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No. 305, Sess. ll.—Petition of Samuel Vaile. The petitioner prays that no Eailway Board may be appointed until his proposed system has had a No. 343, Sess. ll.—Petition of J. M. McKay and Others. The petitioners, settlers of Waipu and Whangarei Heads, pray for telephonic communication. No. 321, Sess. ll.—Petition of Joseph Williams and Others. The petitioners pray that, in the construction of the North Island Trunk Eailway, such deviation may be made as will connect with the Government line at Stratford. Nos. 323 and 324, Sess. ll.—Petitions of J. C. Macky and Others, and of E. McDonnell and Others. The petitioners pray that Hoera te Mimiha and Hone Koroneho, who have been convicted of perjury, may be allowed to show their innocence. No. 295, Sess. ll.—Petition of James Parlane and Others. The petitioners pray that Mr. S. Vaile's railway-scheme may be accorded a trial. No. 366, Sess. ll.—Petition of J. McLeod and Others. The petitioners pray that town districts may be relieved from liabilities to County Councils. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 29th November, 1887.

No. 370, Sess. ll.—Petition of E. S. O'Connell and Others. The petitioners, Dunedin residents of all shades of political and economic opinion, pray that the tariff may be revised during the present session. I am directed to report that, as the Government has the subject-matter of this petition now under consideration, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th November, 1887.

No. 372, Sess. ll.—Petition of J. Murray Davidson and another. The petitioners, Moderator and Clerk, respectively, of the Synod of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland, pray that certain clauses in the Divorce Bill now before Parliament may be No. 310, Sess ll.—Petition of D. G. Polson and Others. The petitioners pray that the Wanganui Harbour Board Bill may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as measures dealing with the subject-matter of these petitions are now before Parliament, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 29th November, 1887.

No. 14, Sess. ll.—Petition of T. W. Porter and Others, of Cook County. The petitioners state that there is a large territory of waste land, amounting to over four millions of acres in the East Coast District of the North Island, which is capable of supporting a numerous industrious population. They therefore pray that the House will afford such assistance to Mr. Eees in his effort to promote colonisation as will enable him, if otherwise successful, to introduce and locate upon lands now useless large numbers of agricultural settlers. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist December, 1887.

No. 68, Sess. ll.—Petition of Janet Macdonald and Charles P. Macdonald, of Halfway Bush, Dunedin. The petitioners state that they have suffered great loss owing to the illegal sale of certain lands by Mr. B. E. Strang, when Eegistrar of the Supreme Court and Administrator of Intestate Estates. They pray that compensation may be granted on account of said illegal action. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist December, 1887.

No. 367, Sess. ll.—Petition of W. Innes Taylor and Others, of Tamaki West. The petitioners pray that the boundaries of the Tamaki West and Panmure Licensing Districts may be more clearly defined. . I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist December, 1887.

No. 42, Sess. ll.—Petition of W. W. J. Spreat, of Wellington. The petitioner states that he entered the service of the Provincial Government in 1872 and of the General Government in 1876, and remained in the latter service until his office was abolished in October 1883 • that said office was that of lithographic draughtsman. That he has only received