9

1.—4

No. 468.—Petition of Annie Feegusson. The petitioner states she was the wife of colour-sergeant of the 58th Eegiment, now deceased, who served during the war of 1845-6, and was wounded. He became a settler in Auckland until his death in 1877, leaving petitioner with a family. Her husband never received a grant of land, and she prays for eighty acres for the benefit of her children. lam directed to report: That, as there is not sufficient evidence before the Committee to substantiate petitioner's claim, her petition be referred to the Government to deal with. 31st August, 1882.

No. 465. —Petition of H. L. Kingsley. The petitioner states that he is a pensioned Sergeant-major of Horse Artillery ; and he was entitled to a land grant upon application within twelve months of his discharge. He was discharged on the 21st June, 1863, and made personal application for his grant in February, 1864 ; but his papers had not then arrived. He subsequently applied in writing and forwarded his papers, but received no reply. He prays for a favourable consideration of his case. I am directed to report : That, the claim of the petitioner having been recommended by the Naval and Military and Local Forces Land Claims Commission, the petition be referred to the Government. Ist September, 1882.

No. 481. —Petition of John Kilcolly. The petitioner states that he arrived in the colony in the year 1860 with his regiment, and was discharged in 1867, since which time he has acted in defence of the colony in various services. He submitted his claim to the Volunteer Land Commission, who rejected it; and now presents it in fuller detail, and prays for a further inquiry. lam directed to report: That the petitioner has no claim. 4th September, 1882.

No. 476. —Petition of Geoege King. The petitioner states that he arrived in the colony in 1856, with the 14th Eegiment, and obtained his discharge in 1865 in order to become a settler, fie was informed that he must apply for his land grant at Wellington, and that he could do so at any time. Subsequently he served as a Volunteer in various capacities in the defence of the colony, and upon making application for his land scrip he was informed that he was too late. He states that the Eoyal Commission rejected his claim because he had not remained in Auckland, and he urges that such objection was insufficient. He prays for a grant of land. lam directed to report: That the petitioner has no claim. 4th September, 1882.

No. 475. —Petition of Petee Pope Fagg. The petitioner states that in 1873 he purchased at a Government land sale, by auction, Section No. 4i3, Palmerston, for the sum of £195, of which he paid on account £30, and for that sum he produces the Provincial Treasurer's receipt. He has since cleared and laid down in grass about seventy acres of the land, and expended altogether about £400 in improvements; and, finally, fully relying upon his purchase, sold the property to one James Fowler, who has been in occupation some four years, and who has built a house upon the section, put up a hundred chains of fencing, and made further valuable improvements. Petitioner has tendered the balance of the purchase-money to the authorities, who however declined to accept it, or to grant him the land, on the ground that he had failed to comply with the conditions of purchase. He is unawrare of any special conditions connected with the purchase, and he is still prepared to pay the balance of purchase-money. He therefore prays for consideration and relief. I am directed to report: That the Committee is of opinion the prayer of the petitioner ought to be complied with, and it recommends accordingly, provided the original terms of agreement as toprice.be fulfilled. 6th September, 1882.

No. 351. —Petition of Samuel Riley and Others. The petitioners state that they are Crown tenants of the Colliery Reserve, Westport, and that irt 1874 the Provincial Government of Nelson awarded them the lands they now hold as compensation for their former holdings having been swept away. In 1877 the General Government imposed conditions of tenure of a harsh character, but which they were compelled to accept, as they had already built upon their sections. They pray that they may be relieved from the covenants they have entered into, and be allowed to purchase their holdings, or that they may be granted a permanent tenure at reduced rents, equal to the value of the lands when they settled upon them. lam directed to report: That there are no sufficient grounds for reversing the decision in this case which was arrived at by the Waste Lands Committee of last session. 6th September, 1882.

No. 484.—Petition of the New Plymouth Habboue Boaed. The petitioners state that certain lands on the foreshore at New Plymouth and the Mouut Eliot Reserve were granted in trust as an endowment for harbour purposes, and a loan was obtained for harbour construction for which these endowments formed formed part security. They complain that the Government, requiring the land for ranVay purposes, arbitrarily resumed possession of it, ignoring the public creditor whose security it had become ; and that this action not only frustrated the plans of the Board in respect to'its dealings with its endowments, but was, in principle, subversive of the

2—l. 4.