I.—l

Sess. 11.—1891. NEW ZEALAND.

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

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extracts from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Friday, the 12th Day of June, 1891. Ordered, " That a Public Petitions A to L Committee, consisting of ten members be appointed to consider all petitions that may be referred to it by the Petitions Classification Committee, to classify and prepare abstracts of such petitions in such form and manner as shall appear to it best suited to convey to this House all requisite information respecting their contents, and to report the same from time to time to this House, and to have power to report its opinions and observations thereupon to this House ; also to have power to call for persons and papers : three to be a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Buckland, Mr. Buick, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Meredith, Mr. E. M. Smith, Mr. Tanner, Mr. Taylor, Mr. T. Thompson, Mr. Wright, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Cadman.)

No. 6, Sess. I.—Petition of Jambs Donaldson, of Sydenham, Canterbury. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of office as gaoler. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony on the grounds of this petition. 24th"june, 1891.

No. 19.—Petition of William Hanlon, of Dunedin. Petitioner prays for additional allowance on retiring from the office of sergeant of police. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony on the grounds of this petition. 24th June, 1891.

No. 15.—Petition of George C. Best, of Auckland. Petitionee prays for further compensation for loss of office in the Marine Department. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, petitioner has received all the compensation he, is legally entitled to, and has no further claim against the colony. 26th June, 1891.

No. 4.—Petition of E. G. Knight, of Wellington. Petitionek prays that the case of the Eangitikei Fibre Company may be reheard in the Supreme Court, also for certain amendments in "The Companies' Act, 1882." I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist July, 1891.

No. 12, Sess. I. —Petition of H. Kinnaihd Hovell, of Napier. Pbtitionbb alleges that, by the Surveyor-General's printed report on the Kermadec Islands, he was induced to become the lessee of Bun No. 7, Sunday Island ; that he has since discovered the report to be exaggerated and misleading, and that through his reliance upon the accuracy of the report, ho has been involved in loss to the -yalue of £850. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, petitioner has no claim against the colony. Ist July, 1891. I—l. 1,

REPORTS OF PUBLIC PETITIONS A TO L COMMITTEE. (Mb. T. THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN.)