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No. 108.—Petition of Mrs. Augusta S. Usshbr, of Auckland. Petitioner prays for compensation for shortage of area of land. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration, with a recommendation that the deficiency be made up in cash or land. 11th October, 1906.

No. 158. —Petition of E. F. Tizabd, of Birkenhead, Auckland. Petitioner prays for himself and two sons to be allowed to select a moderate area of swamp land on the Piako River for flax-growing purposes. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 11th October, 1906. No. 72.—Petition of the Hon. John Bryce, Wanganui. Petitioner prays for an amendment of the Rating Act. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th October, 1906. No. 135.—Petition of C. Findlay and 15 Others, of the Taieri District. Petitioners pray that they may not be included in the scheme for the drainage of the lower-lying lands on the Taieri Plain. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th October, 1906. Nos. 430, 431, 432, and 433.—Petitions of J. B. McKinlay and 15 Others, W. MoKenzie and 65 Others, R. Walker and 34 Others, and H. Winmill and 126 Others, of Lawrence, &c. Petitioners pray that certain land in the Waitahuna district may be acquired for closer settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petitions be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th October, 1906. No. 320.—Petition of Alexander Macdonald and 21 Others, Warea, Taranaki. Petitioners pray that they may not be deprived of land leased by them. I am directed to report that the petition is returned to the House by the Committee at the request of Mr. Smith—-who presented it—with a view to its withdrawal. 22nd October, 1906. Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill, has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 23rd October, 1906. Waimate Agricultural Reserve Bill. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Waimate Agricultural Reserve Bill, has carefully considered th« same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 23rd October, 1906. No. B.—Petition of O'Shea Bros., Rawhitiroa. Petitioners pray for an amendment of "The Rotokare Domain Repeal Act, 1903." I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be forwarded to the Government for favourable consideration, and that the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact that cattle are now running in the domain. 26th October, 1906. No. 79.—Petition of T. E. T. Gale, of Palmerston North. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of a certain sum of money. I am directed to report that your Committee has given careful consideration to the above petition, has examined a large number of witnesses, and has come to the conclusion that Mr. Gale, the petitioner, was a simple-minded man who came to this country with the object of becoming a settler; and it appears from the evidence submitted that he obtained a sum of £691 from England for this purpose, and, further, that the evidence shows that £400 of this money was received from

No. 72.—Petition of the Hon. John Bryce, Wanganui. Petitioner prays for an amendment of the Rating Act. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 17th October, 1906.

No. 135. —Petition of C. Findlay and 15 Others, of the Taieri District. Petitioners pray that they may not be included in the scheme for the drainage of the lower-lying lands on the Taieri Plain. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th October, 1906.

Nos. 430, 431, 432, and 433.—Petitions of J. B. McKinlay and 15 Others, W. McKenzie and 65 Others, R. Walker and 34 Others, and H. Winmill and 126 Others, of Lawrence, &c. Petitioners pray that certain land in the Waitahuna district may be acquired for closer settlement. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petitions be referred to the Government for consideration. 17th October, 1906.

No. 320.—Petition of Alexander Macdonald and 21 Others, Warea, Taranaki. Petitioners pray that they may not be deprived of land leased by them. I am directed to report that the petition is returned to the House by the Committee at the request of Mr. Smith —who presented it—with a view to its withdrawal. 22nd October, 1906.

Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Scenery Preservation Amendment Bill, has carefully considered the same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 23rd October, 1906.

Waimate Agricultural Reserve Bill. The Lands Committee, to whom was referred the Waimate Agricultural Reserve Bill, has carefully considered th« same, and recommends that it be allowed to proceed, subject to the amendments shown on the copy of the Bill attached hereto. 23rd October, 1906.

No. B.—Petition of O'Shea Bros., Rawhitiroa. Petitioners pray for an amendment of "The Rotokare Domain Repeal Act, 1903." I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that the petition be forwarded to the Government for favourable consideration, and that the attention of the Government be drawn to the fact that cattle are now running in the domain. 26th October, 1906.

No. 79.—Petition of T. E. T. Gale, of Palmerston North. Petitioner prays for compensation for loss of a certain sum of money. I am directed to report that your Committee has given careful consideration to the above petition, has examined a large number of witnesses, and has come to the conclusion that Mr. Gale, the petitioner, was a simple-minded man who came to this country with the object of becoming a settler; and it appears from the evidence submitted that he obtained a sum of £691 from England for this purpose, and, further, that the evidence shows that £400 of this money was received from