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No. 119. —Petition of Thomas MacNamaea, Dunedin. The petitioner states that on the Ist September, 1863, he entered the service of the Provincial Government of Otago as a Warder of the Dunedin Prison; that he retired from the service on the 4th of May last on account of ill-health ; that he received as compensation £150, equal to one year's pay, which he considers inadequate as compared with the compensation allowed to other officers on their retirement. He prays for additional compensation. I am directed to report : That the Committee, having made full inquiry, are of opinion that under the circumstances of the petitioner's case the Government have made a fair retiring allowance to the petitioner, and cannot therefore recommend the claim of the petitioner to the favourable consideration of the House. Bth August, 1883.

No. 298.—Petition of W. H. Bates, Hokianga. The petitioner, on behalf of the Hokianga County Council, complains of the non-fulfilment of the agreement for the construction of a trunk system of railways, so far as the section north of Auckland is concerned. He prays for relief. lam directed to report: That the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth August, 1883. '

No. 307.—Petition of J. E. F. Coyle (No. 2), Dunedin. The petitioner prays that the House would reconsider the claim for losses sustained by him in Survey Contract No. 13, Canterbury District, and award him relief by giving effect to the Public Petitions Committee's recommendations in the session of 1881 and the present session. lam directed to report: That, having already reported on the case of the petitioner this session, the Committee have no further recommendation to make. Bth August, 1883.

No. 186.—Petition of Nathaniel Wilson. The petitioner, on behalf of the Rodney County Council, prays that the construction of the trunk system of railways from Invercargill to the Bay of Islands may be completed, so as to include the section north of Auckland. lam directed to report: That the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth August, 1883. s

No. 293.—Petition of John Jobson, Sheffield. The petitioner, on behalf of thirty-nine householders in the locality of Sheffield, prays that Sheffield might be constituted a town district under the provisions of " The Town Districts Act, 1881." lam directed to report: That the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. Bth August, 1883.

No. 350.—Petition of John Buchanan and Others (No. 1), Auckland. The petitioners, ship-owners and ship-masters, of the Port of Auckland, state that the pilotage exemption certificates of this colony are of very little value to the holders of them, on account of the exemption being for the ship and not for the master or mate. They request that they may be assimilated to those of the neighbouring colonies of Australia. lam directed to report: That the Committee are of opinion that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 9th August, 1883.

Nos. 368, 369, 382, and 395. —Petitions of Thomas Eathees and Others, Chaeles A. Ogilvie and Others, E. D. Paekes and Others, and-WiLLiAM Thomson and Others. The petitioners pray that the Local Option Extension Act may pass into law. I am directed to report-: That, as the subject-matter of these petitions is now before the House, the Committee do not consider it necessary to make any recommendation to the House. 9th August, 1883.

No. 287. —Petition of Heebeet P. Kawson, Wellington. The petitioner and other registered dentists in the colony ask to be treated as belonging to the medical profession, and pray that they may be relieved from attendance on juries. lam directed to report: That the Committee see no sufficient reason to exempt the petitioners from serving on juries, and cannot, therefore, recommend their claim to the favourable consideration of the House. 9th August, 1883.

No. 309. —Petition of Edwaed Allen, Jan., Cambridge. The petitioner states that in April, 1883, he loaded two trucks of fat cattle at Ohaupo Eailwaystation to be conveyed to R,emuera; that through delay in transit one of the bullocks died,, for which he claims £12. lam directed ."to report: That, from the evidence submitted to the Committee, it does not appear that the loss sustained by the petitioner was caused by neglect of the Eailway Department; the Committee cannot therefore recommend the claim of the petitioner to the favourable consideration of the House. 9th August, 1883.

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