1.—5

2

No. 74. —Petition of John McCandleish. The petitioner states he served in the 18th Regiment during the Maori war. He asks that he may be given a grant of land. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist June, 1888.

No. 105.—Petition of Feanois Simmonds. The petitioner states that he served in the Imperial Navy and in the New Zealand Armed Constabulary. He asks that he may be given a grant of land. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist June, 1888.

No. s.—Petition of John Wood. The petitioner states that he served in New Zealand in the 57th Regiment. He asks that a grant of land be given to him. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist June, 1888.

No. 159, Sess. 11., 1887.—Petition of James Pbentice and 24 Others. The petitioners pray that the relief clause in the Special Powers and Contracts Bill, introduced in 1886, may be applied to the pastoral deferred-payment leases which they hold in the Provincial District of Otago. I am directed to report that the prayer of the petition has been already dealt with in the Land Act of 1887. Ist June, 1888.

No. 248, Sess. 11., 1887.—Petition of Robeet Paul Hodge. The petitioner states that he served in the Waikato Militia and Land Transport Corps. He asks that a grant of land be given to him. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist June, 1888.

Otago Centeal Railway Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Otago Central Railway Bill, have the honour to report that, after having gone carefully through the Bill and taken the evidence of Mr. McKerrow, Surveyor-General; Mr. Blair, Assistant Eugineer-in-Chief; and Mr. Pyke, M.H.R., they are of opinion that the Bill should not be allowed to proceed. (For evidence, &c, vide 1.-5 a.) Bth June, 1888.

Nos. 132, 143, 146, 159, and 160.—Petitions of W. McGeegoe Hay, John Stamp, Thomas Peatt, William McGinneety, and Petee Gaebes. The petitioners claim grants of land for their services in the Imperial and New Zealand Forces during the Maori war. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 12th June, 1888.

No. 224, Sess. 11., 1887. —Petition of W. Painton and Another, Owners and Lessees of Land in the Rintoul Survey District. The petitioners pray that a public road may be made up the Wairoa Valley. I am directed to report that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration ; and the Committee further recommend that more active steps should be taken throughout the colony, by pushing on surveys and roading, for the purpose of opening up large areas of land for settlement. 12th June, 1888.

No. 349.—Petition of John Noddee. The petitioner prays that he may receive a Crown grant of forty acres of land selected by him in 1858 in the Maungakaramea district. I am directed to report that the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 12th June, 1888.

No. 345, Sess. 11., 1887.—Petition of J. P. Oakes (No. 1.) The petitioner claims the Waiharakeke land, and prays for a Crown grant thereof. I am directed to report that the petitioner has no claim on the colony. 12th June, 1888.