A.—3

30

The fees outstanding on 31st March, 1911, are as follows : — £ s. d. Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. .. 268 10 6 Aitutaki .. .. :. .. .. .. .. 24 2 6 Mauke .. .. .. .: :. .. 166 5 0 Rakahanga .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 21 3 6 Mangaia .. .. .. .: .. .. .. 5 5 0 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 5 0 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 15 0 Manihiki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 15 0 Total .. .. ■■■■...- .. .. .. £493 1 6 Sittings of the Court. Four sittings of the Court were held at Rarotonga during the year, at which the following matters were dealt with and orders made : Confirmation of leases, 9 ; partition, 2. New Applications. The following applications were lodged with the Registrar during the year :— Rarotonga : Investigation of title, 5 ; partition, 6 ; appointment of successors, 20 ; confirmation of alienation, 10 ; amendment of title, 6. Aitutaki: Investigation of title, 21 ; partition, 1 ; confirmation of alienation, 2. Mangaia : Confirmation of alienation, i. Atiu : Investigation of title, 2 ; confirmation of alienation, 1. Mauke : Partition, 1. In addition to these applications there are other applications for investigation of title, partition, and confirmation of alienation, mostly in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, which have been previously lodged, and which have not yet been heard by the Court. The greater number of these matters cannot be dealt with until the services of the Surveyor are available to make the necessary surveys and define the boundaries of the various pieces of land the subject of the applications. Issue of Titles. Nearly all orders and plans in respect of Native titles at Rarotonga investigated by the Court have been perfected, and the Survey Office is now completing the title plans of the lands at Mauke which have passed the Court. During the year 230 Native titles were issued at Rarotonga, and forty at Aitutaki. Thirteen certificates of title were issued to Europeans, making a total to date of 114, of which 105 are still subsisting. The number of Native titles issued to date in Rarotonga and Aitutaki are as follows : Rarotonga, 717 ; Aitutaki, 275. The balance of perfected titles in Rarotonga and Aitutaki are available for issue to the owners on application and on payment of any fees due thereon. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. E. Blame, Registrar.

Sir, — Rarotonga, 7th April, 1911. I have the honour to submit the report on public works for the year ended 31st March, 1911 :— Survey of Lands. All the title plans of lands surveyed in Rarotonga are now completed, and we are now completing the plans of lands surveyed at Mauke. Several surveys for leases were made. Meteorological. Meteorological observations have been taken daily and returns forwarded monthly to New Zealand and to the German Government at Samoa. Attached is a return of rainfall at the different stations. Public Works. Fumigator. The four doors in the fumigator having proved too small for the proper handling of the fruitboxes, they had to be enlarged, and now answer well. Chief Medical Officer's Dwelling. A dwelling for the Chief Medical Officer was built of concrete. The main part is 35 ft. by 20 ft. and 32 ft. by 20 ft., divided into four rooms by folding-doors. The front verandah is 12 ft. wide and the back one 15 ft. wide. There is a kitchen, also bathroom, storeroom, and dining-room on the back verandah. The price of labour having gone up, and being now of inferior quality, also a more expensive roof having been put on, the house cost £1,090 —considerably more than was estimated by me. A similar house (excepting the more expensive roof) some years ago cost about £850. Good labour was difficult to obtain last year on account of the high prices ruling for fruit.