THE COOK ISLANDS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 89, 14 April 1905, Page 8

THE COOK ISLANDS.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) RAROTONGA, April 6. LAND TITLIiS COURT. Sittings vi luu una xjuca «.uurt for tke i£i*.ua uc were ueiU i«l*£ mtt ut,l i uiumg wiiiui several iiuyortiuit cases uivoAiuj,' mc ngnta ox Aruus over tue lanus ox mc lesser pt-ouie were Heard and aeciaeu uy vie ciucx (.Coxonei ajiu fa Ai'iti, ivauve Judijc. in vue ca*t» waieti were brought beiore the court v was proved tiuit tne iazui was •"toa" land — tu.u is, land, wiiicu had been obtained, by conquest by tiie ancestors oi t&ose wAo now claimed, it, and consequently tne occul<uii_ uuu not been piacta uu tne laud uuaer tne "uaana" of cue Arikl. in. tne course ot the juttjjmeut given by the (Joint, the Chief Juuge said: "it is not an easy matter lor a court to deal witn question* in wrhdch the ArilUs or these isuuids are opposed to their people, Tne Atiais nave rivals which tne law must, if possible, respect, but If tliese rights are contrary to tne welfare or the people generally, the eouit must exercise a wise discretion lv dealing with theiu, for It must be underStood by all taut the cralmants in these cases are not only the people of Biukea and of Karika, but are also the subjects of the KlU£j of Great Britain, and as sucn have a right to demand the consideration due to the fact that tney are a free people." "When these islands were taken over by Lord Ranfurly It was part of the agieement that ail the laws and customs of the islands that were not repugnant to rh» laws of Greut Britain should remain in force. That proviso is moat important, because these laws will not permit any man to be turned off the land that he and his ancestors have occupied for hundreds of yeais without trial and good reason shown, lv all such cases the Court has no alternative, it must hear the case and decide in an equitable manner. It is not possible for an Ariti to be the judge in any case in Wihlch he is disputing with his own people, for he is an interested party. On the other hand where an "atinga." (tribute) is properly due to the Ai-iki from the person who holds the land under the Ariki, such "ulinjja" must be paid, and the Court win uphold all the ancient obligations of tue land where they have always existed." Orders were accordingly made lv favour of the applicants, who will thus hold their land without any interference by the Ariki. This decision at piesent only affects the lands the subject of the judgment, but it may apply to many other lan'is which hare yet to be investigated by tie Court, aud in respect of which applications have been l'odt'vd. As stated In a previous letter, the question is a momentous one, for If tbe natives are thus individually confirmed in the tenure of their land, it means increased planting aud production. During tie sittings last month thirty-two orders of title were made, and seventytwo applications are listed for heating at the adjourned sittings of tbe Court, to be held on the l(}Jbh Inst. The sui-veyinu: staff of the Court (Mr H. M. Connolly aid assistants), and also the Registrar (Mr E. Blame! art* kept hard at work In keeping pace with the many a->pli-cations that are lodged day by day. The Resident Commlsfaoner has appointed a second cadet draughtsman In the surveyor's office. MISCELLANEOUS NOTES. The native labourers, numbering eight, who were charged with stealing cargo from the steamer Tavluni between Tahiti and Rarotonga, were brought before the High Couit on the 13th Maxell. The offence was clearly proved against seven of the men, as the stolen articles were foond in their possession. Five of the accused were sentenced to six months?, and out? to one monthis hard labour. The new shed erected by the Union Steamship Co. has been completed, and has been used for the reception of cargo for this steamer, as, owing to the increase In the amouut of fruit for shipment from Uurotoiiga. the two old sheds were found insufficient for storage purposes. The Taviuni this trip takes away from Rarotonga alone about SOO tons of produce, conslatins of oranges, hanan&F. copra, and coeoanuts. besides about 250 tons of fruit from the French Islands. The schooner Vnlte. Ca-itain Harries, left R.-iTotonga for Auckland on the 2Gth Mnreh. with a full cargo of copra. Soct'on 50 of "The Native Land Claims Adjustment and Laws Amendment Act. lflni," of New Zealand, which provides for the registration of children adopt°d under native custom, is now- in force in the Cook Islands. Dnring tlis. past month .IS adoptions have been registered for Rarotonga, and 3 for Aitutnki. The sites of the Government offices and of the Courthouse at Mangnia have ber-n permed by proclamation of the Governor of New Zealand, under the provisions of "The Took and Other Islands Government A"t Amendment Act. 1904." The election of members for the Island Cornell of Barotons-a will take place dnrlng th" r>r««pent month. Dr H-rler. Medical OffWr at Rarotonga. proceeds to Auckland this steamer, en route to England, on leave of absence. Dr.