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No. s.—Petition of James Crichton, of Wanganui. Praying for inquiry and compensation owing to loss on investments through administration by the Public Trust Office. I am directed to report that this Committee has exhaustively investigated the petitioner's charges against the Public Trustee, and completely exonerates the Public Trust Office. The Committee therefore has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1926.

No. 56. —Petition of Alice Beatrice King, of Auckland. Praying for remission of remainder of sentence inflicted upon Frederick E. P. Shortland. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. 26th August, 1926.

No. 64.—Petition of Mary Doyle, of Greymouth. Praying for compensation for alleged injuries received while employed as mental-hospital nurse. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 100.—Petition of Jane Sarah Clark, of Petone. Praying for compassionate allowance on account of loss of her husband by drowning in Hutt River. 1 am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for sympathetic consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 153. —Petition of William Forrest, of Auckland. Praying for compensation for loss incurred on the Okahukura Tunnel contract. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. 26th August, 1926.

No. 90.—Petition of H. Geeson and 17 Others, of Cheviot. Praying that racing clubs desirous of taking advantage of section 3 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1924, be not restrained by the New Zealand Racing Conference. I am directed to report that the Cheviot Racing Club has been prevented from exercising the right conferred on it by section 3 of the Gaming Amendment Act, 1924, to change its constitution to trotting, by the presidents of the New Zealand Racing and Trotting Conferences respectively, who have entered into an agreement not to agree to any change from racing to trotting without a corresponding change from trotting to racing. The Committee endorses the action already taken by the Government in this matter, and is strongly of opinion that the Government should exercise all its powers to give effect to the Cheviot Racing Club's petition, and, if necessary, to the extent of withholding the issue of totalizator licenses until the relief sought is granted. In the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for favourable consideration. Ist September, 1926.

No. 220. —Petition of Henry Ewart Hill, of Gisborne. Praying for refund of money paid out while Registrar of Births, &c., at Gisborne. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist September, 1926.

No. 239.—Petition of Ernest Loveridge, of Thorpe. Praying for refund of stamp duty. I am directed to report that in the opinion of the Committee this petition should be referred to the Government for consideration. Ist September, 1926.

No. 263.—Petition of Maximilian Juriss, of Wellington. Praying for investigation of a conviction against him. I am directed to report that the Committee has no recommendation to make. Ist September, 1926.

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