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1893. NEW ZEALAND.

REPORTS OF PUBLIC PETITIONS M TO Z COMMITTEE. (Mb. T. THOMPSON, CHAIRMAN.)

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

- • • ORDERS OP REFERENCE. Extract from the Journals of the House of Representatives. Wednesday, 28th June, 1893. 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 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 form a quorum. The Committee to consist of Mr. Buckland, Mr. Harkness, Mr. Joyce, Mr. Meredith, Mr. Taylor, Mr. T. Thompson, Mr. Willis, and the mover."—(Hon. Mr. Reeves.) Fbiday, 21st July, 1893. Ordered, " That the name of Mr. Dawson be added to the Public Petitions M to Z Committee."—(Hon. Mr. Reeves.)

Nos. 12 and 71. —Petitions of Heebeet Wilson and Others, and P. A. Sanvig and Others, of Auckland. Petitionees pray that they may be protected against an influx of Austrians on the gum-fields. I am directed to report that, as a Bill is now before the House proposing to deal with this question, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 4th July, 1893.

Nos. 735, 736, and 740, Sess. 1892. —Petitions of the Tamaheee Eoad Boaed, the Waipukueau Boad Boaed, and the Waiapu County Council. Petitionees object to withdrawal of subsidies to local bodies. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, these petitions should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 4th July, 1893. .___

No. 70.—Petition of the Nobth Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board. Petitionees pray that the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act may be amended in such a manner as will give County Councils power to administer charitable aid within their own boundaries. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. 4th July, 1893.

No. 18.—Petition of the Standing Committee of the Synod of the Chuech of England in the Diocese of Christchurch. Petitionees pray for such an alteration of the law as would exempt from liability to taxation all property held for religious and educational purposes, or, failing that being granted, for such an alteration in the Land and Income Tax Assessment Act as would exempt from liability to the graduated tax the endowments held by them under the names of the "General Estate," the " Jackson Trust Estate," and the " Local Endowments." I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 4th July, 1893. I—l. 2.