the year all telephone lines, instruments, and fittings were tested for faults, and several defective instruments were replaced. Cook Islands Postage and Revenue Stamps.—Revenue from the sale of stamps at Rarotonga and Group offices for postage purposes dropped to £658 18s. 9d. Wireless. Rarotonga Radio.—The parent station communicates direct with all seven substations of the Lower and Northern Groups and, in addition, maintains regular schedules with the wireless-stations at Apia, Suva, Papeete, and Wellington. Paid radio telegrams numbering 5,573 and totalling 121,894 words were handled during the year by Rarotonga-Radio, and receipts amounted to £1,655. The total revenue from radio messages for all stations was approximately £2,413. Police. The following table gives the strength of the Cook Islands police as at 31st March, 1940:—

5

Island. Chief Officer.' Sergeants. Constables. Total. Rarotonga . . . . 1* 2 7 10 Aitutaki .. .. .. 1 6 7 Atiu .. .. 1 4 5 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. 1 2 3 Mauke .. .. .. .. .. 1 3 4 Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. 6 6 Penrhyn .. .. .. .. .. 3 3 Pukapuka .. .. .. .. .. 3 3 Manihiki and Rakahanga .... 1 5 6 1 7 39 47 * European.