PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1465, 13 December 1879, Page 12

PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE.

The following reports have been submitted to Parliament by the Chairman of Public Petitions Committee : — PETITION OF GEORGE J. MAOKAY AND OTHERS, OF TUAPEKA. The petitioners allege that in the month of September, 1878. their district was visited by a very disastrous flood in the Molyneux River, which destroyed all the bridges and ferries on that river within the County of Tuapeka. That, as soon as soon as these disasters were made known, large sums of money were voted by the House to assist in restoring the Teviot and Beaumont bridges, but that no effort .has been made by the Council of the Tuapeka County to restore the Beaumont bridge, and, instead, that the Council ignored the importance of the work by passing a resolution to the effect that " the bridge be not proceeded with until all works authorised by the Council are completed;" thus virtually shelving the matter. They pray that an inquiry may be made into the facts of the case, with the view of the Government taking the matter into their own hands, in accordance with section 185 of the Counties Act. and restoring tho bridge or ordering the County Council to do so. I am directed to report that, from the evidence taken by the Committee on the petitioners' case, it appeara that the Tuapeka County Council has not applied the L3OOO voted by Parliament and paid by the Government to the County for the purchase of the Beaumont bridge to Buch purchase. The Committee is therefore of opinion that the Government should, in. the terms of the agreement on which the money was paid, take immediate steps to recover the money by deducting it from the subsidies or other moneys payable to the Tuapeka County Council, and apply it in accordance with the terms of the vote. PETITION OF EDWARD HENRY POWER. The petitioner prays for relief in the matter of the forfeiture of a Crown grant in the petitioner's favour for an allotment of land at Clyde in Otago. I am directed to report that, having examined the petitioner and the documents bearing on the case, the Committee is of opinion that he is entitled to no consideration whatever from the House. PETITION OF W. A. MOBLEY AND OTHER BETTIiEBS OP INOH-CLTJTHA. The petitioners pray for compensation for loss caused by fhods at Inch Clutha. I am directed to report that the Committee, having examined the plan and section of the railway embankment showing the flood level, and taken evidence, is of opinion that the question should be referred by the Government to a Commission, in order that evidence may be taken in the district, and the facts reported to the Government.