1.-2.

17

No. 265.—Dunedin Fire Brigades. No. 266.—Nelson Fire Brigade. No. 270. —Canterbury Fire Brigades. No. 281.—Hawke's Bay Fire Brigade. No. 300. —South Canterbury Fire Brigade. No. 33-1. —Hokitika Volunteer Fire Brigade. The petitioners pray that the members of Fire Brigades may receive free passes ou the New Zealand Railways, when travelling on duty, or to take part in the demonstrations of the Fire Brigades for practice. I am directed to report that, as the Government has announced that they intend to deal with the subject-matter of these petitions, the Committee do not deem it necessary to make any recommendation. 21st October, 1878.

No. 267.—Messrs. Hooper and Dodson. No. 271. —Messrs. Keast, McCarthy, and other Brewers. The petitioners pray that the House will reconsider the Bill for imposing a duty on beer. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on the subjectmatter of these petitions. 21st October, 1878.

No. 285. —John Young. No. 286. —Mattis Lucas. No. 305.—James Moran. No. 320.—Thomas Hawke. The petitioners pray for inquiry into the circumstances under which they delivered a quantity of puriri timber to the Government, owing to au advertisement which appeared in the Auckland Herald, and the non-payment of certain sums of money which they allege are due to them. I am directed to report that, as the Government has agreed to appoint a Commissioner to inquire into the petitioners' grievances with respect to contracts for the delivery of puriri timber for railway purposes, the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer auy opinion to the House.

21st October, 1878. No. B.—II. B. Stoney. The petitioner states that, in 1865, he applied to the Auckland Provincial authorities for a grant of 600 acres of land for military services in the Taranaki and Waikato wars, and subsequently to the General Government ■ that he has not received the land, or any compensation. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, from the evidence before the Committee, it does not appear that petitioner was entitled to a grant of laud as au officer retired from the Imperial service * but, if such a claim existed, he does not appear to have taken such action as the law required to establish it within the time allowed. The Committee cannot therefore recommend the case to the favourable consideration of the House. 22nd October, 1878.

No. 5.— T. H. Biggs. The petitioner states he obtained his discharge from the 58th Regiment, and applied for a grant of land as a discharged soldier. This application has never been granted. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, the petitioner not having complied with the terms of the Act under which land was granted to discharged soldiers, the Committee cannot recommend the petitioner's case. 22nd October, 1878.

No. 1. —Anne Oatts. The petition states that iv 1819 her late husband paid to the New Zealand Company the sum of £80, entitling him to select a block of ten acres of suburban land in the settlement of Otago. Such selection has not been made, aud there is now no land available for selection within the original Otago Block. She prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion that the petitioner is entitled to land scrip to the amount of £30, available in the purchase of waste lands in the Otago Provincial District, aud recommend the Government to give effect to this resolution. 22nd October, 1878.

No. 309. —James Coutts Crawford. The petitioner prays that his claim for a pension equal to half his salary at the time of his retirement be inquired into, aud relief afforded him. I am directed to report that, as "The Civil Service Act, 1866," defines what the retiring allowance of a civil servant shall be, the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House in the petitioner's case. 23rd October, 1878.