22

A.—3

In its civil jurisidiotion the High Court had before it sixty oases, as follows :— 1913-14. 1912-13. Damages .. .. .. .. ~ .. .. 17 25 Debt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14 24 Divorce .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 23 26 Detinue .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 2 Injunction .. .. .. .. .. . . . . 3 Probate .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 3 Miscellaneous . . .. .. .. ~ .... 10 60 88 The fees and fines collected and paid into the Treasury amounted to, — 1913-14. 1912-13. £ s. d. £ s. (1. Criminal jurisdiction .. ~ .. .. 472 5 5 336 9 3 Civil jurisdiction .. .. .. 40 17 0 53 12 0 £513 2 5 £390 1 3 Pines to the amount of £235 15s. 6d. are outstanding and being collected by monthly and weekly instalments. Nineteen prisoners paid their fines by labour on the roads or public works. The Court office was also the medium for the collection of— £ 8 . ,i Dog-tax .. .. .. .. .. .. 60 7 6 Road rates .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 96 7 6 Water rates .. .. . . . . . . . _ 294 16 6 Refund of expenditure on pipes, &c. .. .. .. . . 262 17 2 Wandering animals —Fines .. .. .. .. ~ 14130 £729 1 8 Eleven offenders were sent to the penal settlement at Manuae Island to serve their terms of imprisonment. The need of a prison at Rarotonga, and of prison garb, is much felt. I have, &c, H. H. G. Ralpe, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. Registrar, High Court.

Cook Islands Land Titles Coubt. Sir,— Rarotonga, 9th April, 1914. I have the honour to report as follows as to the work of the Land Titles Court for the year ending 31st March, 1914. The fees outstanding on the 31st March, 1913, amounted to £526 4s. 6d. Since that date office fees and fees imposed amounted to £290 165., while the fees collected and paid into the Treasury totalled £258 Bs. 6d., leaving the amount of fees outstanding on the 31st March, 1914, £558 125., as follows : Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 376 6 6 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 80 1 0 Mauke.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 101 5 0 Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 £558 12 0 The total amount of fees paid into the Treasury since the Court was instituted is £4,304 15s. sd. A sitting of the Court commencing on the 20th August and terminating on the 19th November, 1913, was held at Rarotonga, when applications to the number following were disposed of :— Investigation of title .. .. .. .. .. . . 24 Partition .. .. ~ .. .. ~ . . 83 Confirmation of alienation .. .. .. ~ .. 7 Amendment .. .. .. .. . . .. .. .. 21 Succession .. .. .. .. .. .. ~ .. 52 Appeals heard .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 192