A.—3

18

" The following plants, seeds, &c., were received during the year : Flacourtia inermis (lovi-lovi), Sideroxylon dulcificum, Garcinia xanthochymus (rata-goraka), Psidium guyava, Anona nuricata (sour-sop), Carica papaya (pawpaw), Vanguria edulis (voa-vanga). These were received from Peradeniya, Ceylon. Ivory-nuts were received from Samoa, and Sarawak pines from Tahiti. Dr. Wilder, of Hawaii, contributed varieties of palm-seeds, Macadamia nuts, and pandanus-plants, also Avocado and passion-fruit seeds. " The following plants, &c., were sent to the islands of the Northern Group : Manihot cuttings, breadfruit, flamboyant, Malabar chestnut, Avocado-pear seedlings, fountain-trees, jak-fruit, Cochingoraka, Brazilian cherry, pawpaw-plants, Indian laburnum, sea-grape, mango seedlings, pineapple suckers, cocoa seedlings, bamboo, hibiscus cuttings. " Summary of plant distribution for the year : 40 sea-grape (Coecolobis uvifera), hibiscus cuttings (unlimited), 40 orange seedlings, 20 cashew-nuts (Anacardium occidentale), 50 Indian laburnum, 35 mangoes (selected), 20 Malabar chestnut, 12,000 kumara cuttings, 12 pimento, 50 avocado-pear seedlings, 80 Cocus plumosa palms, 60 Poinciana regia, 40 Spathodea or fountain-trees, 12 Cochin-goraka, 14 travellers' palms, 35 Brazilian cherry, 500 manihot cuttings, 1601b. maize, 451b. Kaffir corn, 600 lb. cow-peas, 25 balsa-wood trees (also seed), dracena, croton and escallonia cuttings, 250 bamboo (also roots). " Noxious Weeds. " During the year notices were served in connection with the eradication of noxious weeds as follows: Elephant's foot, 77; Australian burr, 9; Lantana camera, 13; Pitati mama, 16. Ten persons appeared in the High Court in connection therewith. The Fruit Inspectors, on loan from New Zealand, greatly assisted, in the work of inspection during their stay on the island. " Australian Burr. —Very little of this weed is now growing on the island. . " Lantana camera. —Large areas of this weed have been grubbed out, the land ploughed, and crops planted. " Pitati mama.—There are now only fourteen known areas on which this weed is growing. Several large areas have been completely eradicated through constant attention to ploughing and grubbing out. Having a strong root-system, Pitati mama is a difficult weed to eradicate. " Elephant's foot. —This weed has spread very rapidly in certain districts of the island, and much time and money have already been expended to eradicate it. All the areas on which this weed is known to be growing have been visited and notices served to the owners of the land. " As an experiment cow-peas, as a cover-crop, have been sown on land where elephant's foot and Pitati mama are growing." High Court. Criminal Jurisdiction.—ln Earotonga the total number of cases of criminal offences, breaches of regulations, and for breaches of local Ordinances was 1,139, as follows : Manufacturing intoxicating liquor, 24 ; consuming intoxicating liquor, 692 ; unlawfully in possession intoxicating liquor, 1 ; drunkenness, 10 ; giving intoxicating liquor to a Native, 2 ; assault, 9 ; indecent assault, 5 ; causing actual bodily harm, 1 ; attempt to carnally know, I ; rape, 4 ; attempt to commit rape, 4 ; adultery, 10; cohabiting, 22 ; theft, 38 ; trespass and theft, 4 ; breaking and entering, 3 ; breaking, entering, and theft, 12 ; wilful trespass, 6 ; breach of local Ordinances (loitering at night after 10 p.m.), 9 ; using threatening behaviour, 2 ; committing an indecent act in a public place, 1 ; committing a nuisance in a public place, 19 ; using insulting language, 2 ; using indecent language, 1 ; having in his possession a firearm, 1 ; discharging a firearm in the village, .1 ; contempt of Court 4 ; escaping from lawful custody, 11 ; refusing to work on road, 3 ; damaging Government property, 3 ; riding bicycle at night without a light, 16 ; breach of Earotonga Ordinances, 3 ; breach of Eegulations and Offences Ordinances, 8 ; breach of Fruit Eegulations, 12 ; breach of Noxious Weeds Eegulations, 10 ; breach of section 20, Badio Eegulations, 1 ; breach of Water Ordinances, 9 ; keeping pig within settlement, 15 ; animal trespassing, 59 ; tethering an animal upon a public place, 2 ; failing to register dog, 68 ; gambling, 24 ; keeping a gaming-house, 3 ; driving a motor-vehicle under seventeen years, 2 ; driving a motor-vehicle at night without a light, 1 ; driving a motor-vehicle without a number, 1 : Total, 1,139. These cases were dealt with as follows : 938 convicted and fined ; 74 convicted and discharged ; 50 convicted and sentenced to imprisonment; 10 cases adjourned sine die ; 17 cases dismissed ; 15 cases withdrawn ; 6 cases dog to be destroyed ; 3 cases adjourned to next month ; 1 case contempt of Court; 25 convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. Civil Jurisdiction. —During the year the following civil cases were dealt with at Earotonga : 30 actions for debt, which involved the sum of £637 15s. lid. ; 11 actions for damages, which involved the sum of £87 17s. 6d. ; 4 actions on judgment summons ; 6 applications for divorce ; 3 actions for possession ; 3 affiliation cases ; 1 application under section 117 of Cook Islands Act, 1915, for appointment as guardian of-a minor ; 7 applications for grant of letters of administration in deceased persons' estates ; 1 application for probate of will; 1 application to assess and award the compensation payable for land taken for public purposes. Native Land Court. The Eegistrar's report shows that during the year the Chief Judge, accompanied by the Eegistrar, paid four visits to the islands of the Lower Group (Mangaia, Aitutaki, Mauke, Atiu, and Mitiaro), when short sittings of the Court were held and various matters pertaining to Land Court work were dealt with. Short sittings were also held in Earotonga to deal with urgent cases. Owing to the duties of the Eesident Commissioner and Chief Judge of both High Court and Native Land Court being combined, it is impossible to cope with arrears of Land Court work, although as much time as possible is devoted to it.