A.—3,

14

Proposed Expenditure on Public Works during the Year ending 31sl March, 1918. £ School buildings, &c, Avarua .. .. .. .. .. 1,000 Roads and bridges . . .. .. .. .. .. . . 800 Rarotonga water-supply .. .. .. .. .. .. 600 Upkeep of buildings .. .. .. .. .. .. 150 Aitutaki water-supply, &c. .. .. .. .. .. .. 500 Tanks, Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 30 ~ Palmerston .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 125 ~ Penrhyn (to complete payments) .. .. .. .. 60 ~ Manihiki ~ .. .. .. .. .. 70 Experimental farm .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 350 £3,685 F. W. Platts, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, Bth June, 1917. Resident Commissioner.

REPORT OF REGISTRAR OP THE HIGH COURT. Sir,— I have the honour to report as follows on the work of the High Court at Rarotonga during the year ended the 31st March, 1917 :■ — The number of criminal cases has greatly increased, as is shown by the following table :■ —

The principal increases are in the convictions for bush-beer drinking and for wandering animals. The increase in the former is due, no doubt, to the appointment of permanent Native police and to the strict supervision and diligence of the European sergeant. As to the latter, the increase is due entirely to the repeal of the Wandering Animals Ordinance, under which the offender avoided the issue of a summons by the payment to a constable of the sum of ss. Civil cases : 152 civil cases were dealt with during the year, as against 112 for the preceding year. The increase is due, no doubt, to the repeal of the Private Debts Act. The fees and fines collected during the year amounted to £578 12s. 6d. The fines outstanding amount to £55 Is. lOd. The High Court Office was the medium for the collection of £780 13s. 6d. The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. F. Mitchell, Registrar. REPORT OF REGISTRAR OF THE LAND COURT. Sir — I have the honour to report as follows on the work of the Native Land Court for the year ended the 31st March, 1917 :— The Court sat at Rarotonga on every available day from the 26th July, .1916, to the 12th March, 1917. During that period the following applications were disposed of: Investigation, 24 ; partition, 36 ; succession, 123 ; confirmation, 42 ; adoption, 19 ; amendment, 55 ; appointment of trustee, 55 ; miscellaneous, 8 : total, 362. The fees collected during the year amount to £108 7s. 3d. The fees outstanding on the 31st March amount to £555 14s. 3d., made up as follows : Rarotonga, £435 16s. 3d. ; Aitutaki, £45 6s. ; Mauke, £73 12s. ; Mangaia, £1 : total, £555 14s. 3d. Owing to pressure of work the collection of these outstanding fees has had to stand over, but it is hoped that the greater part will be collected during the current year. The applications awaiting sittings of the Court are as follows : Aitutaki, 324 ; Mauke, 39 ; Mangaia, 1; Atiu, 43 ; Mitiaro, 10; Penrhyn, 3 ; Rakahanga, 2 ; Manihiki, 5. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. F. Mitchell, Registrar.

1916-17. 1915-16. Gonviotions. Dismissals. I Totals. Totals. iffences against the person ,, property ,, liquor laws ,, regulations ,, public order Ither offences 33 27 410 83 149 50 4 30 16 18 39 52 i 37 57 426 101 1.88 102 47 70 274 131 10 27 Totals 752 159 911 559