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No. 61.—Petition of L. J. Bagnall and 32 Others, of Turua, Thames. Petitioners pray that the Turua district may be constituted a separate road district. I am directed to report that the Committee, having carefully considered the case in all its bearings, makes the two following recommendations for the consideration of the Government: (a.) That a short amending Act be passed to make compulsory the proper observance of clauses 46, 145, and 146 of " The Counties Act, 1886." (b.) That the said amending Act should also be made to amend clause 52 of the said " Counties Act, 1886," by bestowing the power of veto upon the Governor in Council instead of, as at present, the County Council. 13th August, 1896.

Nos. 254 and 262 (both similar). —Petitions of Edwin Cliffin and 4 Others, of Waikato, Ed. Lake and 14 Others, of Waikato. Petitioners pray that the Bill to amend the law of divorce, as now before the House, may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the Bill in question is now before the House, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 13th August, 1896.

No. 258. —Petition of C. E. Hayward and 3 Others, of Waikiekie, Auckland, Petitioners pray that the Local Government Bill, as now before the House, may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the Bill in question is now before the House, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 13th August, 1896.

No. 221.—Petition of A. I. Suckling-Baron, of Wellington. Petitioner prays that a certain sum of money paid by way of duty upon electrical machinery, under conditions set forth, may be refunded to the New Zealand Electrical Syndicate. ■ I-am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 13th August, 1896.

No. 127. —Petition of John Henry Field, of Albert Street, Auckland (E. T. Field, Ponsonby, Auckland). Petitioner prays that the recommendation made last session by the Public Petitions Committee A to L —viz., that he should be paid the sum of £93 14s. in full satisfaction of his claim—may be given effect to. I am directed to report that the Committee exceedingly regrets that the Government has not seen fit to give effect to the recommendation made last session upon the petitioner's case. That, at the last hearing of the petition, the matter was very fully and carefully gone into by the Committee, and, after the evidence adduced had been thoroughly -.veighed and considered, the Committee presented a full and detailed report to the House, recommending that the petitioner should be paid the sum of £93 14s. in full satisfaction of his claim of £119 12s. As upon this occasion no new evidence has been brought forward to prove that the facts of the case are other than as shown last session, the Committee therefore strongly recommends that the Government should take the matter into its early consideration, and pay to the petitioner the sum of £93 145., as aforesaii. 14th August, 1896. ' No. 245.—Petition of William Crawford and 4 Others, of Maungakaramea, Auckland. Petitioners pray that the Local Government Bill, as before the House, may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the Bill in question is now before the House, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 14th August, 1896.

No. 261.—Petition of E. C. Dyer and 5 Others, of Waikato. Petitioners pray that the Bill to amend the law of divorce, as before the House, may not be passed. I am directed to report that, as the Bill in question is now before the House, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 14th August, 1896.

No. 236. —Petition of H. T. Kemp, of Onchunga, Auckland. Petitioner prays that a short Act may be passed to enable the Government to pay him the pension to which he considers that he is entitled. I am directed to report that, from the evidence before the Committee, it appears that the Government has awarded such compensation as the law allows, and the Committee does not see any reason why the law should be altered to meet the petitioner's case. The Committee cannot therefore, recommend this claim for a pension to the favourable consideration of the Government 14th August, 1896.

No. I.—Petition of G. F. Bkyan, of Inangahua. Petitioner prays for a refund by the Government of moneys stolen in transit through the post. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim against the colony. 14th August, 1896.