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No. 42.—Thomas Butler. The petitioner prays for a further inquiry into the circumstances of his dismissal from the Nelson Lunatic Asylum. I am directed to report that the case of the petitioner having been fully inquired into and reported on by a Royal Commission during last session, the Committee decline to entertain the application for further inquiry. 17th September, 1878. '

No. 44. —G. Donne. The petitioner states that he purchased an allotment of land of twenty-four acres, situated on the Kaiapoi Island, and that the said land has been taken for the construction of a channel to carry off the flood waters of the Waimakariri River. He prays that compensation be granted him. From inquiries made by the Committee it appears that the petitioner bought the land from a private individual with other land for £45 in the year 1877, some years after the channel had been constructed by local authorities. I am directed to report that the Committee, having taken the petitioner's case into consideration, is of opinion that he has no claim whatever against the colony. 17th September, 1878.

No. 52. —Archibald Cochrane. The petitioner states that he received as a Volunteer a remission certificate of the value of £40, to be exercised in the Province of Auckland, but that, owing to the scrip not having been forwarded to him in time, he was not able to exercise it before the time limited by law. He prays for relief. It appears that the scrip was issued in 1871, and the Volunteer Scrip Act of 1873 provides that scrip then issued must be exercised before October 1874, or it is barred. The provision in "The Waste Land Act, 1876," "The Land Sales Act, 1877," and "The Volunteer Land Act, 1877," the Committee is advised does not revive scrip issued before the Act of 1873 came into operation, and that such scrip is practically cancelled, though it is doubtful whether the contrary was not intended by the Acts of 1876 and 1877. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petitioner should be allowed to exercise his scrip in the purchase of land, and recommends the Government to give effect to this resolution. 17th September, 1878.

No. 65. —G. T. Boldero and Others. The petitioners pray for the construction of a telegraph station at Mangawai. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on this case, it being one for the consideration of the Government. 17th September, 1878.

No. 69.—W. H. Gollop. The petitioner, who is a publican, states that he has been unjustly accused by the Inspector of Wellington Police Force with having been suspected of having committed a larceny in Wellington, and that the said Inspector communicated such suspicion to the police authorities both at Nelson and Napier, when he made application for a publican's license. That he denies the truth of such charges, and prays that an inquiry be made in order to clear his character. I am directed to report that the Committee, having taken the case into consideration, and being advised that the petitioner has a remedy in a Court of law, is of opinion that, if he desires to clear himself from the charges made against him, the Government should give him every facility for the case being investigated in open Court. 17th September, 1878.

No. 72.—A. V. Hiscox. The petitioner states that he has been dismissed from the Railway Department because he was charged with larceny; that the charge is not true, and he prays for inquiry. No. 73. —T. McWilliam and Others, of Winton. The petitioners support A. V. Hiscox's case for inquiry. The Committee, having made inquiry, direct me to report that the Committee, having considered the case of the petitioners, has no recommendation to make to the House. 17th September 1878.

No. 82.—W. Crozier. The petitioner prays that he may be allowed to select sixty acres of land as a discharged soldier. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has not exercised the right to select land under