A.—3

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of twelve years shall be capable of giving her consent to such carnal connection, and no man shall plead such consent: Provided always that no one shall be convicted of the crime of rape on the unsupported testimony of the girl. 6. Any person convicted of the crime of incest may be fined not exceeding twenty dollars, and in addition to such fine may be sentenced to not exceeding two months' hard labour on the public roads. 7. Any person convicted of slandering his neighbour may be fined not exceeding ten dollars. 8. Any person bearing false witness in the district Courts of Aitutaki, with intent to injure any man or woman, may be fined not exceeding twenty dollars, and, in addition to such fine, may be sentenced to not exceeding thirty days' hard labour on the public roads. 9. Whosoever shall assault any police officer or member of the Government with his fists shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding ten dollars, and whosoever shall use a stick in an assault under this section shall be liable to be fined not exceeding twenty dollars. 10. Whosoever shall assault any man, woman, or child, other than those mentioned in section 9, may, if the assault be committed with the fists, be fined not exceeding five dollars, and if with a stick, not exceeding twelve dollars. 11. Any person committing a violent assault with an axe or other weapon dangerous to life shall be committed for trial before the High Court. 13. Whosoever shall use insulting language to another, calculated to cause a breach of the peace, shall on conviction be liable to a fine of not exceeding five dollars. 13. And whereas the manufacture of bush beer has been productive of much crime: Any man who shall beat his wife while under the influence of liquor may be fined not exceeding fifty dollars, and in default sixty days' hard labour. Offences against Property. 14. Any persons stealing pigs, food, or other small articles of property, may be ordered to pay the value thereof to the owner, and, in addition, may be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than ten dollars: Provided always that where the property can be returned intact to the owner no money shall be paid to him as compensation. 15. Every person owning pig, horse, horned cattle, or goat, is liable for all damage done by those animals, and may be summoned before the district Judge to answer for damage done. The Judge may, in his discretion, authorise the injured person to destroy the trespassing animal upon any repetition of the offence. 16. Any person who shall find a dog destroying or hunting his pigs or poultry may legally shoot or kill the offending animal. 17. Any person maliciously burning down the house or outbuildings of another, or attempting to do so, may be fined not exceeding fifty dollars, or in lieu thereof may be sentenced to a term of two months' imprisonment. 18. Any one setting fire to the bush or scrub of the island may be fined not exceeding fifty dollars, or, at the discretion of the Judge, may be sentenced to two months' hard labour. 19. Any person taking the horse of another without leave, and using the said horse for his own work, shall be liable to a fine of not exceeding ten dollars. 20. Any one wounding any bird or animal, the property of another, shall be liable to a fine of not more than ten dollars. 21. Any one illegally in possession of lost property may be deemed to have stolen it, and shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding seven dollars, and shall be ordered to deliver up the lost goods forthwith. A person shall be held to be illegally in possession of lost property who cannot prove that he has taken steps to ascertain the owner thereof. Miscellaneous. 22. Any man deserting his wife and children for another woman shall be amenable to the law, and, at the discretion of the Judge, may be ordered to contribute weekly in money or produce towards their support: Provided always that in every case where a wife is deserted by her husband for another woman, or a wife deserts her husband for another man, the injured person may claim to be divorced by the High Court. 23. Any person who shall sell or give intoxicating liquor to any person residing within the Island of Aitutaki shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not exceeding forty dollars: Provided always that no man shall be punished by reason of his having purchased or consumed intoxicating drink on board of any vessel in the offing. 24. Any person landing on the Island of Aitutaki under the influence of liquor may be fined not exceeding ten dollars. 25. Any man caught manufacturing or drinking bush beer may be fined not more than fifteen dollars or fourteen days' hard labour. 26. Any person found drunk or disorderly in a settlement will, on conviction, be fined not exceeding ten dollars, or, in default, ten days' hard labour. 27. It shall not be lawful to import dynamite into the Island of Aitutaki except on a permit recommended by a district Judge, and approved by the Chief of the Federal Government. Any offender against this section shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine of not exceeding one hundred dollars. 28. Any one using dynamite to kill fish in the waters of Aitutaki shall be liable, on conviction, to a fine of not exceeding fifty dollars. 29. Whereas it is expedient to prevent the spread of disease among the Maoris of the Cook Islands : It is hereby enacted, —