1.—2

Sess. IL—lB9l. NEW ZEALAND.

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

ORDER OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Fbiday, 12th June, 1891, Ordered, " That a Public Petitions M to Z 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. Earnshaw, Mr. Fish, Mr. Houston, Mr. J. Kelly, Mr. C. H. Mills, Mr. McGuire, Mr. Moore, Mr. Swan, Mr. J. W. Thomson, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. W. P. Reeves.)

No. 14, Sess. I.—Petition of Winks and Hall and 87 Others, of j~nd. Petitionees are cabinet-makers and others connected with the trade in Auckland. They pray for an increase of duty on imported furniture. I am directed to report that, as the petition refers to a matter of policy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 23rd June, 1891.

No. 15, Sess. 1.-—Petition of Pateick McGill, of Christchurch. Petitionee states that his services as police-constable have been dispensed with. He prays for compensation or reinstatement. I am directed to report that, the prayer of the petition having been granted by the Government, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 23rd June, 1891.

No. 22, Sess. 1., and No. 49, Sess. ll.—Petitions of the Mayoe and Councillobs of Masteeton and the Waieaeapa South County Council. Petitionees state that the Wairarapa district is unjustly taxed for hospitals and charitable purposes. They pray that the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act be so amended that the Wairarapa and Wellington Districts may be separated. I am directed to report that, as these petitions refer to a question of policy, the Committee recommends that they be referred to the Government for consideration. 24th June, 1891.

No. 1, Sess. I. — Petition of Stephen Spalding, of Auckland. Petitionee, a lunatic, prays for his removal from Wellington Asylum in order that he may be sent to England for treatment. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 25th June, 1891.

No. 72, Sess., ll.—Petition of Thomas Wallace, of Mongonui. Petitionee states that while doing contract-work for the Victoria Valley Eoad Board he suffered loss to the amount of £73 by a flood, and failed to recover the sum from the Eoad Board. He prays for relief. I—l. 2.

REPORT OF PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE. (Mb. H. S. PISH, CHAIRMAN.)