A.—3

" The fines collected by the police during the year amounted to £804 ss. 6d., and the sum of £229 17s. 6d. was worked out on the roads by prisoners who were unable to pay their fines. 318 dogs have been registered since the Ist January, compared with 341 registrations for the previous year. " There has been an absence of serious crime committed during the year. Only two cases are worthy of note. In one case the offender was a Tahitian who was before the High Court on several charges of breaking, entering, and theft; also theft and trespass : he was deported to Tahiti. The other case was a Pukapuka Native charged with murder ; this was reduced to manslaughter by the jury, with a strong recommendation to mercy, and accused was sentenced to two years'imprisonment in the Rarotonga gaol. " Sergeant Ngatikao, of the Avarua Police, is being trained to enable him to take charge of the Force here during my absence. This will prove a great benefit. " I have had no reports from Resident Agents of any serious crimes having been committed on their respective islands, and feel confident that law and order is being maintained in these scattered islands. " There has been a very noticeable decrease in the number of offences for manufacturing intoxicating liquor. The previous year 106 offenders were dealt with, but this last year only 57 were dealt with—a difference of 49 convictions. The number of convictions for consuming were about the same as the previous year. In the various settlements very few offenders are now noticed under the influence of liquor." Northern Group. Accompanied by the Chief Medical Officer, the Resident Commissioner visited all islands of the Northern Group by schooner in December, January, a.nd February last. This afforded an opportunity to the Resident Commissioner to go into all matters requiring attention in each island, and also to clear up arrears of Court work. At each island meetings of the Island Council and public meetings were held to discuss matters of general interest. There appeared to be general contentment. The Chief Medical Officer was able to carry out a considerable amount of medical work, mentioned in his report printed herein. Printing Department. The following is the value of plant, type, and printers' material and printed stock on hand on the 31st March, 1927 : Outside jobs on hand, not completed—value of same when completed and delivered, £4 Is. ; printed stock on hand for various Departments, consisting of printed forms and books (as per stock-book), £168 2s. 6d. ; bulk paper in stock (as per stock-book), £4-3 16s. sd. ; value of printing plant, type, and printers' material (as per list), £384 Bs.: total, £600 7s. lid. The Administration printer, Pure Pokia, who was sent to New Zealand on a scholarship, and afterwards took up printing, is carrying on the work satisfactorily. Postal Department. Offices in the district remain unchanged, with the exception of Pukapuka, which is temporarily closed pending the arrival of the new Resident Agent and Postmaster. Savings-bank. —For the year deposits amounted to £11,359 15s. lid., and withdrawals to £12,200 14s. 9d. The balance to credit of depositors as at the 31st March, 1927, was £20,665 10s. 9d. The volume of business done compares favourably with the previous year. Interest for the year accrued to depositors amounted to £766 3s. 10d., and the interest accrued to this Administration from investments in New Zealand to £1,013 14s. 6d., leaving a credit balance of £247 10s. Bd., being an increase of £39 lis. lOd. over the previous year. Money-orders.—During the year ending the 31st March, 1927, money-orders to the value of £18,273 13s. lOd. were issued, and orders to the value of £11,024 6s. 9d. were paid. The amount of money-order business shows a substantial increase in money-orders issued—viz., £4,146 6s. Bd.—and a decrease in money-orders paid of £4,495 14s. Bd. over the previous year. Money-order commission shows an increase of £5 17s. 9d. Telephones. —During March the system was thoroughly overhauled by an officer of the New Zealand Post and Telegraph Department, and should now give an efficient service for some time to come. Radios. —The amount received for radio messages at Rarotonga amounted to £1,220 17s. Id., as against £1,053 4s. for the previous year. Mails. —The service continues to be satisfactory. Wireless. The various services continue to be efficiently maintained. It is sincerely to be hoped that the modern low-powered high-frequency transmitter ordered for Rarotonga some time ago will be available by the necessary change-over in the Dominion during the coming year, and thus enable us to communicate direct with New Zealand and other distant stations at reduced rates to the public. Attached is the annual report of the Superintendent of the Rarotonga Wireless Station :— " A continuous efficient service with the outer island substations at Atiu, Aitutaki, and Mangaia has been maintained throughout the year. An inspection of these installations last September disclosed a very satisfactory position all round, the plants generally being in good order. Aitutaki and Mangaia have each been supplied with a stand-by spare receiver, which latter upon several occasions has proved an invaluable asset. " In addition to the rebroadcasting by Apia of the New Zealand free press, Rarotonga supplied suitable local news and the more interesting items from the Suva press, thus providing the Group with a bulletin of some seven thousand words monthly.

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