A.—3

20

The increase in drunkenness, it may be desirable to explain, is more apparent than real; the number of offenders being 125, while in the previous year the number (fifty-six) represented groups of cases totalling 113 defendants. In its civil jurisdiction the Court heard 188 cases, of which the following are particulars, as compared with the previous year :—- -1912-13. 1911-12. Damages .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 25 Debt .. .. .. .. .. .. ..24 9 Divorce .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 26 8 Breach of contract .. .. .. .. .. . . 6 2 Probate and administration .. .. .. .. .. 3 2 Miscellaneous .. .. . . . . . . . . 4 2 88 23 The fees and fines collected and paid to the Treasury during the year amounted to, — 1912-13. 1911-12. £ s. d. £ s. d. Criminal jurisdiction .. .. .. 336 9 3 151 10 6 Civil jurisdiction .. .. .. .. 53 12 0 12 10 6 £390 1 3 £164 1 0 Fines to the amount of £58 4s. 6d. are outstanding, and are being collected by instalments. During the year five offenders were sent to Manuae Island to serve their terms of imprisonment. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. H. H. G. Ralee, Registrar.

Cook Islands Land-titles Court. Sir,— Rarotonga, 7th May, 1913. I have the honour to report as to the work of the Land-titles Court for the year ending 31st March, 1913, as follows : — Fees. The fees outstanding on the 31st March, 1912, amounted to £422 4s. Since that date fees have been imposed amounting to £445 7s. 6d., while the fees collected and paid into the Treasury amounted to £341 125., leaving the amount of fees outstanding £528 4s. 6d., as follows : — £ s. d. Rarotonga .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 259 10 0 Aitutaki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 100 16 0 Mauke.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 130 0 0 Rakahanga . . .. .. . . .. . . 21 3 6 Mangaia .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 900 Mitiaro .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 550 Atiu .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 15 0 Manihiki .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 0 15 0 £528 4 6 The total amount of fees paid into the Treasury since the inception of the Court is £4,046 6s. lid. Sittings of the Court. Sittings of the Court were held as follows : At Rarotonga, 72 days ; at Aitutaki, 22 days ; and at Mangaia, 7 days. Ordeis were made as follows :At Ratotonga —Investigation of title 16 ; partition, 28 ; confirmation of alienation, 15 ; amendment, 26 ; succession, 148 ; appointment of trustee, 1 ; probate, 1 ; restriction, 1 : at Aitutaki —Investigation of title, 78 ; partition, 13 ; succession, 14 ; confirmation of alienation, 12 ; restriction, 1 ; amendment, 1 : at Mangaia —Investigation of title, 2 ; confirmation of alienation, 2. New Applications. The following were lodged during the year : Rarotonga—lnvestigation of title, 7 ; partition, 9; succession, 12 ; exchange, 2 ; reinvestigation,!; amendment,!: Aitutaki —Investigation of title, 88 ; partition, 6 ; succession, 1 ; confirmation of alienation, 1. The total number of applications awaiting a sitting of the Court is 373. I have, &c, The Resident Commissioner, Rarotonga. 11. H. G. Ralfe, Registrar.