A.—B

10

REPORT OF THE COOK ISLANDS HIGH COURT. For the Year ended 31st March, 1916. Criminal cases to the numher of 559 were dealt with as follows :■ — Table showing the Numher of Criminal Cases brought before the High Court of the Cook Islands during the Year ended, 31st March, 1916. Cases heard — Convictions .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 492 Dismissed or withdrawn .. .. .. .. .. 67 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. ..559 Offences against the person only— Assaults .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 36 Other offences .. .. .. .. .. .. 11 Offences against property — Housebreaking .. .. .. .. •.. .. .. 4 Theft .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..34* Mischief and other offences .. .. .. .. .. 14 Trespass .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 18 Offences against liquor laws — Drunkenness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Bush-beer drinking .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 159 Manufacturing bush-beer .. . . . . .. . . 42 Breaches of regulations— Fruit .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 43 Traffic .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..32 Water-supply. . . . .. .. . . .. .. .. 4 Offences against the public welfare— Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 Wandering animals .. . . .. .. .. .. .. 6 Offences against revenue laws— Non-registration of dogs .. .. .. .. .. 52 Other offences — Adultery .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 16 Miscellaneous.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 5 Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Fines imposed amount to £228 ss. and the fees to £141 4s. 3d., a total of £369 9s. 3d. On the civil side the Court had before it 112 cases, as follows :— Table showing the Number of Cases heard, in the High Court of the Cook Islands in its Civil Jurisdiction during the Year ended, 31st, March, 1916. Appeal .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Damages .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 17 Debt .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..57 Divorce .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 24 Detinue .. .. .. .. .. . . .. .. 3 Injunction or order .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Partnership account .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Possession of chattels .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 Possession of tenement .. .. .. .. 1 Probate .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 2 Trespass .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 3 Total .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 112 The number of plaints entered was 161 ; the total amount sued for was £713 lis. lid., and the amount recovered £203 4s. sd. H. H. G. Ralfe, Registrar of Courts.

* Mainly of food or produce from plantations,