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Whakatane Paper Mills, Limited, Water-supply Empowering Bill. 1. have the honour, by direction of the Lands Committee, which has considered the Whakatane Paper Mills, Limited, Water-supply Empowering Bill, to report thereon as follows: — This is a private Bill whose objccts and clauses will be scrutinized in detail by the Special Committee on the Bill under the Standing Orders relating to Private Bills. The original draft of the Bill was submitted to an inter-departmental Committee from the Public Works, Marine, Internal Affairs, and Lands and Survey Departments. Some further amendments will be suggested to the Special Committee and, in particular, so far as the Lands Department is concerned, an amendment to the definition of " public drain," in clause 2, by adding the words " and also includes any drainage-works or stop-bank connected with any such drain," and an amendment to the description of the area in the Schedule. As these amendments will be placed before the Special Committee on the Bill, the Lands Committee confines its report to the rights and prerogatives of the Crown in respect of roads and drains, tidal lands and water, river and river-bed areas, &c., and, so far as these rights and prerogatives are concerned, the Committee recommends that, subject to the above-mentioned amendments being made, the Bill be allowed to proceed. 13th May, 1936.

No. 97.—Petition of W. Syme, of Onehunga, Auckland, Farmer. Praying for compensation for losses on his land arising from the Waihou River Stop-bank Scheme. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition and has no recommendation to make. 20th May, 1936.

No. 116. —Petition of H. Johnstone, of Avondale. Praying for compensation in respect of moneys advanced by him to two co-purchasers of land from the State. 1 have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition and lias no recommendation to make. 20th May, 1936.

Wellington City Reclamation and Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the Wellington City Reclamation and Empowering Bill and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed without amendment. 20th May, 1936.

New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered the New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill, and recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments shown on the copy thereof hereto attached. 21st May, 1936. [Referred back to Committee for further consideration, 21st May, 1936.J

No. 51. —Petition of R. Rells and Others, of Napier. Praying that a Commission or Committee of inquiry be set up to investigate their grievances in respect of their Napier Harbour Board leases, and for redress. I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has carefully considered this petition and recommends that it be referred to the Government for consideration 21st May, 1936.

New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill. [Second Report.) I have the honour to report that the Lands Committee has again carefully considered the New Plymouth Borough Land Exchange and Empowering Bill, which was referred back to the Committee for further consideration, and again recommends that the Bill be allowed to proceed with the amendments shown on the copy thereof attached to the Committee's report of the 21st day of May, 1936. 27th May, 1936.

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