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No. 279. —Petition of John S. Duke, of Sumner Street, Auckland. The petitioner complains that his tender for the assessment of certain districts was not accepted by the Property-tax Commissioner. He prays for compensation. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim whatever against the colony. ' 22nd August, 1889.

No. 307.—Petition of William Jenkins, of Dunedin. The petitioner alleges that the Otago Harbour Board unfairly obliges him to pay rent on improvements made by himself on land which he leases from the Board. I am directed to report that, as the case of the petitioner appears to be one between himself and the Otago Harbour Board, the Committee has no power to interfere in the matter. 22nd August, 1889.

No. 170. —Petition of Elizabeth C. Chambeelin, of Parnell. The petitioner states that the Waitemata County Council in 1886 obtained judgment in the Eesident Magistrate's Court at Auckland for 19s. 9d. for rates due by one T. G. Simmonds on lots 34 and 35, Hobsonville, Waipareira, containing 24 acres 3 roods 9 perches ; that the clerk who wrote out the list of properties to be sold for arrears of rates inadvertently omitted the word " Hobsonville " from the description of this property; that consequently lots 34 and 35, Waipareira, containing 156 acres, belonging to the petitioner, on which no rates were due, and against which no judgment had been given, were sold and conveyed to one Henry McCormick by mistake for the other lots ; that the petitioner was thereby put to a loss of £57 10s. for law costs in recovering possession of her land. She prays for redress. I am directed to report that, as this is a question between the petitioner and the Waitemata County Council, the Committee is of opinion that the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 27th August, 1889.

No. 385. —Petition of Kempthobne, Peosseb and Co., of Dunedin and elsewhere. The petitioners pray for relief from loss sustained in consequence of the imposition of a prohibitive duty on saccharine. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred t© the Government for consideration. 27th August, 1889.

.No. 397. —Petition of Bay op Islands County Council. The petitioners pray that the powers of Licensing Committees may be transferred to local bodies. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petition. 27th August, 1889.

Nos. 398 and 406.—Petitions of J. Considine and Others, of Auckland, and William Cottiee and other Licensed Victuallers, of Taranaki. The petitioners pray for such amendment of the licensing law as shall deprive Licensing Committees of the power to close licensed houses in cases where they have no fault to find with the licensees. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these two petitions should be referred to the Government for consideration. 27th August, 1889.

No. 416.—Petition of James Faulknek and Others, of Birkenhead and Northcote. The petitioners petition in support of a certain clause in the Patents, Designs, and Trade-marks Bill. I am directed to report that, as the subject of the petition has been dealt with by the House during the present session, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 27th August, 1889.

No. 56. —Petition of William Cheistie, of Oamaru. (Second report.) The petitioner accuses Mr. District Judge Ward of perversion of judgment in sentencing him to imprisonment for fraudulent bankruptcy, and prays that steps may be taken to insure proper administration of justice in the District Court of Timaru and Oamaru. I am directed to report that, after careful consideration of the evidence laid before the Committee, consisting of the Judge's notes,' the letters put in as exhibits, the Colonial Investment and Agency Company's statement of account, and the petitioner's statement of assets and liabilities, the Committee is of opinion that justice has been properly administered in the petitioner's case by Judge Ward. 28th August, 1889.

No. 103 .^Petition of Thomas Hall, of Christchurch. The petitioner states that he was employed from December, 1871, to May, 1887, as messenger in the Public Works Office at Christchurch ; that in May, 1887, he was appointed a temporary clerk in the same office, and continued in that employment till September, 1887, when his services were dispensed with; that compensation was tendered to him for loss of office as messenger, but that compensation for loss office as clerk was refused to him on the ground that his appointment, being