F—No. 2

REPORT.

The Standing Committee on Private Grievances have considered the Petition of Augustus Brown Abraham, and have agreed to the following Report:— The Committee have carefully considered the several allegations in the Petition, and have taken evidence thereon. They have received from His Excellency the Governor a Memorandum on the allegation of the Petitioner, as to a conversation said to have taken place between the Governor and him; and have also received a Statement from Mr. C. W. Richmond, which together with the Memorandum, they append to this Report. They also append a Statement by a Member of the Committee, which expresses the views which the Committee entertain on the several points therein referred to. The Committee are of opinion that the Petitioner's case as respects his original selections of land at Waitara, stands on no different footing from that of any other purchaser from the New Zealand Company, and that there is no ground for making a special exemption in his favor from the operation of the " Land Orders and Scrip Act, 1858." Under these circumstances the Committee are unable to recommend the House to take any specific action on the subject of the Petition. Francis Joi_ie, Chairman. House of Representatives, 3rd August, 1861.

MEMORANDUM FOE FRANCIS JOLI.IE, ESQ., CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE OF PRIVATE GRIEVANCES. In a petition to the House of Representatives dated 28th of February, 1861, Mr. Abraham has taken advantage of a private conversation with the Governor, assumed to have taken place early in the year 1859. This is an unusual proceeding. The Governor has no record of any conversation with Mr. Abraham; but is convinced that he never made any such statement as that attributed to him. A copy of his Despatch forwarding the reserved Act is attached for the information'of th« Committee. Government House, Auckland, 16th July, 1861.

COPT OF A DESPATCH FROM GOVERNOR GORE BROWNE, C.8., TO the right HONORABLE SIR E. BULWER lttton, baet. Government House, Auckland, 13th October, 1858. Sir, — In conformity with the provisions of the 56th clause of the New Zealand Constitution Act, I have the honor to forward, for the purpose of being laid before the Queen, authentic copies of six Acts (enumerated in the annexed Schedule) passed by the General Assembly during its sth Session, and reserved for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure thereon. The " Bay of Islands' Settlement Act," is one of the series of Native Bills on which I have written at length in other Despatches and forwarded reports of the debates on them in th« Legislature. I beg to recommend it, with the other Acts accompanying this Despatch, for Her Majesty's gracious Assent. I have, &c, T. Gorb Brownb. The Right Honorable Sir E. Bulwer Lytton, Bart.

(No. 101.) Legislative,

SCHEDULE. Nos. 71, 73, 74, 78, 79. —No. 77, " An Act to amend the Law defining and settling th« Rights of Holders of Land Orders and Land Scrip, 1858."

PETITION OF A, B. ABRAHAM,