Page image

I:—l

3

REPORTS.

No. 23.—Petition of Thomas Cain, of Auckland. Petitionee prays that he may be granted compensation for injuries received while in the execution of his duty as.a constable. I am directed to report that the Committee have no recommendation to make. 17th July, 1900. -

No. 48.—Petition of David Knight, of Hawera. Petitionee prays for compensation in relation to railway accident. I am directed to report that this Committee are of opinion the above petition should be dealt with by the Eailways Committee, and is referred accordingly. • 17th July, 1900. ■ _•

Nos. 6, 30, 32, 57, 58, 59, 68, and 69. — Bey. McKenzie Gibson and Others, of Waimate; C. Coates and Others, of Lyttelton; W. Haepee and Others, of Christchurch; Eev. J. M. Adcogk and Others, of Timaru; Eev. W. Bean and Others, of Christchurch; S. D. Baekee and Others, of Christchurch; J. Beookee and Others, of Christchurch; Eev. J. Dukes and Others, of Hawera, Petitionees pray that Inebriates' Homes may be established in the colony. I am directed to report that the Committee recommend the petitions be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th July, 1900.

No. 24. —Petition of Geo, Davis and Others, of Auckland. Petitionees pray that the number of members of the Ministry be increased. I am directed to report that, being a matter of policy, the Committee have no recommendation to make. 17th July, 1900.

No. 115. —Petition of Hassan Hassein and Another. Petitionees state that they were engaged at Singapore as marine firemen on the steam-dredge " Manchester " on a voyage to Lyttelton, New Zealand, stipulating that on arrival of dredge at Lyttelton they would be returned to their port of engagement. Petitioners pray for relief. I am directed to report that, in the opinion of this Committee, the Lyttelton Harbour Board is responsible for the petitioners' detention in the colony and their return to the port of shipment, and recommend that the Marine Department should, in accordance with law, take immediate proceedings against the Lyttelton Harbour Board to recover on behalf of the petitioners, who are destitute, in order to enable them to return to the port of shipment. 18th July, 1900. __

No. 13. —Petition of W. C. Fitzgeeald. Petitionee prays for a refund of balance of costs incurred by him in defending an action brought against him as a Public Vaccinator. I am directed to report that this Committee make the same report on this petition as the Public Petitions A to L Committee did on a similar one, viz.: — " Paragraph 4. That, in the interests of the public generally, and of its public officials, the petitioner should be paid out of the Public Exchequer all moneys properly expended by him in defending the action in the Supreme Court. " Paragraph 5. That the Crown Solicitor should tax the costs and moneys out of pocket payable by the petitioner, and the Committee recommend that when so taxed the Government pay the same. " I am directed to report that the Committee finds from evidence taken before it this year that the petitioner has received from the Government the sum of £367, being nearly one-half of his c j a i m £735 7s. lid.—of last year, and has since recovered by process in the Magistrate's Court the sum of £60 —an amount included in the said £735 7s. lid.—from one George Lambert, which sum of £60 is referred to in the evidence adduced before the Committee last year as money paid through the intervention of Messrs. Skerrett and Wylie, solicitors, and Mr. Lambert to Mr. Eoberts for the withdrawal of an action by Eoberts against the petitioner. The Committee also finds that the petitioner also suffered losses by reason of the Supreme Court action, which he successfully defended; but the petitioner will forego any claim therefor if the Committee's recommendation of last year be given effect to by the Government. Therefore, the Committee recommends the Government to pay the petitioner in accordance with the report presented to the House on the 27th September, 1898." 18th July, 1900. __

No. 100.—Petition of F. P. Blackmoee, of Auckland. Petitionee prays tbat the grant of £100 awarded to him by the Commission as an old military officer may be increased to £200. I am directed to report that this Committee recommend Mr. F. P. Blackmore's claim be satisfied, and that the Government place the sum of £100 on this year's estimates for that purpose. 24th July, 1900.