A.—3.

Coukts. Native Land Court.—The sitting of the Native Land Court commenced on the 22nd March, 1937, was continued into the year under review, and was finally adjourned on the 17th June. During the period Ist April to 17th June, 242 applications were disposed of in the following manner : — Ordered. Dismissed. For Succession . . .. .. .. .. .. 170 13 For Investigation of title . . . . .. . . 1 1 For Amendment of title .. . . .. .. 6 20 For Partition .. .. . . .. .. 2 3 For Injunction .. .. .. .. .. .... 1 For Adoption .. .. .. .. .. 8 6 For Confirmation . . .. . . .. . . 3 1 For Tribal title . . .. .. . . .. 4- 1 For Atinga .. . . .. .. . . .. .... 2 194 48 In addition to the above, a number of orders were made in the ordinary course of the Court's activities and a number of applications were partly dealt with and adjourned for further evidence. A complete check of all the registers of the Croup has now been made, and the following is a summary of applications pending : —

The above figure —1,237 —discloses the urgent necessity for the appointment of a Native Land Court Judge to deal with matters before, the Court. The filing of Native Land Court orders has been completed as far as possible —the system being the same as that used in the Native Land Court in New Zealand —but there are still some hundreds of orders to be prepared. This work is now in hand and good progress is being made. Criminal Jurisdiction. —During the year a total of 1,236 cases were dealt with on the criminal side, and an analysis of the offences follows :— Burglary .. . . .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Theft .. . . .. . . .. .. . . .. 55 Receiving stolen property .. .. .. .. . . . . 3 Causing actual bodily harm .. .. .. .. .. .. 6 Assault .. .. . • ■ • • • • • • • 15 Carnal knowledge —girl under fifteen years . . .. .. • 1 Abduction . . . . .. .. .. .. . . .. 1 Adultery (by married persons) .. .. .. .. . . .. 8 False pretences .. .. . • . • • • ■ • ■ • 4 Wilful mischief to property .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Provoking breach of the peace .. .. . . . . .. . . 4 Furious driving . . .. .. .. .. .. . . 1 Animal trespass .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 145 Drunkenness .. .. .. . • ■ • • • • • • • 2 Wilful trespass .. .. . • • • • • • • • • 7 Contempt of Court . . .. .. . • . • . ■ . • 5 Escaping from lawful custody . . . . .. . . .. .. 15 Disorderly conduct in public place . . .. . . .. . . 1 Affrays .. .. .. • • • • • • • • • • 2 Manufacturing intoxicating liquor .. .. .. .. 22 Consuming intoxicating liquor .. .. .. .. .. 798 Giving intoxicating liquor to Native .. . . . . . . .. 1 Driving motor-truck in state of intoxication .. .. .. .. 1 Using threatening behaviour .. .. .. .. .. .. 4

2—A. 3.

9

& 'o . © aj <8 _ ° 2 • S W C) 03 !2 K ; « ° S3 S .2 2 a • £ h I I* I! I I II ! ! I i i , SB I |h | I Sq I f | a 1 $ eJ ® H C2 O m W < ft PhmO go W S H H Rarotonga . . 21 5 59 8 103 8 12 209 .. 10 23 1 459 Aitutaki .. ..264 1 11 .. 16 .. 10 59 4 8 .. .. 373 Mangaia .. .. 6 .. .. .. .. .. 2 .. .. 18 .. .. 26 Atiu .. ..59 2 .. .. 1 .. .. 6 .. 5 .. .. 73 Mauke .. .. 7 .. 9 .. 13 1 107 .. 2 1 .. 140 Mitiaro .. .. 13 . . .. .. .. .. 1 .. . . 1 15 Manihiki .. .. 28 1 .. .. 7 .. ... 36 Rakahanga .. 40 .. 3 .. .. .. I 9 .. 4 .. .. 57 Penrhyn .. .. 34 . . 1 .. . . .. 1 .. .. 5 .... 41 Pukapuka .. 11 .. . • .. 3 .. .. 3 .. . . 17 483 8 83 8 133 8 32 390 4 63 24 1 1,237 I