A.—3.

Buildings.—Government buildings have been kept in good repair, and where necessary repainting has been carried out. A morgue has been built at the hospital. For the fruit-control scheme, sixteen gassing-rooms were erected. Transport. —All Administration vehicles were kept in good running-order. Agriculture. Citrus.—lt is apparent that growers, after viewing the results of pruning over the past three or four years, are becoming convinced that pruning of orange-trees is beneficial. The result is that most of the trees were pruned during the past year. Prior to the high winds which were experienced during the month of March the trees were looking in first-class condition and it was generally conceded that they had at last recovered from the effects of the 1935 hurricane. The high winds were responsible for the loss of approximately 10,000 cases of mature fruit which otherwise would have been available for shipment. All Rarotonga oranges will be gassed and debuttoned in future, and sixteen gassing-rooms have been erected at the seven district packing-sheds and will be ready for the first shipments of the 1941 season. Bananas. —The high quality of bananas being shipped from Rarotonga was maintained during the past year. The objections raised by growers at the inception of wharf inspection have disappeared, and the work is running systematically and smoothly. Plantings, however, for the past eighteen months have been at a standstill, due to several factors. ' Nursery Work and Replanting Scheme. —Work at the Takuvaine Nursery has of necessity been slowed down, due to the fact that growers are hesitant in coming into the citrus-replanting scheme. Tomatoes. —Many plants were lost during the early part of the year due to heavy rains, but subsequent plantings grew well. Domestic Crops. —The planting of domestic crops have been sufficient for the needs of the population. During the year consignments of kumeras were made to the Internal Marketing Department. Outer Islands. —Six gassing-rooms were erected at Aitutaki and Atiu, and all shipments of oranges from these islands were treated with ethylene gas and debuttoned. Six rooms were also erected at Mauke, and these will be available for use during the 1941 orange season. High Court. Criminal Jurisdiction. —During the year under review a total of 1,323 cases were dealt with on the criminal side ; 144 cases were for animal trespass. No cases of a really serious nature were brought before the Court. Civil Jurisdiction.- —Civil cases brought before the Court numbered 42. Outer Islands. —Returns of Court work in the various islands of the G-roup are received as communication permits, and the work appears to be kept up to date. No serious offences have been reported. Native Land Court. Court Sittings.—Following on from the 31st March, 1940, the Native Land Court, under Judge McCarthy, continued its work in Aitutaki until the 25th June, when it adjourned to Rarotonga. The Court commenccd its sitting in Rarotonga on the Bth July, 1940, and up to the 31st March, 1941, had disposed of 416 applications, making 379 orders. Aj>plications and Fees. —Ninety-six new applications affecting land in Aitutaki and 319 new applications affecting land in Rarotonga were received during the year. Records. —All orders made at "Aitutaki have now been drawn up and checked, but before the freehold orders and partition orders can be signed, plans must be endorsed thereon. This entails the making of over 900 plans. The survey diagrams have been completed, and the original survey plans have been forwarded to Wellington for copying. When all the orders have been signed, the registers will require to be brought up to date. Post Office. The usual services have been maintained at Rarotonga and at all post-offices throughout the Group. Post Office Savings-bank.—The summary of transactions in this branch is as follows : — £ Deposits, ordinary .. .. .. .. .. .. 16,728 Withdrawals, ordinary .. .. .. .. .. 14,865 Excess of deposits over withdrawals .. .. .. £1,863 Inward savings-bank transfers amounted to £4,381 and outward to £3,893 ; interest credited to depositors was £932, as compared with £848 last year. The total amount at credit of 2,1.29 depositors on 31st March was £33,777, as against £30,982 in 2,010 accounts last year. Postal Notes. —Number of notes issued, 932 ; value of notes issued, £410. Money-orders.—Number of orders issued, 1,966 ; value of orders issued, £45,072 ; number of orders paid, 319 ; value of orders paid, £3,221. Telephone Service. —The telephone system has given satisfactory service during the year. Cook Islands Postage and Revenue Stamps.—Revenue derived from the sale of stamps from all ources amounted to £1,194.

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