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No. 101.—Petition of George McAnally, of Mercer. Petitionbe prays for relief on account of his dismissal from the Telegraph Department as lineman in the year 1882. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 6th October, 1903.

No. 60.—Petition of James Speddeei, of Gimmerburn. Petitioner prays that he may be granted the freehold of Section 25, Block 1., Gimmerburn Survey District, &c. « I am directed to report that the Committee recommends the payment of the sum of £60 in lieu of all claims. 6th October, 1903. No. 10.—Petition of W. H. Cooper and 31 Others (and 82 similar Petitions as per attached Schedule). Petitioners pray that steps may be taken to obtain possession of the Bank of New Zealand for the purpose of making it absolutely and entirely a State bank. I am directed to report that the Committee cannot recommend the prayer of the petitioners that the Bank of New Zealand be made absolutely and entirely a State Bank, but that it be a recommendation to the Government that any State support granted to the Bank of New Zealand at the close of the existing arrangement be in the nature of the colony joining as a shareholder and retaining a proportionate control in the management of the bank. 6th October, 1903.

Schedule. No. 40.— R. Mcllroy and 30 others. No. 333.— F. C. Smith and 30 others. 45.—James Daly and 33 others. . „ 334.— J. H. Davidson and 29 others. 92.—John Foster and 33 others. „ 335.— J. Commons and 31 others. „ 93. —Robert Muir and 32 others. „ 348. —H. Ambridge and 14 others. „ 94.—Andrew Bell and 31 others. „ 349.— E. H. Ford and 17 others. „ 117.— H. Williams and 29 others. „ 350.—George H. Buokeridge and 50 others. „ 124.— R. Dodds and 65 others. „ 355.—Francis Quigley and 31 others. „ 125.—Thomas Menzies and 15 others. „ 356. —Charles MoKenzie and 97 others. „ 133.— R. Long and 13 others. „ 374.—A. H. Hobbs and 32 others. „ 138.— J. S. Myers and 32 others. „ 375.—C. Gregg and 31 others. „ 154.—P. E. Pedersen and 32 others. „ 376.—L. Dasler and 30 others. „ 179.— R. J. Thomas and 26 others. „ 377.— W. Gardiner and 28 others. „ 180.— W. L. Sohroeder and 30 others. „ 378.— W. McDowell and 30 others. „ 181.—James Inkster and 30 others. „ 417. —W. M. Johnstone and 36 others. „ 196.—Catherine Treadwell and 31 others. „ 418.—A. S. Price and 63 others. „ 197.— J. Mitchell and 28 others. „ 419.— J. T. Ward and 12 others. „ 213.— W. H. Townsend and 26 others. „ 420.— R. Kemp and 31 others. „ 214.—James Thomson and 24 others. „ 425.— W. E. Davie and 16 others. „ 215. —N. Naismith and 31 others. „ 426.—Joseph Gibson and 30 others. „ 216.—A. T. Lenon and 31 others. „ 427.—A. Ireland and 22 others. ~ 234.—P. Nolan and 29 others. „ 430.— W. Caldwell and 23 others. „ 235. —H. Hunter and 16 others. „ 431. —A. McCallum and 29 others. „ 236. —R. Ruebridge and 57 others. „ 432. —John Kennedy and 31 others. „ 237.—Adam Werner and 31 others. „ 433.—D. G. Ennis and 31 others. „ 238.— F. W. Keen and 31 others. „ 435.— H. Barrett and 31 others. „ 260.—John Applegarth and 62 others. „ 467.— J. W. Smith and 26 others. „ 261.— G. S. Fleming and 33 others. „ 468 —W. J. Fort and 25 others. „ 262.—A. W. Johnson and 32 others. „ 499.—Lewis Cohen and 80 others. „ 280.— W. J. Bell and 31 others. „ 508.—5. E. Anderson and 27 others. „ 281.— J. W. Atkin and 46 others. „ 527.— E. A. M. Leaver and 33 others. „ 282.— G. R. Whiting and 31 others. „ 571. —James Rennie and 31 others. „ 283. — J. Haynes and 59 others. „ 577. —M. Frater and 17 others. „ 284.— R. J. Bryers and 31 others. „ 587.— J. A. Sowden and 31 others. „ 285. —Agnes Palmer and 30 others. „ 609.—P. J. Small and 10 others. „ 286.— G. W. Williams and 32 others. „ 610.— T. Harrison and 7 others. „ 287. —A. Joyce and 30 others. „ 690.—John Barber and 33 others. „ 312.— E. Chetwin and 31 others. „ 691.—C. Connelly and 32 others. „ 313.— H. Parson and 33 others. „ 708. —P. McAlinden and 50 others. „ 314.— G. E. Jefireys and 28 others. „ 709.— J. A. Hebbet and 23 others. „ 330.— J. MoGlashan and 48 others. „ 734. —H. Hammond and 18 others. „ 331. — J. G. Browne and 31 others. „ 735. —Charles Charleson and 18 others.

No. 566.—Petition of Joe Ting and 13 Others, of Palmerston North. Petitioners, who are Chinese, state that the regulations under the Aliens Act only permit of a Stipendiary Magistrate certifying to their character when applying for letters of naturalisation. They pray that the said regulations may be amended. I am directed to report that this Committee is of opinion the demand for a certificate of character signed by a Stipendiary Magistrate before granting papers of naturalisation is a stretching of the law, and that all applications should be considered on their merits when accompanied by a certificate of character signed either by a Stipendiary Magistrate or a Justice of the Peace, as provided by " The Aliens Act, 1880." 9th October, 1903.