A.—3

High Court. Return of Criminal Cases for the Year ended 31st December, 1926.

Return of Civil Cases. Judgment. Dismissed. Total. Debt and damages .. .. .. ..11 .. 11 Divorce—Decree absolute .. .. .. 8 .. 8 Probate of will .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Totals .. .. .. .. .. 20 .. 20 In the Native Land Court the only work before the Court was applications for adoption orders, 2 ; annulment of adoption order, 1 ; and succession order, 1 : total, 4. In all cases orders were granted. Niue Island Council. Four meetings of the Niue Island Council were held during the year, one in each quarter. At the December meeting the Secretary for the Cook Islands Department was present and replied to various matters brought forward by the members. It was evident, however, that the Niueans have but few complaints to make, and that they are well satisfied with the generous assistance they have received from the New Zealand Government, particularly as to the steamer service, the new bond and cargo-sheds, and the new wharf. The following Ordinances were passed during the year : — No. 25, Niue Daylight-saving Repeal Ordinance, 1926.—1t was found expedient to revoke this Ordinance now that a regular steamer service is provided, as it meant that when the " Hinemoa " was in port two different times —viz., shore and ship's time —had to be observed. No. 26, Niue Water-supply Amendment Ordinance, 1926. —This reserves additional waterholes and caves for drinking purposes only. No. 27, Niue Planting of Native Lands Ordinance, 1926. —It was found necessary to have some Ordinance to control the cultivation and planting of Native lands. In nearly every village there were numbers of young men who never did any work on their lands ; they did nothing but loaf about the village, and were content to let their aged parents, in the majority of cases, provide food for them. This Ordinance now enables the Administration to compel all able-bodied men of and over the age of sixteen years to plant and cultivate their lands. It has already effected a great improvement and large tracts of land have been cleared and planted which otherwise would have remained unplanted.

4—A. 3.

25

Male. Female. Offence. ; : Total. Convicted. Acquitted. Convicted. Acquitted. I I 1 ! ; I I Cook Islands Act:— Indecent assault' .. .. . .1,1 4 .. /. .. 4 Assault .. .. .. .. 27 2 9 .. 38 Carnal knowledge .. . . . . 1 .. .. .. 1 Adultery.. . . . . . . 33 .. 33 .. 66 Indecency .. .. . . 3 1 5 1 10 Burglary .. . . . . .. 8 1 .. .. 9 Theft .. .. .. 37 1 8 1 47 Contempt of Court .. .. 2 .. .. .. 2 Libel .. .. .. .. 4 .. 4 .. 8 Sorcery .. . . . . .. 1 . . .. . . 1 Forgery .. .. 1 .. .. .. 1 .Disorderly conduct . . . . 8 1 4 . . 13 Obscene language .. .. .. 3 .. 8 . . 11 Mischief .. .. .. ... Trespass .. .. .. . . 7 . . 3 . . 10 Wandering animals . . .. 9 . . .. .. 9 Cruelty to animals . . .. 1 .. .. .. 1 Under Regulations:— Education .. .. .. .. .. 1 .. 1 Under Ordinances : — Suppression of immorality .. 21 3 22 2 48 Copra .. .. .. .. 3 .. 2 .. 5 Road-cleaning • .. .. .. 2 .. .. .. 2 Water-supply .. .. .. .. 1 3 .. 4 Totals .. .. 175 10 102 4 291