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Nos. 223 and 229.—Petitions of Elizabeth Walls, of Sydenham. Petitioner, as administratrix of the estate of the late Thomas Kelly, of Auckland, claims to be the owner of a piece of land in the Parish of Okahu, which the Hobson County Council caused to be sold for arrears of rates due on the same without previously having given the notice required under the provisions of " The Eating Act, 1882." She prays for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 16th December, 1897.

No. 236.—Petition of William O'Brien, of Sydney. Petitioner prays that he may be granted a pension of 14s. a week on account of his services to the colony during the Maori War. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 16th December, 1897.

No. 148.—Petition of Arthur Frank Quickc, of Wellington. Petitioner states that a letter addressed to him was wrongfully delivered to one William Hurcombe, who opened the same, and made use of the information contained therein, through which petitioner suffered grievous loss, &c. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, as the petitioner has not exhausted his legal remedy, the Committee has no recommendation to make. 16th December, 1897.

No. 270. —Petition of W. N. de L. Willis and 9 Others, of Waikato and Waipa. Petitioners pray that no alteration may be made in the marriage-laws of the colony, except in the direction of placing women on the same footing as men, &c. I am directed to report that, as there is legislation before the House dealing with the subjectmatter of the petition, the Committee recommends it be referred to the Government for consideration. 16th December, 1897.

No. 238.—Petition of Christina Mountfort, of Wanganui. Petitioned prays that the report of the Public Petitions M to Z Committee, dated the 29th July, 1896, may be given effect to, &c. I am directed to report that the Committee has no further recommendation to make other than that reported to the House on the 29th July, 1896—viz., " That, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner should be granted the same compassionate allowance as other similar cases — viz., eighteen months' pay." 20th December, 1897.

No. 342.—Petition of M. Kent and 17 Others, of Auckland. Petitioners pray for a refund of duty paid on a large quantity of goods which were destroyed by the fire which burnt the goods-shed on the Queen Street Wharf on the 29th November last. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the prayer of the petition be granted, subject to the petitioners proving to the satisfaction of the Customs Department the amount of the loss sustained thereby. 20th December, 1897.

No. 335. —Petition of Maokay, Logan, Steen, and Co., of Auckland. Petitioners pray for the refund of £170, being duty paid on twenty-eight cases of drapery destroyed by the fire which burnt the goods-shed on the Queen Street Wharf, Auckland, on the 29th November last. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the prayer of the petition be granted, subject to their proving the specific statements made therein to the satisfaction of the Customs Department. 20th December, 1897.

No. 293. —Petition of Geoegb Giles Wilson, of Hamilton West. Petitioneh states that while working on premises at one time occupied by Mr. H. Oldham, Inspector of Stock, he unearthed a jar of phosphorus which he placed on the window-sill, with the result that it ignited, and while extinguishing the flames he burnt his right hand, the fingers of which had afterwards to be amputated. He prays for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of the Committee, the petitioner has no claim upon the colony. 20th December, 1897.

No. 145.—Petition of William Morgan, of Tawa Plat. Petitioned prays that he may be granted some land on account of being an old settler. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 20th December, 1897.