21

A.—s

Thk Cook Islands Land Titlbs Court. Sir, — Registrar's Office, Rarotonga, 7th April, 1910. I have the honour to report on the work of the Cook Islands Land Titles Court for the year ending the 31s1 March, 1 910. Ihe work for the year has consisted mostly in perfecting orders and plans in respect of titles investigated by the Court during the preceding year at Rarotonga and Aitutaki. All the Aitutaki titles and plans have 'icon completed, and also many of the Rarotonga titles and plans, and ait available for issue on payment of fees. The balance of the Rarotonga orders for title, and also (hose for Mauke and Rakahanga, are in the hands of the Survey Department for indorsement of plans. During the year the Court held sittings on twelve days —namely, nine days at Rarotonga and three days at Mangaia. The number of orders made was fifty, and the adoptions registered numbered eleven. The Courl fees imposed during the year amounted to £56 2s. Notices to pay fees were served on all persons in Rarotonga whose fees were in arrear over two years; with the result thai a large amouiil of outstanding fees was go! in. The fees collected during the year and paid into the Treasury amounted to kl 15 Ids. (id. The following table shows the fees collected and paid into the Treasury since the inception of the Court: — £ s. d. 1902-'! ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 19 0 1903-4 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 131 10 6 1904-5 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 307 2 6 1905-6 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 330 6 2 1906-7 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 451 16 9 1907-8 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 621 14 11 1908-9 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 576 16 1 1909-10 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 745 10 6 Total ... ... ... ... £3,181 16 5 The fees Outstanding on the 31st March, 1910, amounted to £858 19s. 6d., as compared with £1,548 Bs. on the 31st Nlarch, 1909. The following are details of fees now outstanding : — £ s. d. Rarotonga ... ... ... ... ... ... 589 11 0 Aitutaki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 67 5 0 Mauke ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 167 15 0 Rakahauga ... ... ... ... ... ... 21 3 6 Mangaia ... ... ... ... ... ... 510 0 Mitiaro ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 550 Atiu ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 1 15 0 Manihiki ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 0 15 0 £858 19 6 I have, &c., The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. E. Blaink. Registrar.

Tin: limn Court of the Cook Islands. Sir, — Registrar's Office, Rarotonga, 4th April, 1910. 1 have ihe honour to repor! on the work of the Court for the year ending 31st March, 191 0. as follows :— The number of eases heard by the Court in its criminal jurisdiction was 229. as sel out hereunder : — Adultery end illegal cohabitation ... ... ... .. ... 13 Drunkenness from bush-beer drinking ... ... ... ... 72 Assault ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 34 Theft .. ... ... ... ... ... ... .. 26 Trespass ... ... ... ■■• ■•• ••■ ... 19 Wandering animals ... ... ... ... ... ... 16 Breaches of Customs law ... ... ... ... ... ... 2 Miscellaneous petty offences ... ... .. . ••■ ... 47 Total 229 The seventy-two eases of drunkenness from bush-beer drinking involved the appearance of 258 defendants liefore the Court. In its civil jurisdiction the Court heard forty cases, namely: — Debt ... ... ... ... ... ••• ••■ 16 Divorce ... ... •. • • • • ■ ■ • • • • ■ ■ ... 12 Breach of contract... ... ... ... • ■ -■ ■ ■• 3 Slander ... ... -■- •■■ ••■ ••■ 1 Probate and administration ... ... ... • •■ ■ ■• 3 Miscellaneous . ... ... ••• ••• ••• ••• 6 40