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No. 454. —Petition of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association, of Oamaru. Petitioners pray for a reduction of the duty on binder-twine. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 11th October, 1895.

No. 426.—Petition of John Noone and 5 Others, of Otago. Petitioners pray that a reduction may be made in the rents of their small grazing-runs. I am directed to report that, as there is legislation now before Parliament dealing with the subject-matter of the petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 11th October, 1895.

No. 401. —Petition of John McDonald and 29 Others, of Waiotu and Hukerenui. Petitioners pray that a sum of £250 may be granted for the purpose of erecting a bridge across the Waiotu Eiver. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petition be referred to theGovernment for consideration. 11th October, 1895.

No. 440.—Petition of Henry Charles Young, of Wellington. Petitioner prays that the recommendation of the Committee during last session in connection; with his late property, called " Middleton," may be given effect to, or that he may be allowed to be heard at the bar of the House in support of his petition. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 11th October, 1895.

No. 417. —Petition of Fanny Beales Wray, of Waitara. Petitioner prays that the recommendation of the Committee last year in reference to her lease under " The West Coast Settlement Eeserves Act, 1892," may be given effect to. I am directed to report that the Committee sees no reason to depart from the decision arrived at last session on a similar petition —namely, " That the Committee regards the case as one of great hardship, and is of opinion that clause 8, section 3, subsection (1), of 'The West Coast Settlement Eeserves Act, 1892,' should be amended so as to provide for the valuation of improvements as at the date of the lessee's application, instead of the later date mentioned in the said subsection (1), and that the Governor in Council be recommended to prescribe regulations for the Public Trustee in connection with all improvements " ; and that the Committee regrets nothing has been done in the matter. 11th October, 1895.

No. 365. —Petition of Allan Ward and 3 others, of Wellington. Petitioners pray that the immigration of Chinese may be restricted. I am directed to report that, as there is a Bill now before Parliament dealing with the subjectmatter of the petition, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 15th October, 1895.

No. 293.—Petition of Horatio Nelson Warneb, of Auckland. Petitioner states that he was in the service of the Colonial Government of New Zealand from the year 1844 to the year 1854, and then in the Provincial Government of Auckland from 1855 to 1867, and again in the General Government from 1870 to 1875, making in all a service of nearly thirty years. He prays that he may be granted a pension, or compensation, &c. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the evidence submitted to them is insufficient to establish the claim of the petitioner. 23rd October, 1895.

No. 390. —Petition of Alexander Smith, of Wellington. Petitioneb prays that the Inspector in charge of the Alfredton-Weber Eoad contract be replaced. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 25th October, 1895.

No. 475. —Petition of John Watt, of Balclutha. Petitioner prays that a bonus may be granted for the production of mineral oil, and gas manufactured therefrom. I am directed to report that, in the absence of more specific information on the subject, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 25th October, 1895.

Nos. 491 and 497. —Petitions of A. K. Kane and 39 Others, and G. Watson and 30 Others,. of Dunedin. Petitionees pray that the action of the Dunedin City Council in seeking to erect abattoirs on a sitewithin half a mile of the nearest boundary of the Borough of Caversham may not be legalised by any alteration of " The Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1894." 1 am directed to report that the Committee is of opinion it is inadvisable that any amendment be made to " The Abattoirs and Slaughterhouses Act, 1894," which would enable any abattoir or slaughterhouse to be erected within the limits prescribed in clause 3 of the said Act. 25th October, 1895.