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1890. NEW ZEALAND.

Presented to the House of Representatives, and ordered to be printed.

OEDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, the 25th Day of June, 1890. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 178 be suspended, in order that a Select Committee of fourteen members be appointed to consider all Bills and petitions that may be introduced into this House affecting the waste lands of the Crown, and to report generally on the principles and provisions which they contain ; with power to confer or sit together with any similar Committee which may be appointed by the Legislative Council, and to agree to a joint or separate report; to have power to send for persons, papers, and records ; five to be a quorum: the Committee to consist of the Hon. Mr. Ballance, Mr. Cowan, Mr. Fulton, Mr. Jones, Mr. Kerr, Mr. Macarthur, Mr. J. McKenzie, Mr. Ormond, Mr. Rhodes, Mr. Saunders, Mr. Smith, Mr. R. Thompson, Mr. Whyte, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. G. F. Richabdson.) Ordered, " That the Bill intituled the Todman Land-grant Bill stand referred to the Waste Lands Committee for report."

Fbiday, the 4th Day or July, 1890. Ordered, " That, allegations having been made that dummyisrn has taken place in regard to the selection of land in the Canterbury District and elsewhere, it be an instruction to the Waste Lands Committee to inquire into and report as early as possible upon the truth of such allegations ; and what steps, if any, ought to be taken in regard to such dummyism, if it exists." —(Hon. Mr. Hislop.)

Thubsday, the 17th Day of July, 1890. Ordered, " That the papers and map laid on the table of the House by Mr. Duncan at the end of his speech on Thursday, the 10th July, be referred to the Waste Lands Committee for the purpose of investigating and reporting upon the alleged dummyism of Thomas Mackenzie ; that there be also laid before the Committee copies of all correspondence between the Minister of Lands, the Otago Land Board, and Thomas Mackenzie regarding the opening for sale of the land purchased by the said Thomas Mackenzie's several applications, a copy of the application granted by the Otago Land Board, and all other papers in possession of the Land Department referring to the said purchase." —(Mr. Duncan.)

Wednesday, the 23kd Day of July, 1890. Ordered, " That Standing Order No. 178 be suspended, and that the name of Mr. W. P. Reeves be added to the Waste Lands Committee.—(Hon. Mr. Ballance.)

Todman Land-grant Bill. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom was referred the above Bill, have the honour to report that they have duly considered the same, and have made no amendments therein. They recommend that the Bill be allowed to proceed. Ist July, 1890.

No. B.—Petition of Anne Lindsay. The petitioner states that she is the widow of Samuel Lindsay, who served as a soldier in the 58th Eegiment during the Maori war. She prays that a grant of land may be given to her. The Waste Lands Committee have the honour to report that they are of opinion that this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist July, 1890.

No. 19.—Petition of William Copley. The petitioner states that in the year 1880 he took up Section 9, Block XXXI., Limehills, under deferred payment, paying for 10 acres at the rate of £7 10s. per acre, and that he made his final payment in 1884, but that his neighbours, who took up adjoining sections on the same terms, were in arrears when " The Selectors' Lands Devaluation Act, 1889," came into force. As these Jatter have received a reduction in the price of their land, he prays that he may be treated in a similar manner. The Waste Lands Committee, to whom this petition was referred, have the honour to report that they have no recommendation to make. 17th July, 1890.

REPORTS OF WASTE LANDS COMMITTEE. (Me. FULTON, CHAIRMAN.)