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I.—l

No. 351, Sess. ll.—Petition of P. S. Dempsey, Wellington. The petitioner states that when in the Wellington Hospital, in February last, one of the nurses administered to him, by mistake, an ounce of carbolic acid instead of a sleeping draught, by which his health has permanently suffered. He prays the House to inquire into his case, # and afford him relief. I am directed to report that the Committee are of opinion that the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 24th October, 1884.

No. 142, Sess. II.; No. 333, Sess. II.; No. 334, Sess. II.; No. 335, Sess. II.; No. 336, Sess. II.; No. 337, Sess. II.; No. 338, Sess. II.; No. 339, Sess. II.; No. 342, Sess. II.; No. 341, Sess. II.; No. 343, Sess. II.; No. 309, Sess. II.; No. 344, Sess. II.; No. 345, Sess. II.; No. 352, Sess. II.; No. 253, Sess. 11. ; No. 354, Sess. II.; and No. 355, Sess. ll.—Petitions of L. H. White and Others, C. A. Ellice and Others, D. McGeegob and Others, A. B. White and Others, W. M. McKenzie and Others, W. Baeeee and Others, M. E. Staunton and Others, J. Level and Others, J. Smith and Others, J. Weight and Others, E. Spenceb and Others, A. Smith and Others, M. Goulton and Others, J. Toeeens and Others, J. Mack and Others, W. H. Wallis and Others, J. McKinnon and Others, and J. Hewitt and Others. The petitioners, inhabitants of the colony, pray the House to maintain intact the present free, secular, and compulsory clauses of the Education Act. I am directed to report that the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House on the subject-matter of these petitions. 24th October, 1884.

No. 463, Sess. II.; No. 395, Sess. II.; No. 464, Sess. II.; No. 465, Sess. II.; No. 466, Sess. II; and No. 473, Sess. ll.—Petitions of John Mcßean and Others, James Copeland and Others, Heney Ceoss and Others, Feedeeick Howell and Others, Thomas Butlek and Others, and John Bevin and Others. The petitioners, settlers of New Zealand, pray for the amendment of the Education Act, to allow of Bible-reading in schools. I am directed to report that the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House on the subject-matter of these petitions. 24th October, 1884.

No. 70, Sess. II.; No. 71, Sess. II.; No. 77, Sess. II.; and No. 78, Sess. ll.—Petitions of Heywood Ceispe and Others, E. M. Hawkes and Others, P. Mason and Others, and G. Mubeay and Others. The petitioners, inhabitants of the colony, pray the House to maintain intact the present free, secular> and compulsory clauses of the Education Act. I am directed to report that the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House on the subject-matter of these petitions. 24th October, 1884.

No. 356, Sess. II.; No. 357, Sess. II.; No. 358, Sess. II.; No. 359, Sess. II.; No. 382, Sess. II.; No. 383, Sess. II.; No. 384, Sess. II.; and No. 385, Sess. ll.—Petitions of J. Thoms and Others, C. Coopeb and Others, E. G. Clements and Others, W. J. Habe and Others, W. P. Cogswell and Others, G. Matthewson and Others, F. Matthews and Others, and J. Huendall and Others. The petitioners pray the House to maintain intact the present free, secular, and compulsory clauses of the Education Act. I am directed to report that the Committee do not consider it necessary to offer any opinion to the House on the subject-matter of these petitions. 24th October, 1884.

No. 411, Sess. ll.—Petition of Bobeet Atkinson, Auckland. The petitioner states that in 1874 he was summarily dismissed from the Customs service on unfounded allegations, without an opportunity to prove his innocence; that, on the Public Petitions Committee applying in 1875 for the correspondence in his case, some of it, which was in his favour, was suppressed by Mr. H. S. McKellar. He prays the House will grant him an investigation into this charge and consider his claims to compensation for loss of office. I am directed to report that the Committee, having examined Mr. McKellar and the Hon. Mr. Eeynolds, and also the whole of the records relating to the matter, see no reason to depart from the resolution come to by the Public Petitions Committee in 1875. The Committee are of opinion that the charges against Mr. McKellar in clause 6 of the petition are unfounded. 24th October, 1884.

No. 434, Sess. ll.—Petition of H. Letheby and Others. The petitioners, umbrella manufacturers, of the South Island, ask that the duty may be taken off Umbrella materials, to enable them to compete with the Home market.