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No. 117. —G. S. Eraser and Others, of the Northern Portion of Wairoa County. The petitioners pray that the electoral boundaries may be altered so that they may be included in the Napier Electoral District, instead of the East Coast Electoral District, in which they are at present. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petitioners' case is one for the consideration of the Government when the readjustment of the electoral boundaries is being dealt with. 17th September, 1878.

No. 135. —C. P. Pattie and Others, of Pangatotara and Riwaka. The petitioners pray for assistance in forming certain roads. No. 145. —Alexander Thomson and Others, of the Baton District. The petitioners pray for a ferry across the Motueka River. No. 147. —Christian Dencker and Others, of Motueka District. The petitioners pray for the construction of a railway to Motueka. No. 151. —W. Elder and Others, of Port Chalmers. Tni: petitioners pray for the construction of a railway platform. No. 155. —G. M. Webster and Others. The petitioners pray for the construction of a branch railway from Windsor Station to Livingstone. I am directed to report that, as the subject-matters of these petitions arc questions of public policy, the Committee is of opinion that they are matters for the consideration of the Government. 17th September, 1878. No. 158. —James McDonald.

Tin; petitioner prays that compensation be given him for improvements made by him on confiscated lands occupied by him with the consent of the Commissioner of Confiscated Land in 1871, 1872, and 1873, in carrying on the business of a sawmiller in the Waitotara District, as tho offer made by the Government of .£l5O for the improvement made by him is inadequate. It appears from the evidence that the petitioner had no tenure of the land in question further than _ promise of a license to occupy, to cut timber, and an alleged promise that improvements would be protected when the land was offered for sale under the Confiscated Land Sale Regulations. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the offer made by the Government to the petitioner of .£l5O for his improvements was a liberal oue under the circumstances, and, as the petitioner has refused to accept such offer, the Committee decline to make any recommendation in his case. 17th September, 1878.

Richard Thomas Shield (1877). [Referred back to the Committee by Resolution of the House, 29th August, 1878.] The petitioner states'that he has sustained considerable damage owing to the flooding of his land by the flood-waters of the Matarawa Creek, which is caused by the railway embankment blocking up the former outlet for the water; that as the petitioner is advised he has no redress at law, he prays that the House grant him relief. The Committee made inquiry into the case last session, but were unable to make any specific recommendation, as the evidence was defective. Having taken fresh evidence this session, it appears that petitioner has a substantial grievance in the matter of defective provision for letting off the flood-waters which the railway embankment has to a certain extent dammed back on to petitioner's land. I am directed to report that, from evidence before the Committee, it appears that the waterway provided by the Public Works Department to relieve the petitioner's land from flood-water, interfered with by the railway embankment, is not sufficient, and the Committee recommend that the grievance complained of be remedied by the construction of larger water-ways. 17th September, 1878.