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1.—2.

\ r proposing to charge teachers rent for their residences, the Committee consider the action of the Board in this matter injudicious, and not contemplated by the said Act, and that, in the event of the Board persisting in calling upon teachers to pay this impost, the Government be recommended to amend the Education Act, with a view of more carefully defining the powers of the Education Boards. 12th October, 1894.

No. 660.—Petition of James McCullum, of Bahotu. Petitioner states that he leased certain lands in Bahotu from the Natives, and erected buildings thereon, and greatly improved the land. That the Public Trustee, under "The West Coast Settlement Beserves Act, 1892," ousted petitioner from his occupation of the said land, whereby he has suffered a loss of £285. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, while the Committee desires to express its sympathy with the petitioner in the loss of his property, still it is of opinion that this is mainly due to his having been ill-advised in leasing land to which he could obtain no title, and is therefore unable to make any recommendation in the matter. 12th October, 1894.

No. 720.'—Petition of A. E. Wood and 133 Others, of Palmerston North. Petitioners pray that the minimum quantity of beer allowed to be sold wholesale be not raised from 2 gallons to 5 gallons. I am directed to report that, as there is now legislation before Parliament dealing with the übject-matter of this petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 12th October, 1894. ___

No. 730. —Petition of C. S. Vernon and 20 Others, of Whangape. Petitioners pray for Government assistance towards making roads to their properties taken up under the perpetual-lease system, I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 15th October, 1894.

No. 706. —Petition of Dugald Macleat, of Blenheim. Petitioner states that he was wrongfully dismissed from the position of Head Attendant of the Lunatic Asylum, Wellington. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th October, 1894.

No. 713. —Petition of William Biddle, of Taueru. Petitioner states that in the year 1888 he was wrongfully convicted and fined for having in his possession a worm and head of a still, being illicit distilling apparatus. He prays that an inquiry may be instituted into the matter, or that the fine of £75 may be remitted. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 17th October, 1894.

N O . 671. —Petition of Lorenz Biesterer, of Hokianga (No. 2). Petitioner states that in the year 1886 he took up certain land under the deferred-payment system, at £2 per acre; that in 1890 the said land was revalued at 16s. 3d. per acre; that in January, 1892, the Auckland Land Board forfeited the said section for non-fulfilment of the conditions of the Act, without petitioner receiving any notice whatever from the Board of its intention to do so. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that from the evidence it appears—(l.) The Auckland Land Board forfeited petitioner's lease in January, 1892, without notifying the said petitioner of its intention so to do. (1.) That, although the petitioner had effected improvements on the adjoining section greater than the law necessitated, still the said Board, contrary to the usual practice, did not take this into consideration, and forfeited the deferred-payment lease for non-compliance with the conditions as to improvements and residence. The Committee is of opinion, from the evidence before it, that had the petitioner received notice of the Board's intention to forfeit, reasons might have been adduced which would have avoided the necessity for cancellation; under the circumstances, the Committee recommends that the whole matter should be referred to the Government to afford such relief to petitioner as it may think advisable. 17th October, 1894.

No. 681. —Petition of Bichard Munro, of Oteramika. Petitioner states that in 1874 he was a selector of a section of land under the deferred-payment system; that on account of the want of a road to give access thereto he had to abandon the same. He prays that the amount of payments made by him on the said section may be transferred as part payment, on account of another section taken up by him. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend that the prayer of the petition, be granted. 19th October, 1894.