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No. -305.—Petition of John Jackson. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that a lease promised him by the Government may be issued, have directed me to report that they are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 31st August, 1881.

No. 107. —Petition of Datid Ltall. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, relative to the alleged cancellation of an agricultural lease, and praying for redress, have directed me to report that they are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 6th September, 1881.

No. 283.—Petition of J McLean and Others. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition—deferred-payment settlers praying for relief—have directed me to report that they are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 6th September, 1881.

No. 356.—Petition of G. H. White. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a grant of land in consideration of having resided in the colony for over twenty-one years, have directed me to report that they are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim. 6th September, 1881.

"The Special Powees and Conteacts Bill, 1881." The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have directed me to report that they have gone through the Bill, and recommend that the same be passed without amendment. 13th September, 1881.

No. 229.—Petition of Pateick Aitken The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that he may be allowed to exchange his land from the Opaheke to the Pararata District, have directed me to report that they are of opinion that the petitioner should represent his case to the Opaheke and Pararata Eoad Boards. The Committee have no further recommendation to make. 13th September, 1881.

No. 372. —Petition of William McGinneety The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying for a grant of land as a discharged soldier, have directed me to report that, with reference to a large number of petitions which have been referred to this Committee, and which relate to alleged grievances and land claims of long standing, a proper investigation into such claims and grievances involves an amount of research which it is impossible for this Committee to bestow The Committee are therefore of opinion that all such petitions, arising out of circumstances which have occurred prior to the present Parliament, should be inquired into by the Government during the recess. 17th September, 1881.

No. 368.—Petition of T. L. Habcotjet. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that he may receive a land order to which he states he became entitled, have directed me to report that they confirm the report brought up (upon the petitioner's case) by the Public Petitions Committee in 1879, viz., that they cannot recommend the petitioner's claim. 17th September, 1881.

No. 861.—Petition of J Sheehan and Others. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition of deferred-payment settlers praying for relief, have directed me to report that they cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners. 17th September, 1881.

No. 344.—Petition of Maey Kiebt. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above petition, praying that land belonging to her late husband, which has been improperly dealt with by the Crown, may be restored to her, have directed me to report that the evidence before the Committee shows that the petitioner has a just claim to the land in question. It appears, further, that the Legislature, apparently in ignorance of the fact that this land was private property, vested the same in the Taranaki County Council under the " Taranaki Reserves Act, 1877 ; " and that the Government be recommended to take the necessary action towards the repeal of the aforesaid Act, in so far as the section of land claimed by the petitioner is concerned. 17th September, 1881.

Authority; Geokge Didsbt/by, Government Printer, Wellington.—lBBl,