- J 2
In 11 cases defendants were sent for trial to the Supreme Court, as against 14 in 1934. These comprised 6 cases of robbery, 1 of homicide, 3 of breach of deportation order, and one of unlawful possession of arms and ammunition.
5. There were 39 cases of deaths in unusual circumstances reported to the Police Magistrate as coroner during the year and three Death Inquiries were held.
6. There was a considerable decrease in the number of Small Debts cases heard but an increase in the number of Distress Warrants which had to be issued to enforce decisions.
LAND AND GENERAL.
7. Complete details of the work of the Land Office are shown in Table IX. In the Land Registry 3,058 memorials were registered as compared with 3,010 in 1934 and the amount of stamp duty received for registration was $3,799.50 as against $3,982.90 in 1934.
8. There is little remaining Crown Land available for sale for purposes of padi and vegetable cultivation, but purchasers are still coming forward to buy tracts of hillside land on which to attempt the cultivation of fruit trees. Most hillside land of course is licensed to neighbouring villagers for the purpose of growing fir trees, and any stranger desirous of purchasing and developing such land as orchard is apt to be met by strong local opposition, as the villagers have always relied on this kind of land for grazing and fuel, as well as for the interment of their dead.
9. The only other matter in Table IX on which special comment might be made is the revenue from matshed permits. There is always a steady influx of immigrant Hakkas desiring to settle in the N. T. Their standard of living is very low and they have as a rule no capital for the purchase of land or building a permanent brick dwelling, but they are sometimes able to rent fields in the less fertile and more remote spots, and, where their character can be vouched for locally, permits to erect matsheds for habitation, making bean-curd and keeping swine may be issued to them. Although these immigrants sometimes cause breaches of the peace and bring in their train bad characters, on the whole they contribute to the wealth of the district regarded economically, and in time may be able to save enough to buy land and erect permanent dwellings.
Page 285
Page 286