F.—7

1875. NEW ZEALAND.

MR. HUGH CASSIDY'S PETITION, PRESENTED 12TH AUGUST, 1874. (REPORT AND CORRESPONDENCE ON.)

Pretented to both Houses of the General Assembly by Command of His Excellency.

EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF PUBLIC PETITIONS COMMITTEE ON PETITION OF HUGH CASSIDY. " I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the Petitioner has some claim to compensation, and recommend that careful inquiries be instituted by the Post Office authorities with a view to ascertaining the actual loss sustained by Petitioner, in order that some satisfactory adjustment of the claim may be arrived at." Thomas Kelly, 26th August, 1874. Chairman. Heport on Claims made hj Hugh Cassidy for Compensation for Losses through Impassable State of Christchurch Road. Having now investigated this matter as fully as possible, we have the honor to report as follows: — Items 1 and 2 are claims made for loss arising through the falling off of traffic, and, in order to verify the correctness of this, we have carefully examined the books in which the takings of each trip are entered in detail, and checked the return submitted to us by the Petitioner. From these wo find the following results, — Taken in Hokitika, from Ist January to 31st March, 1874 ... £546 6 6 Taken in Christchurch, do. ... ... ... ... 678 0 6 £1,224 7 0 [The flood occurred on 4th April, 1874.] Taken in Hokitika, from Ist April to 30th June, 1874... ... £207 9 6 Taken in Christchurch, do. ... ... ... ... 374 13 6 £582 3 0 Taken in Hokitika, from Ist July to 30th September, 1874 ... £290 3 0 Taken in Christchurch, do. ... ... ... ... 248 16 6 £541 19 6 From the evidence of the late coach proprietor's (Mr. Burton's) book-keeper, it appeared that the returns for the same periods of the previous year were— From January to March ... ... ... ... ... £770 0 0 „ April to June ... ... ... ... ... 882 0 0 „ July to September ... ... ... ... ... 820 0 0 This is the only data on which we were able to arrive at an approximate conclusion. In comparing the returns, we find that for the first quarter Cassidy's receipts exceeded Burton's by £454. Cassidy ... ... ... ... ... ... £1,224 0 0 Burton... ... ... .., ... ... ... 770 0 0 Cassidy's excess... ... ... ... ... £454 0 0 I—E. 7.