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The Committee recommends that the Eacecourse Reserve should be vested in the Municipal Corporation of Taranaki, subject to the condition that not less than one-third be dedicated to purposes of public recreation for the benefit of the people of New Plymouth. 31st October, 1884.

No. 23, Sess. ll.—Petition of William Agnew. The petitioner alleges he held an agricultural lease, but, through legal proceedings having been taken against him in the Eesident Magistrate's Court, the bailiff sold the lease, as well as his goods and chattels, to one Indor, as he believes illegally. He prays for relief. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom the petition was referred, has the honour to report that the case appears to be one of considerable hardship to the petitioner; it involves, however, so many points of law, that the Committee does not see its way to deal with it, but would recommend that the petition be referred to the Government in the hope that they may be able to bring about an equitable, settlement of the same. 31st October, 1884.

No. 137, Sess. ll. —Petition of Feancis Dyer Rich re Shag Point Branch Eailway. The Committee has the honour to report that, failing the Government exercising its power to purchase, the petitioner is entitled to be paid a rental from year to year so as to cover the interest on the cost of construction of the branch line, such payment to reckon during the period that the railway was working, and to apply when the railway resumes working. 31st October, 1884.

Wellington College Eeseeves Confiemation Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, has the honour to report that, after- careful consideration, it recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed. 31st October, 1884.

No. 67, Sess. I.—Petition of J. C. Ceawfokd. The petitioner alleges he purchased some land from the Natives in Blind Bay and Massacre Bay in the year 1839, but has never been able to get a title. He prays for inquiry into his claim. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom this petition was referred, has the honour to report that, the petitioner having neglected to prosecute his claim within the statutory period, the Committee is of opinion that his request should not be entertained. 4th November, 1884. .

No. 258, Sess. ll.—Petition of H. S. Peacock and Others. The Committee is of opinion that the petition should be referred to the Public Petitions Committee. 4th November, 1884.

No. 495, Sess. ll.—Petition of Elon Jeffcoate. The petitioner alleges he purchased from the Natives, in the year 1869, the right to cut all the timber on the Waikanae Block, Coromandel Peninsula, and, after expending upwards of £1,000, he received notice from the Crown Lands Commissioner, Auckland, to cease operations under pain of prosecution. The Waste Lands Committee has the honour to report that the petitioner seems to have a primd facie claim to the timber, and the Committee would recommend, therefore, that Government be requested to carefully inquire into the case. sth November, 1884.

No. 526, Sess. ll.—Petition of David Muie and Others. The petitioners, residents in Shag Valley, and others pray that certain lands may be thrown open for settlement. The Waste Lands Committee has the honour to report that, as the subject-matter of this petition is rather a matter for the Administration than the Legislature, the Committee recommends that this petition be referred to Government for consideration, whose duty it is to make all due provision for bond fide settlement. sth November, 1884.

No. 494, Sess. ll.—Petition of Kohea Tahana. The petitioner alleges that a portion of land purchased by one Te Wenerei from the Crown Lands Commissioner on the 4th December, 1882, in Tupurupuru Block, for which he paid £40 on the supposition that it contained 80 acres, was found, on resurvey in 1883, after deduction for roads, to contain only 47 acres 27 perches. Petitioner, who succeeded to this land, prays for relief. The Committee recommends that petitioner be refunded the money paid, together with interest thereon, in respect of the actual area deficient, inclusive of area taken for roads. sth November, 1884.

No. 493, Sess. II. —Petition of Tahana Ngana. The petitioner alleges that in the year 1860 he purchased from Government 80 acres of land in the Tupurupuru Block, and in 1883, when it was resurveyed, a considerable portion was taken for roads, leaving him only 71 acres 3 roods 30 perches. He prays for relief.