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No. 155. —Petition of Thomas Cabtee, of Wellington. The petitioner prays for payment of £29 17s. alleged to have been withheld from his pay during the time of his service in the Torpedo Corps. I am directed to report that, since the Public Petitions Committee of the Legislative Council last session madean exhaustive inquiry into the subject of this petition, and reported that the petitioner had no claim, this Committee declines to proceed with the consideration of the petition. 15th June, 1888.

No. 172.—Petition of E. M. Hawkes and Others, of Tapu, Thames. The petitioners are homestead settlers, and pray for the issue of Crown grants to their several holdings. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, this petition should be referred to the Waste Lands Committee. 15th June, 1888.

Nos. 176, 177, and 191.—Petitions of W. Eaull and Others, of Blenheim ; A. J. A. Holmes and Others, of Blenheim ; and E. Chisholm and Others, of Dnnedin. The petitioners pray that early closing of shops may be made compulsory. No. 178.—Petition of W. D. Houston and Others, of Dunedin. The petitioners pray that early closing of shops may not be made compulsory. I am directed to report that, inasmuch as a Bill dealing with the subject of these petitions is now before the House, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th June, 1888.

No. 192:—Petition of W. Hildyaed and Others, of Lyttelton. The petitioners pray for the abolition of the totalisator. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 15th June, 1888.

No. 194. —Petition of Geoege Claekson, of Auckland. The petitioner, on behalf of himself and three others, claims payment of a reward of £5,000 for the discovery of the Thames goldfield. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, this petition should be referred to the Goldfields Committee. loth June, 1888.

No. 1-15.—Petition of William Elliott, of Newmarket. The petitioner complains that he has been dismissed from the post of locomotive foreman in the Eailway Workshops at Newmarket, with only nine months' pay and three months' leave of absence on full pay. He claims further compensation. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make on the subject of this petition. 19th June, 1888.

No. 36.—Petition of James Andrews, of Kaiapoi. The petitioner states that his property has been seriously damaged by flood-waters from the Waimakariri, which have been directed upon his land by a Government railway embankment and bridge. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has a claim against the colony, and to recommend his claim to the favourable consideration of the Government. 20th"june, 1888. '

No. 142. —Petition of E. E. Bendall, of New Plymouth. The petitioner has been discharged after nearly twenty-seven years' good service as a soldier in this colony, with the loss of his right eye from the kick of a troop horse. lie prays for employment. No. 225.—Petition of H. Jeeebd, of Auckland. The petitioner was formerly in the Armed Constabulary of New Zealand, and has lost one leg through the accidental discharge of his revolver. He has since served as engineer of a torpedo-boat and of a mining-launch, but was discharged on the reduction of the Permanent Militia in February, 1888. He prays for employment. I am directed to recommend these two petitioners to the favourable consideration of tiio Government, for employment, when suitable work can be found for them. 28th June, 1888.

Nos. 195 and 257. —Petitions of County Councils (8). This petition is identical with those of twenty-two other County Councils, already reported upon by this Committee, for certain amendments in the Public Works Act. I am directed to adopt the report brought up on the sth June current—namely, " That, in the opinion of the Committee, it is desirable that the exchange of land for roads, as between local bodies and private owners, should, if possible, be simplified and the cost thereof reduced." 28th June, 1888.