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1909 NEW ZEALAND.

LANDS COMMITTEE (REPORT OF THE) ON PETITIONS Nos. 319, 563, AND 185, RELATIVE TO CERTAIN GRIEVANCES IN CONNECTION WITH THE DRAINAGE OF TAIERI PLAINS; TOGETHER WITH MINUTES OF EVIDENCE AND APPENDICES. (Hon. Mr. DUNCAN, Chairman.)

Report brought up on the 110 th December, 19(19, and ordered to be printed.

ORDERS OF REFERENCE. Extracts /rum the Journals 0/ the House of Representatives. Friday, the Bth Day of Octobee, 1909. Ordered, " That a Committee be appointed, consisting of ten members, to whom shall stand referred after the first reading all Bills affecting or in any way relating to the lands of the Crown or educational or other public reserves ; the Committee to have power to make such amendments therein as they think proper, and to report generally when necessary upon the principles and provisions of the Bill; the Committee to have power to call for persons, papers, and records ; three to be a quorum : the Committee to consist of Mr. Anderson, Hon. Mr. T. Duncan, Mr. Ell, Mr. Forbes, Mr. Guthrie, Mr. Hogg, Mr. Lang, Mr. Lawry,|Mr. Witty,Jand the mover."—(Right Hon. Sir J. G. Ward.) Wednesday, the Bth Day of December, 1909. Ordered, " That the petition of H. Palmer and others be referred to the Lands Committee."—(Mr. Ceaioie.) Thursday, the 9th Day of December, 1909. Ordered, " That the petition of C.jFindlay and others be referred direct to the Lands Committee."—(Hon. Mr. T. Mackenzie.)

EEPOET. Nos. 3-19, 363, and 185.—Petitions of Tikke Koona and 22 Others, Charles Findlay and 232 Others, and H. Palmer and 7 Others. Petitioners pray for inquiry into and redress for certain grievances in connection with the drainage of the Taieri Plain. I am directed to report that the Committee recommends that one Board is best able to deal with the Taieri drainage scheme; that the classification and boundaries are not satisfactory on the East Taieri side; that some judicial authority or commission be appointed to deal with the latter recommendation. The minutes of evidence are attached hereto, 20th December, 1909. T, V, Duncan, Chairman.

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